International scam artists use 

clever schemes to defraud millions 

of people across the globe each 

year, threatening financial security 

and generating substantial 

profits for criminal organizations 

and common crooks. They use 

phone, email, postal mail, and 

the Internet to cross geographic 

boundaries and trick victims 

into sending money or giving out 

personal information. 

While con artists can be 

clever, many can be foiled by 

knowledgeable — and equally 

canny — consumers. Here are 

10 things you can do to stop 

a scam. 

Law enforcement agencies 

around the world work together 

to stop scammers and provide 

consumers with the information 

they need to avoid fraud. 

If you believe you have been 

scammed, file a complaint with 

the Federal Trade Commission 

at ftc.gov, or call 1-877-FTC-HELP 

(1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4621.

If you are outside the U.S., file a 

complaint at: 

All complaints are entered into 

the Consumer Sentinel Network, 

a secure online database used 

by hundreds of law enforcement 

agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

File a Complaint

Things

YOU

can do to

Avoid 

Fraud

10

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
1 Keep in mind that wiring money is 

like sending cash: once it’s gone, 

you can’t get it back. Con artists often insist 

that people wire money, especially overseas, 

because it’s nearly impossible to reverse the 

transaction or trace the money. Don’t wire 

money to strangers, to sellers who insist on 

wire transfers for payment, or to someone who 

claims to be a relative in an emergency (and 

wants to keep the request a secret).

2 Don’t send money to someone you don’t know. That includes an online 

merchant you’ve never heard of — or an online 

love interest who asks for money or favors. It’s 

best to do business with sites you know and 

trust. If you buy items through an online auction, 

consider a payment option that provides 

protection, like a credit card. Don’t send cash or 

use a wire transfer service. 

3 Don’t respond to messages that ask for your personal or financial 

information, whether the message comes 

as an email, a phone call, a text message, 

or an ad. Don’t click on links in the message, 

or call phone numbers that are left on your 

answering machine, either. The crooks behind 

these messages are trying to trick you into 

giving up your personal information. If you get a 

message and are concerned about 

your account status, call the number 

on your credit or debit card — or 

your statement — and check it out.

4 Don’t play a foreign lottery. First, it’s easy to be tempted by messages 

that boast enticing odds in a foreign lottery, 

or messages that claim you’ve already won. 

Inevitably, you’ll be asked to pay “taxes,” “fees,” 

or “customs duties” to collect your prize. If you 

send money, you won’t get it back, regardless of 

the promises. Second, it’s illegal to play foreign 

lotteries.

5 Don’t agree to deposit a check from someone you don’t know and then 

wire money back, no matter how convincing 

the story. By law, banks must make funds from 

deposited checks available within days, but 

uncovering a fake check can take weeks. You are 

responsible for the checks you deposit: When 

a check turns out to be a fake, it’s you who is 

responsible for paying back the bank. 

6 Read your bills and monthly statements regularly — on paper and 

online. Scammers steal account information 

and then run up charges or commit crimes in 

your name. Dishonest merchants sometimes bill 

you for monthly “membership fees” and other 

goods or services you didn’t authorize. If you 

see charges you don’t recognize or didn’t okay, 

contact your bank, card issuer, or other creditor 

immediately.

7 In the wake of a natural disaster or another crisis, give to established 

charities rather than one that seems to have 

sprung up overnight. Pop-up charities probably 

don’t have the infrastructure to get help to the 

affected areas or people, and they could be 

collecting the money to finance illegal activity. 

Check out ftc.gov/charityfraud to learn more.

8 Talk to your doctor before buying health products or signing up for 

medical treatments. Ask about research that 

supports a product’s claims — and possible 

risks or side effects. Buy prescription drugs 

only from licensed U.S. pharmacies. Otherwise, 

you could end up with products that are fake, 

expired or mislabeled — in short, products that 

could be dangerous. Visit ftc.gov/health for 

more information.

9 Remember there’s no such thing as a sure thing. If someone contacts 

you promoting low-risk, high-return investment 

opportunities, stay away. When you hear pitches 

that insist you act now, guarantees of big 

profits, promises of little or no financial risk, 

or demands that you send cash immediately, 

report them to the FTC. 

10 Know where an offer comes from and who you’re dealing with. Try 

to find a seller’s physical address (not just a 

P.O. Box) and phone number. With VoIP and 

other web-based technologies, it’s tough to tell 

where someone is calling from. Do an internet 

search for the company name and website and 

look for negative reviews. Check them out with 

the Better Business Bureau at bbb.org. 

One bonus tip: Visit OnGuardOnline.gov to 

learn how to avoid 

internet fraud, secure 

your computer and 

protect your personal 

information.