Filing with the FTC
How to File with the FTC
Here are some important tips on how to file a complaint with the FTC, for shoppers and merchants.
Why should I file a complaint with the FTC?
Filing a complaint with the FTC is one of several important steps that victims of identity theft should take. The links below will walk you how to file a complaint with the FTC, and how you can get the protections that you, as a victim of ID theft, may be entitled to. If you’re ready to go directly to the Complaint Form, click here.
For more information on other steps that victims of ID theft should take, please see the Defend: Recover from Identity Theft section of this website.
- What should I know before filling out the FTC’s ID Theft Complaint Form?
- Instructions for completing the ID Theft Complaint Form
- What should I know once I’ve filled out and printed the FTC’s ID Theft Complaint Form?
Filing a complaint with the FTC is important for a number of
reasons:
1) Complaints get
entered into a secure database used by law enforcement to
investigate cases. Identity thieves do not necessarily limit
themselves to victims in a single jurisdiction. Even if your local
law enforcement agency can't investigate your case, you may be
able to provide useful information to a law enforcement officer
investigating from another jurisdiction.
2) The FTC
aggregates related complaints into large case leads and refers
them out to task forces or other law enforcement agencies for
investigation. You may think you're the only victim of this
identity thief when, in fact, you may be one of many. The more
complaints we receive, the better our chances of discovering
patterns of theft and taking steps to catch the criminals.
3) The FTC analyzes
information from complaints to understand more about identity
theft and the problems victims are having in resolving it.
Policy-makers and businesses are interested in this information so
that they can craft better remedies to prevent identity theft and
to provide better victim assistance. Understanding the problem is
the first step to resolving it. You are the best source of that
information. See
Statistics.
4) The FTC can open
investigations against entities which have violated consumer
protection 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.