Elder Abuse and Fraud - More Information

Internet Fraud Watch was launched in March of 1996 enabling the NFIC to expand its services to help consumers distinguish between legitimate and fraudulent promotions in cyberspace and route reports of suspected fraud to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.

35.6 Million Americans Participated in Online Auctions; 41% of Buyers Encountered Problems an Internet Fraud Watch Survey Reports.

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. While the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) does not resolve individual consumer problems, your complaint helps us investigate fraud, and can lead to law enforcement action.

The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies worldwide. FTC Consumer Complaint Form

"Hotline" numbers are provided for every state to assist you in obtaining help for vulnerable persons who may be in abusive situations.

The FTC established the Identity Theft Toll-Free Hotline at 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338) and the ID Theft Web Site to give identity theft victims a central place in the federal government to report their problems and receive helpful information.

Click Here to read a list of suggestions for how to advocate effectively for your loved one, including a worksheet to use in documenting concerns. (PDF format)

The National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform (NCCNHR) applauds the Senate Special Committee on Aging for investigating the plight of elders who have been victimized by criminal abuse in nursing homes.

Some Websites offer to prescribe medication based only on a questionnaire. Is this a safe practice? Is it legal?

Is it illegal for a foreign pharmacy to ship prescription medicines into the U.S.?

How can you tell if an older relative, friend, or client may be a target for telemarketing fraud? Here are some warning signs...

The NFIC is the only nationwide toll-free hotline for consumers to get advice about telephone solicitations and report possible telemarketing fraud to law enforcement agencies. Consumers can call the NFIC hotline toll-free at 1-800-876-7060 or send their questions to the NFIC via Their Web Site

The National Fraud Information Center and Internet Fraud Watch, operated by the nonprofit National Consumers League, provide invaluable assistance to consumers and to law enforcement agencies, free of charge. These services are made possible by grants and contributions from businesses, trade associations, and concerned individuals.

It's sometimes hard to tell if a sales pitch is legitimate or fraudulent. You can't judge it by the tone of someone's voice, or how friendly or sincere the person seems. Good salespeople are convincing, and so are crooks. But it's probably a scam if ...

To prevent a telemarketer from calling you again, tell the caller to place you on the company's "do not call list". Federal law requires telemarketing companies to maintain "do not call lists". This law, however, does not apply to non-profit organizations.

The Area On Aging (AoA) funds the National Center on Elder Abuse as a resource for public and private agencies, professionals, service providers, and individuals interested in elder abuse prevention information, training, technical assistance and research. The web site includes a state-by-state listing of statewide toll-free telephone numbers.