Help! I’ve Been Scammed: The Power of Reporting Fraud

No matter how aware and cautious you are, anyone can be scammed. In 2024, $12.5 billion was lost to fraud!

From phone calls and texts to emails and social media, each day, we may be confronted with deceptive ploys that aim to steal sensitive information or trick us into giving away money. With scams constantly being morphed and modified, it is challenging to stay informed of all the various ways bad actors may use to victimize their targets.

There have been many instances of well-informed and intelligent individuals of all ages falling for the traps set by fraudsters. It can be humiliating and frustrating to admit that you were duped by a scam, and experts believe that this leads to a majority of scams going unreported. Reporting scams can not only help you protect yourself from further financial and emotional harm, but it can also assist authorities in tracking trends and help catch the perpetrators of these crimes.

Alarmingly, there are even recovery scams designed to trick individuals who have just been the victims of a scam! In these scenarios, the scammer will pretend to be a fraud recovery helpline and ask the victim for personal or financial information under the ruse of assisting them. While real recovery helplines may require sensitive information, they should not ask for money or other payments.

If you should be the unfortunate victim of a scam, it is best practice to report the crime through several channels. Although the money lost to fraud will likely not be recovered, contacting the following organizations may help minimize further damage and ensure others do not fall for the same trap.

• Contacting your bank, credit card issuer, or other involved financial institutions will inform them that recent transactions were illegitimate, and they can assist in canceling cards or accounts if needed.
• Filing a police report may be handy, so contacting local law enforcement is a good idea.
• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is a government agency that protects consumers and has helpful information about various scams. Fraud can be reported using the reportfraud.ftc.gov website. The FTC also has a site dedicated to reporting identity theft, identitytheft.gov.
• The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) encourages victims to use their ic3.gov website to file a complaint.
• When reporting an incident online to a governmental agency, it is important to check that the website has a web address that ends in “.gov.”

One of the best ways to fight against these crimes is by spreading awareness. Sharing information regarding scams with family and friends may help them avoid becoming victims. Be on the lookout for “Is It Legit” bookmarks at your local MCPL Library branch to stay informed about emerging scams. Having the courage to report when you have fallen victim yourself is extremely helpful to organizations fighting to keep everyone safe from these fraudulent activities.

Brad Smith
Digital Innovation Department