Knowing where to report fraud can be confusing because different agencies handle different types of complaints. The right place to begin depends on what happened.

You may need to report the same incident to more than one organization. For example, a resident who sent money through an online scam may need to contact the bank, Pinehurst Police Department, Federal Trade Commission, and FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Immediate Danger or Crime in Progress

Call 911 if:

• Someone is in immediate danger
• A crime is currently occurring
• A suspicious person is at your home and refuses to leave
• Someone is being threatened, restrained, or harmed
• An older or disabled adult may be in immediate danger
• You believe rapid police or medical assistance is necessary

Online reporting forms should never be used for an emergency.

Local Assistance

Pinehurst Police Department

Contact the Pinehurst Police Department when:

• Money or property was stolen
• Someone attempted to obtain money through fraud
• A suspicious person came to your home
• A caregiver, relative, acquaintance, or professional may be exploiting someone
• You need documentation for a bank, creditor, insurer, or identity-theft claim
• You are unsure whether the conduct should be reported to law enforcement

Emergency: 911
Non-Emergency: 910-295-3141

Preserve receipts, messages, telephone numbers, account records, website addresses, names, dates, and other available evidence. Do not continue communicating with a scammer simply to collect more information.

Moore County Adult Protective Services

Adult Protective Services receives reports concerning disabled adults who may be abused, neglected, or exploited and need protective services.

Contact Moore County Social Services if you suspect that an older or disabled adult is being:

• Financially exploited
• Physically or emotionally abused
• Neglected by a caregiver
• Prevented from accessing food, medication, medical care, or money
• Pressured into signing financial or legal documents
• Isolated or controlled by another person

Moore County Adult Abuse Hotline: 910-947-5683
Reports may be made at any time, day or night. Reports are confidential, and the person making the report is not required to give a name. Call 911 for an after-hours emergency or immediate danger.

Visit Moore County Social Services or learn more about North Carolina Adult Protective Services.

Adult Protective Services and law enforcement serve different roles. Contact law enforcement when a crime may have occurred or someone is in immediate danger. Contact Adult Protective Services when a disabled adult may need protection from abuse, neglect, or exploitation. In some situations, both should be contacted.

Bank, Credit Union or Credit-Card Company

Contact the financial institution immediately if:

• Money was transferred
• A check was altered or fraudulently deposited
• A card was used without permission
• Account information was shared
• A scammer accessed online banking
• A new recipient or linked account was added
• A suspicious withdrawal appeared
• Contact information or passwords were changed

Use the number on the back of the card, a trusted statement, or the institution’s official website. Do not use a telephone number or link provided by the scammer.

Ask whether the institution can:

• Stop or reverse a payment
• Recall a wire transfer
• Freeze an account
• Replace a card
• Restrict online access
• Add a fraud warning
• Preserve transaction information

A Trusted Person or Adviser

Fraud can be emotionally and financially overwhelming. Consider contacting:

• A family member
• A trusted friend
• A caregiver
• An attorney
• A financial adviser
• An accountant
• A bank fraud specialist
• A trusted technology professional

Choose someone independent of the transaction and anyone suspected of wrongdoing. A second person can help make calls, organize evidence, monitor accounts, and identify additional risks.

Federal Reporting

Federal Trade Commission

Report consumer fraud, impersonation scams, fake prizes, romance scams, technology-support scams, fraudulent businesses, and other scams through ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

An FTC report helps federal agencies identify trends, connect related complaints, warn consumers, and support investigations. The FTC does not resolve every individual complaint or guarantee recovery of lost money.

FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center

Report crimes that occurred online or were enabled through a computer, telephone, email, website, social media, payment application, or cryptocurrency through the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Examples include:

• Online fraud
• Account takeover
• Cryptocurrency scams
• Investment fraud
• Technology-support scams
• Email compromise
• Fraudulent websites
• Online extortion
• Romance scams involving electronic payments

The IC3 is a reporting and information-gathering system. Filing a complaint does not replace contacting local law enforcement or a financial institution.

IdentityTheft.gov

Use IdentityTheft.gov if someone used or may use your personal information without permission.

The site can help create a recovery plan for situations involving:

• Social Security numbers
• New accounts opened in your name
• Unauthorized purchases
• Tax identity theft
• Medical identity theft
• Government-benefit fraud
• Misuse of existing accounts

An IdentityTheft.gov report may also help document the incident when disputing fraudulent accounts or requesting an extended fraud alert.

Social Security Administration

Report Social Security-related fraud when someone:

• Uses another person’s Social Security number
• Files a claim under another person’s identity
• Misuses Social Security benefits
• Impersonates a Social Security employee
• Misuses funds as a representative payee
• Attempts to sell services that Social Security provides without charge

Visit the Social Security Administration’s Fraud Prevention and Reporting page.

If a Social Security number was stolen, shared, or exposed, review the SSA’s guidance on reporting a stolen Social Security number and use IdentityTheft.gov to determine the appropriate next steps.

Medicare

Report suspected Medicare fraud when:

• A claim lists a service you did not receive
• Medical equipment was billed but not ordered or delivered
• Someone used your Medicare number
• A provider billed for unnecessary services
• Someone offered money or gifts in exchange for your Medicare information
• An unauthorized caller attempted to enroll you in a health or drug plan

Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or review Medicare’s fraud-reporting guidance.

Also review Medicare statements and your secure Medicare account for unfamiliar claims.

Internal Revenue Service

Use the IRS reporting resources when:

• A fraudulent tax return was filed using your identity
• You received an unexpected IRS notice
• Your refund or tax account was affected
• Someone impersonated the IRS
• A fraudulent tax preparer misused your information
• You received a suspicious IRS email, text, or social media message

Visit the IRS Identity Theft Central for instructions based on the situation.

The IRS does not initiate contact through unexpected texts, emails, or social media messages to demand immediate payment.

U.S. Postal Inspection Service

Report fraud to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service when the U.S. Mail was used to:

• Send cash or fraudulent payments
• Deliver fake checks
• Conduct sweepstakes or lottery fraud
• Commit investment or romance fraud
• Steal personal information
• Steal or redirect mail
• Send fraudulent solicitations

Visit the U.S. Postal Inspection Service reporting page or call 1-877-876-2455.

If cash or another payment is currently in transit, contact the Postal Inspection Service and the carrier immediately to ask whether delivery can be stopped.

Securities and Exchange Commission

Report suspected investment or securities fraud involving:

• Ponzi schemes
• False investment statements
• Market manipulation
• Unregistered investments
• Misconduct by an investment professional
• Problems with a brokerage or investment account
• Fraud involving stocks, funds, or other securities

Use the SEC Submit a Tip or Complaint page.

Also contact the financial institution or investment firm involved. Report online or cryptocurrency-enabled investment fraud to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center as well.

Protect Your Credit

If a Social Security number or other identifying information was exposed, protect and monitor your credit.

Review Your Credit Reports

Use AnnualCreditReport.com, the federally authorized source for free credit reports.

Review reports for:

• Accounts you did not open
• Credit inquiries you do not recognize
• Incorrect addresses
• Unexpected balances
• Collection accounts
• Changes to existing accounts

Contact both the creditor and the credit bureau to dispute inaccurate or fraudulent information.

Place a Credit Freeze

A credit freeze restricts access to your credit file and makes it harder for someone to open a new credit account in your name.

• A freeze is free.
• It does not affect your credit score.
• It remains until you lift it.
• You must contact all three credit bureaus separately.

Place or manage a freeze through:

• Equifax Credit Freeze
• Experian Credit Freeze
• TransUnion Credit Freeze

A credit freeze does not prevent unauthorized activity on existing accounts. Continue monitoring bank, credit-card, and investment accounts.

Place a Fraud Alert

A fraud alert tells businesses to take additional steps to verify your identity before opening new credit.

An initial fraud alert:

• Is free
• Generally lasts one year
• May be renewed
• Requires contacting only one credit bureau; that bureau must notify the other two

An extended fraud alert may be available to someone who has documented identity theft.

Review the FTC’s guide to credit freezes and fraud alerts.

Elder Financial Exploitation

Financial exploitation occurs when someone improperly or illegally uses another person’s money, property, benefits, accounts, or authority.

The person responsible may be a stranger, but exploitation is often committed by someone the individual knows or trusts, including:

• A relative
• A caregiver
• A friend or neighbor
• A romantic partner
• A person holding power of attorney
• A contractor
• A financial or legal professional
• A newly formed acquaintance

Warning Signs

Possible indicators include:

• Unexplained withdrawals or transfers
• Sudden changes to accounts or beneficiaries
• New names added to bank accounts
• Missing money, checks, jewelry, or other possessions
• Unpaid bills despite adequate income
• Services being disconnected
• Unexplained changes to a will, deed, trust, or power of attorney
• Signatures that appear unusual
• Frequent checks written to cash or an unfamiliar person
• A new “friend” controlling access to the individual
• Pressure to sign documents
• Fear or anxiety when finances are discussed
• Isolation from family, friends, attorneys, or financial advisers
• A caregiver living beyond their apparent means
• Refusal to allow private conversations with the individual

One sign does not necessarily establish exploitation, but concerns should not be ignored.

Help Protect Others

Reporting an attempted scam is valuable even when no money was lost. Reports can help law enforcement and consumer-protection agencies:

• Identify patterns
• Connect related incidents
• Warn the community
• Locate victims
• Build investigations
• Prevent additional losses

Preserve evidence, report the incident to the appropriate organizations, and tell trusted family members or friends about the scam. A short warning shared with someone else may prevent the next loss.

Being scammed is not a reason for embarrassment. Silence protects the criminal—not the victim.