File a Complaint

Your complaint is an essential resource for local, state, and federal law enforcement officials. Law enforcers review consumer complaints to spot trends and build cases against hackers, identity thieves, and scam artists.

Here's how to file a complaint about various types of Internet-related problems:

Hacking or a Computer Virus

If your computer gets hacked or infected by a virus, disconnect from the Internet and scan it with fully updated anti-virus software, and update your firewall. Then notify your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and the hacker's ISP, if you can tell what it is. Finally, file a complaint with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

ID Theft

If your information has been misused, file a report about your identity theft with the police, and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at www.consumer.gov/idtheft. Read Take Charge: Fighting Back Against Identity Theft for detailed information on other steps to take in the wake of identity theft.

Internet Auctions

If you have problems during a transaction, try to work them out directly with the seller, buyer, or site operator. If that doesn't work, file a complaint with:

• the attorney general's office in your state. You can find your state Attorney General's contact information on the website of the National Association of Attorneys General.
• your county or state consumer protection agency. Check the blue pages of the phone book under county and state government.
• the FTC.

Spyware

If you believe your computer has spyware, the FTC wants to know. File a complaint with the FTC.

Phishing

Forward spam that is phishing for information to spam@uce.gov and to the company, bank, or organization impersonated in the phishing email. Most organizations have information on their websites about where to report problems. You also may report phishing email to reportphishing@antiphishing.org. The Anti-Phishing Working Group, a consortium of ISPs, security vendors, financial institutions and law enforcement agencies, uses these reports to fight phishing.

If you believe you've been scammed, file your complaint at ftc.gov, and then visit the FTC's Identity Theft website at www.consumer.gov/idtheft. Victims of phishing can become victims of identity theft.

Spam

Should you receive an email that you think may be fraudulent, forward it to the FTC at spam@uce.gov and to the abuse desk of the sender's ISP. Also, if the email appears to be impersonating a bank or other company or organization, forward the message to the actual organization.

Online Shopping Fraud

If you have problems during a transaction, try to work them out directly with the seller, buyer or site operator. If that doesn't work, file a complaint with:

• the Attorney General's office in your state. You can find your state Attorney General's contact information on the website of the National Association of Attorneys General.
• your county or state consumer protection agency. Check the blue pages of the phone book under county and state government.
• the Better Business Bureau.
• the FTC.

Online Investing

If you’ve been a victim of online investment fraud, send your complaint to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, using the agency’s Online Complaint Center.

Cross-Border Scams

If you think you may have responded to a cross-border scam, file a complaint at eConsumer.gov. Then visit the FTC's identity theft website at ftc.gov/idtheft to learn how to minimize your risk. If you've been involved in a "Nigerian" scheme, contact your local Secret Service field office. Report telemarketing fraud and check overpayment scams to your state Attorney General. Report any unsolicited email offers to spam@uce.gov. If you receive what looks like lottery material from a foreign country through the postal mail, give it to your local postmaster.

 

" I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."
- Thomas Watson, Chairman of IBM, 1943.

In the last quarter of 2006, the type of computer attacks changed course a bit, with the blending of old malware (trojans) with newer, more complex malware (Rootkits). This trend is increasing with viruses, adware, spyware and such into 2007. Phishing attacks have gotten more personal (they have to do with clubs you REALLY belong to), spam is increasing in numbers - as existing techniques are no longer holding their ground.

If you have not done so before (or even if you have), I recommend that you re-examine your online habits, computer security counter-measures, email procedures along with scanning all machines (computers) for Rootkits.

Today's web is really complex. We must continue to fight the bad guys who are holding the web ransom! We can overcome and take down the malware writers, website hackers, and bogus businessman around the globe pushing bad code to better their wallets.

As the founding member of CAAM, a consumer advocate organization designed to expose companies, that we have come to trust over the years, that employ malware tactics to better their bottom line (profits). I am also a proud expert member of ASAP - Alliance of Security Analysis Professionals, along with several other security related organizations and agencies.

However, you do not have to be a computer security professional, or spend the 65+ hours a week studying security attacks like I do to learn about this very serious problem. I started "M.I.C.A. ~ Machine Information Consulting Alliance" to bridge the gap between "expensive, complex computer talk and free help for the novice computer user." Since then, I have added dozens of web sites aimed at fighting malware, while educating consumers.

As a Network Administrator, Computer Builder, Software Designer, Web Developer and Computer Security Consultant - I have been at the heart of this hideous fight for several years. All of the information contained on my family of websites have been used by me to fix, clean and lockdown Windows based machines entrusted to me for care. It has worked on my machines and it will work on yours.

Go to the M.I.C.A. Lockdown page and scroll down to Rootkits and run the free scanners today!

This is a message to the IP address holder who continues to post bogus trackbacks to sex sites.

We work closely with our various online computer security partners to track & build legal cases against this type of online abuse. Each post you make, brings us closer together. You can not hide all of your traces and since your postings lead to sex sites, you are in violation of State and Federal laws.

As a site rated for all ages, you are exposing unsuspecting children to adult content. We are partnered with a law firm to protect consumers from unwanted online attacks.

You are being tracked and your crimes will catch up to you.

You will not prevail.