Do Your Own Private Investigations

Here are the ways of stopping scams affecting you and possibly others:

(1). Document the full phone number along with the time and date of every call. Look at your phone's caller ID history.

(2). File a Complaint online with the FCC.
http://www.fcc.gov/complaints

 

(3). Trace the telephone number here online at http://www.whitepages.com/reverse_phone

(4). Press *57 to activate Call Trace after every call from the scammer's phone call to you. Call Trace only works on Landline Phones. After you use *57 Call Trace, then notify the police or FBI.

(5). For Smartphones, block the phone number(s). You may have to save the phone number with a name such as Scam or something and then block the phone number. There are also free apps that you can download and install that will block telephone numbers such as the Android app called "Mr Number". http://mrnumber.com/

(6). Contact the FBI Consumer Fraud Reporting Division.
http://www.consumerfraudreporting.org/FBI_LocalOffices.php

 

(7). File a complaint online with your state's Department of Justce or your state's Office of the Attorney General online.

 

(8). Register Your Telephone Number with the National Do Not Call Registry with the Federal Trade Commission online here: https://www.donotcall.gov/

 

(9). File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission online here: https://complaints.donotcall.gov/complaint/complaintcheck.aspx

 

 

Tracing the Telephone Number back to the Scammer

 

Due to technology, these scammers can use ANY area code and spoof any telephone number that they want. They can use SKYPE (VoIP), Magic Jack, different programs and apps that can fool Caller ID technology. Unlike Landline based phone, VoIP and Magic Jack type technologies can mean the telephone service could be anywhere in the world, and that doesn’t even include the use of prepaid cell phones that do not have subscriber information. So, as far as locating these scammers, the law enforcement agencies are at a great disadvantage.
 

 

Consumer Scam Victims

 

If you’re a victim of a consumer scam, you’re not alone. Unfortunately, scam artists succeed in ripping off people from all walks of life, of all ages, and all across the state.

 

Join other victims in telling us and local law enforcement about the scam. We may be able to help you recover your lost funds. Even if not, we can often put a stop to a scam so that others won’t fall victim.

 

When we know about scams, we can alert the public and other law enforcement agencies to avoid the con artists. Notifying local law enforcement is especially important if you were scammed in person or if you receive threatening or harassing phone calls or emails.

 

Be aware that you will be targeted again and again. Once you’ve been a victim, the criminals will repeatedly contact you in the hope of stealing even more money. This is called “reloading.”

 

If you are or know a repeat victim, contact our office toll free at 1-877-5-NOSCAM (1-877 566-7226). We work with the NC Division of Aging to help these kinds of victims.

 

 

Filing a Complaint Online with the NC Department of Justice: 

 

http://www.ncdoj.gov/getdoc/8a3df65e-7a47-4cd4-ae58-884ddb946dbc/Telemmarketing-Complaint-Form.aspx

 

http://www.ncdoj.gov/getdoc/fdbee1c7-c2a9-4f67-91b2-bb50beea1c0a/2-2-12-File-a-Complaint.aspx