Here are some
important tips on how to enter information with the FTC, for shoppers and
merchants.
How does the FTC use the
information I provide?
We enter the information you send into our electronic database -
the Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse is a system
of records covered under the Privacy Act of 1974. In general, the
Privacy Act prohibits unauthorized disclosures of the records it
protects. It also gives individuals the right to review records
about themselves. Learn more about your Privacy Act rights and the
FTC's Privacy Act procedures by contacting the FTC's Freedom of
Information Act Office: 202-326-2430;
www.ftc.gov/foia/privacy_act.htm.
The information you
submit is shared with our attorneys and investigators. It also may
be shared with various other law enforcement authorities. We also
may share information with certain private entities, such as credit
bureaus and any companies you may have complained about, where we
believe that doing so might assist in resolving identity
theft-related problems. You may be contacted by the FTC or any of
the agencies or private entities to whom your complaint has been
referred. In other limited circumstances, including requests from
Congress, we may be required by law to disclose information you
submit.
We also aggregate the
information you provide us with the information from other
complaints and make the data available in statistical reports. See
Statistics. Policy-makers, the media and businesses use these
reports to focus attention on particular problems and to devise
remedies to those problems.
Source: FTC
The FTC works for the
consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business
practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help
consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a
complaint or to get
free information on
consumer issues, visit
www.ftc.gov or call
toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The
FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft and other
fraud-related complaints into
Consumer
Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of
civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
HealthCare
Finance - CareCredit offers "no interest" financing for medical
procedures from Cosmetic Dentistry to LASIK Surgery.
Unmanned
Aircraft Systems - AeroVironment, Inc. is the largest producer of
small UAS in the world today.
Baby
Bassinets - Find out what characterizes a good baby bassinet in this
FAQ with Arm's Reach.
Israel
Biblical Tours - This travel company has archaeologists and scholars
to guide you through the Holy Land.
Residential
Re-Roofing - "Learn some important facts about re-roofing your home in
this exclusive interview with Jason Vaughan, a 20 year roofing
veteran.
Pet
Stairs - PetStairz talks about foam pet products.
CD
Manufacturing - Music Manufacturing Services provides CD's for the
Music Industry all around the world.
Live
Longer... A Science? - David H. Murdock, Chairman of the Dole Food
Company says it is, and he created the luxurious California Health &
Longevity Institute to prove it.
Counterfeit
Handbags - "The World Customs Organization estimates the trade in
fakes at about 7 percent of world trade."
Carpet
Cleaning Tips - "Always ask about referrals and if they have a list of
what they do to prepare your carpets for cleaning, and what type of system
do they use..." QA with Sunset Carpet Cleaning
Children's
Development Toys - "No matter how good a toy looks, the way it
performs under stress is often very different." Says Brian Gordon of
eBeanStalk.
Shopping for
Purses "Whats happening now at a great speed is manufacturers overseas
will see the latest it bag and then duplicate the bag... Price is
primarily why people would buy a knock-off purse as opposed to the real
thing.." Kitsch Purses Q & A
Workers'
Compensation Info "The huge benefit of the Internet is time and
expense savings. The only other way to get all of this information other
than the Internet is at your local law library." FAQ with
WorkCompCentral
Eating
Disorder Treatment - In this FAQ Monte Nido explains how you can find
the right treatment center online.
Auto
Insurance Quotes In this FAQ GMAC explains why you should shop around,
"Each company is different so you should always check several companies to
find the best rates."
Buying
Tickets Online "That game you want to go to is sold out (Superbowl,
World Series), your favorite artist is coming to town and you want great
seats, these are some of the reasons people buy through an online ticket
service or broker." Chico at Platinum Tickets answers faqs.
Planes
Without Pilots Imagine a 3 1/2 foot remote controlled plane that flies
straight up for miles.
Eating
Disorder Help For those dealing with eating disorders, hope is never
too far behind.
Mass
CD Duplication. All of the sudden record labels began relying heavily
on CD manufacturers for the mass production of their clients' albums.
Corporate
Entertainment Corporate meetings are becoming more common in spas than
conference rooms, with room service cuisine rather than with fast food
from drive-thrus.
