Here are some
important tips on how to file for a FTC investigation, for shoppers and
merchants.
Will an investigation be opened if
I file a complaint?
Although the FTC does not have the authority to bring criminal
cases, your complaint will be entered into the FTC's Identity Theft
Data Clearinghouse. As a result, sworn law enforcement officers,
through their membership to the Clearinghouse, can search the
information provided by you in the course of their criminal
investigations. You will be contacted by a law enforcement agency if
your case becomes part of one of their criminal investigations. As
there is no guarantee, though, that your complaint will be
investigated through the Clearinghouse, you should always maintain
direct contact with your local police department to stay updated
about the progress of your case.
Most law enforcement
agencies agree that identity theft cases should be investigated
aggressively. However, issues such as staff
resources, caseloads, budget, and prosecutorial guidelines
all affect whether or not a law enforcement agency will pursue your
case. So when reporting your crime, be as accurate as possible about
actual monetary loss and about any information relating to the
suspect such as actual name, address, date of birth that you may
know. The accuracy of this information could be the difference
between having a case investigated or declined.
Ask your police
department to search the FTC's Consumer Sentinel database for other
complaints in your community. You may not be the first or only
victim of this identity thief. If there is a pattern of cases, local
authorities may give your case more consideration.
The FTC can open
investigations against entities which have violated consumer
protections laws which we enforce. See
http://www.ftc.gov/ogc/stat3.htm. Although we do not advocate on
behalf of individuals and we cannot guarantee that an investigation
will be opened on the basis of your particular complaint, consumer
complaints are one way in which we are able to discover law
violations and to take enforcement action. For more information see
http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/action.htm.
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.
