I can’t imagine winning a million dollars in a lottery much less the astronomical jackpot in last week’s Powerball. The thought actually sickens me a little and not because I wouldn’t know how to spend the money. In winning a lottery of that size – or any I suppose – I would invariably become the target of scammers and others who would want a piece of the pie.
None of us wants to become a victim of a scam. We don’t wake up one morning saying, “Gee, today’s a great day for me to willingly part with $1,000. I think that Nigerian prince needs it more than I do.” We don’t seek out fraudsters who want us to think our friends or relatives have been robbed in foreign places or want to set up Bitcoin wallets to pay ransom.
But, from time to time, it happens and that’s why today’s tip is a actually a list of resources that you might find helpful in case you or someone you know becomes a victim.
- Local law enforcement – Contact your local law enforcement agency as soon as you know you have been a victim of a crime.
- The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) – IC3 reviews complaints and refers them to the appropriate agencies with jurisdiction. File a complaint here.
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – The FTC doesn’t investigate individual complaints but operates the Consumer Sentinel. File a complain here.
- Contact a victim advocate.
For more information, also review StaySafeOnline.com