I received a letter from a foreign country telling me I won millions of dollars in the lottery. How do I know if it’s real?
- Remember the old adage, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” This definitely applies to foreign lottery scams. Crooks make up reasons for why you need to wire them money (i.e. taxes, special courier) or why you should give them your banking information. They plan to make a withdrawal, not a deposit. It is illegal to participate in a foreign lottery and the crime should be reported to the U.S. Postal Inspector Fraud Unit.
I received a solicitation (fax, letter or e-mail) from Nigeria offering to transfer millions of dollars into my bank account. Who should I report it to?
- If it arrived in the mail, contact the U.S. Postal Inspector Fraud Unit, otherwise refer complaints to your local police or sheriff.
Are pyramids illegal?
- Pyramids or Ponzi schemes require recruitment of members rather than the sale of goods and services. For a fee, the scheme requires you to recruit other members into the scheme while promising huge payoffs. They are illegal.
I hired a contractor who damaged my house during the course of his work. Where can I file a complaint?
- Contractor complaints should be submitted to the Contractors State License Board. Visit the website at www.cslb.ca.gov for more information.
I hired a handyman to paint the exterior of my home for $3,000. He said he did not need to be licensed through the Contractors State License Board since he was going to bill me by the hour. Does he need a license?
- Yes. If the job is more than $500, a license is required. There are no special exceptions to the rule such as working by the hour or by time and materials. Visit the Contractors State License Board for consumer information on how to hire a contractor and to view the various license classifications in California for contractors.
I purchased a new car from a local car dealership and tried to return it when I realized I couldn’t afford the payments. Don’t they have to accept the car back within 3 days?
- In California there is no “cooling off” period. Check your vehicle purchase agreement which states this.
I took my car to a mechanic to be repaired and when the work was completed he charged me twice the amount we had agreed upon and failed to give me a written estimate. Isn’t this illegal? Where do I file a complaint?
- California law requires mechanics to provide consumers with a written estimate prior to beginning repair work. A complaint should be directed to the Bureau of Automotive Repair.
I was the winning bid on an internet auction site. I sent the seller a money order for the item but I never received it. Where can I file a complaint?
- Internet auction fraud can be reported to the Internet Crime Complaint Center. The site is the collaborative effort of the National White Collar Crime Center and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Complaints can be filed on-line at www.ic3.gov.
I read an ad in my local newspaper offering guaranteed loans if I paid $750.00 in loan fees in advance. Should I be concerned about the offer?
- Yes. You have just encountered an advance fee loan scam and the party offering the loan is a thief. You will be instructed to complete and return by fax a loan application which requires you to divulge your personal identifying and financial information as well as require you to send copies of your driver’s license and social security card. After they have obtained all the information about you, they’ll request that you wire $750.00 to them. The thief has stolen $750.00 and your identity simultaneously. If you suffered a loss, the crime should be reported to your local police or sheriff’s department.
How do I reduce the number of phone calls from telemarketers?
You should register with the National Do Not Call Registry by calling (888) 382-1222. If you continue to receive calls after being registered, complaints may be filed with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Visit the website at www.ftc.gov or call (877) 382-4357.