How to File a Complaint

8/21/2008

It is very important that you file formal complaints with the authorities for purposes of their criminal investigations. Everyone, regardless of where you live, should file a complaint with the IC3 (the United States Federal Internet Crime Complaint Center), the United States Federal Trade Commission and the UK Serious Fraud Office. If you reside in the United States, the UK or Australia please see information at the bottom of this page for filing additional complaints

IC3
(1) Go to the IC3 website and File a Complaint . You will fill out a questionnaire and submit it online.

(2) The questionnaire will ask you to provide as much information as possible regarding the identity of the individual/organization that scammed you and details on how, why, and when you believe you were defrauded. It will be easier to fill out the form if you have any paperwork regarding your ticket purchase in front of you. The more information you are able to provide, the better.

(3) Please read the FAQs regarding filing a complaint with the IC3 to get an understanding of how the complaint process works.

Federal Trade Commission
(1) Fill out the "Complaint Assistant Form" on the Federal Trade Commission's website. The form will walk you through a series of questions. The questionnaire will ask you what your complaint is more closely related to - it is most closely related to "dissatisfaction with other business practices."

(2) If you have an Apple computer, please use Firefox rather than Safari to access the website.

(3) The questionnaire will ask you to provide as much information as possible regarding the identity of the individual/organization that scammed you and details on how, why, and when you believe you were defrauded. It will be easier to fill out the form if you have any paperwork regarding your ticket purchase in front of you. The more information you are able to provide, the better.

UK Serious Fraud
(1) Go to the Serious Fraud Website and fill out a short questionnaire to report the fraud.

(2) The Serious Fraud Office typically only investigates cases involving more than £1 million so it is very important that you let them know that you suspect a large number of other people have also been defrauded.

(3) The short form will ask you to provide as much information as possible regarding the identity of the individual/organization that scammed you and details on how, why, and when you believe you were defrauded. It will be easier to fill out the form if you have any paperwork regarding your ticket purchase in front of you. The more information you are able to provide, the better.

Additional Complaints to File
If you reside in the United States, you should also contact your state's Attorney General's office. Go to your state's Attorney General's website (use a search engine to locate your state's page) and click on the "Complaints" or Consumer Protection links to access the online complaint form.

If you reside in the UK, you should also report the fraud directly to your bank or credit card company. In 2007, the UK changed its policies for reporting internet fraud/crime. For more information, click here .

If you reside in Australia, you should also call 1800-055-555 to report the crime.