Fraud Information - Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if someone asks me to use a fraudulent Auto Shippers site?
You should be aware that the person recommending a fraudulent Auto Shippers site is usually a participant in the scam. No matter how good the opportunity seems, walk away from the deal. If you attempt to continue the transaction, it is very likely you will become a victim.
At a minimum, you should do the following:
How can I protect my identity if I have registered with a fraudulent Auto Shippers site?
If you have provided any personal or financial information to a fraudulent Auto Shippers site or to the person recommending the site, you must consider how such information could be illegally used. To learn more about identity theft and how you can protect yourself, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft Information Site. Additional information about identify theft is provided by the United States Postal Service
If you provided a password to the fraudulent site that you use for any other service or account, you should immediately change the password anywhere else it was used.
If you have provided account information to the fraudulent site, you should immediately contact your financial institution to discuss what steps you need to take to protect your account.
What can I do if I have been the victim of a fraudulent Auto Shippers site?
There are three things victims of Auto Shippers fraud sites must consider.
- Identity Protection
Taking steps to protect your identity may be necessary to avoid additional losses or hassles. This is particularly important if you have provided a credit card number, financial account information, driver’s license number, or social security number to the fraud site OR to the person recommending the fraud site.
- Reporting the Fraud
Reporting the fraud site to the proper authorities can help investigators track down and prosecute those responsible for the fraud. It can also help to warn other potential victims and help close down the fraudulent site. Reporting your loss to the police may also be a requirement to claim the loss on your tax return (consult your tax advisor). To learn more about ways you can report a fraudulent Auto Shippers site, click here.
- Recovering Your Money or Merchandise
If you shipped merchandise, you should immediate contact the carrier and see if they can stop shipment of the merchandise. Most carriers also have a fraud investigations department you can ask to become involved in attempting to recover the merchandise.
If you sent money via ACH, wire transfer, or check (cheque), you should immediately contact your financial institution to see if a hold can be put on the transfer of the funds and to see what other steps may be necessary to protect your account. You should also ask your financial institution to investigate and report the fraud.
If you sent money to the site via Western Union money transfers, call the Western Union Customer Service number at 1-800-634-1311 and tell the customer service representative that you wish to report a fraud involving a Western Union money transfer; or, send an email to customerservice@westernunion.com.
Where can I report a fraudulent Auto Shippers site?
You should consider reporting a fraudulent Auto Shippers site to the following locations. Many agencies can not respond to individual cases, but will combine the information you provide with other reports they receive.
In addition:
If the fraud site is using the United States Postal System for delivery of either money or merchandise, you can file a Mail Fraud Complaint.
If you are located in the UK, and you wish to report the crime you can use the UK’s national police web portal to contact your local police force.
If the fraud site is being recommended by an eBay user, you can report the user to eBay.
If the fraud site is targeting Yahoo! Auction customers, you should report the problem to Yahoo!
If the site uses Western Union as a payment method, call the Western Union Customer Service number at 1-800-634-1311 and tell the customer service representative that you wish to report a fraud involving a Western Union money transfer; or, send an email to customerservice@westernunion.com.
You may also want to file an abuse report with the ISP (hosting company) that is hosting the site and ask them to terminate the site.
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