1. Finding Fraud Consumer Reporting Molly Yanity
JOUR 233 Information Gathering
Ohio University
Molly Yanity
Consumer Reporting

2. People Get Ripped Off… Elderly Mentally Challenged Minorities
Socio-economically disadvantaged
Patients
Disaster victims

3. Information as a defense
Investigative reporters help defend targeted consumers against fraud
Better Business Bureau - a private not-for-profit association
National Consumers League -
Legal assistance groups

4. Government Support Congressional offices Federal Trade Commission
Environmental issues
Committee testimony
Federal Trade Commission
U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs
U.S. Dept. of Justice
U.S. Dept. of Labor
Attorney generals (state level)

5. Other Resources Large cities - consumer protection council
Advocacy groups (professional associations protecting their reputation)
Small Claims Court - huge resource for stories on consumer fraud

6. Fraud Schemes E-mail/Internet Fraud Never pay to play
Buying doesn’t improve chances of winning
Don’t give taxes for claiming a prize
sweepstakes are usually fraudulent
Never give out bank/credit card numbers
Watch for imposters/mirror sites

7. Fraud Schemes (continued)
Be wary of accepting “part” of winnings
Read all details of any offer
Be cautious of foreign sweepstakes
Watch for signs of questionable origin, such as poor grammar, punctuation

8. Street Schemes
‘Chimney Shakers’ - door-to-door pitches on home repairs
Telemarketers - harassment
Mail fraud - advertise but don’t deliver
Questionable business practices among service providers

9. Investigating Fraud/schemes
Set a trap - pretend to be a consumer in need of the questionable service
Review state agency reports
Beware of close alliances, “revolving door” political appointees
Become a trainee in a program - learn from the other salespeople

10. Questions?