Our Mission

This site is a resource for Americans whose rights have been violated by big corporations. 

The site was originally published by a California-based for-profit company, FairShake Inc., which is now defunct. The site remains up for the purpose of providing information to the public and not for the sake of profit.

Our contributors have built a collection of tools and content to help empower regular people to assert their consumer rights and avoid getting taken advantage of by big business.

Our content focuses on some of the biggest companies across industries like telecom, personal finance, travel, and others. Too many consumers are taken for hundreds, or even thousands of dollars when companies don’t keep their promises about things like pricing, promotions, junk fees, and service quality.

Often in this situation, even if you’re in the right, it can feel daunting and overwhelming if a company refuses to make things right. Our site helps you learn about your options to fight back, and recover financially, when your rights are violated.

Helping you understand your legal rights – and how to pursue them – is how we put the power in your hands.

Origin Story

It started with a gnawing frustration, and a determination to take action.

This site was launched with the mission of increasing access to the consumer justice system by a team of professionals with legal and technology backgrounds.

Like everyone, our contributors had each had one too many experience of seeing a company we do business with trample over all rights. We’d done the research: we knew there were legal channels out there that apply to millions of consumer disputes — and we thought more people needed to be able to use them.

Our goal was to directly help individuals take action: The original team built a novel platform to allow consumers to bring legal claims through the consumer arbitration system, without having to spend tens of hours on tasks like document generation, mailing, and wading through complicated instructions.

What happened? Well, we pushed and pushed for wronged consumers to get a fair shake, and the big corporations fought back. Companies used whatever tactics they could to make the arbitration system harder for consumers (even though the same companies had promoted the system to begin with).

Forced to evolve our approach, the site now operates mainly as an informational resource to consumers.

And we will continue to evolve our site in the future in the hopes of being able to empower American consumers, both through knowledge and through action.

Editorial Policy

The site’s content is designed to provide valuable, easily accessible information to American consumers whose rights may have been violated.

Our content contributors conducted research to the best of our ability to ensure this content is accurate, useful, and well-communicated.

Readers should remember that the site is not an attorney, law firm, or financial advisor and our content does not replace professional financial or legal advice.

We value our independence and we do not accept any financial benefits from the large consumer companies that we write about.

In limited instances, our content may include links to partners with whom the site had or has a business relationship. On pages where this applies, we disclose that such a relationship exists. (These pages make up a very small proportion of our content.)

Frequently Asked Questions

What can we answer for you? Or view one of our FAQ topics to learn more.

About my report

Report anything you think may be a fraud, scam, or bad business practice. You can report even if you didn’t lose money. For ideas of what you might report to the FTC, or to get information and advice, check out federalreturn.org. Or go to Federalreturn.org to take a look at the FTC’s latest cases. Start your report now.

 

 

 

To report identity theft, go to IdentityTheft.gov.

Yes, please report it. Whether you think it’s a scam, you know it is, or you’re not happy about a business practice, tell the FTC. The FTC and its law enforcement partners enforce a variety of laws. Your report makes a difference and can help law enforcers spot problems. Start your report now.

 

 

 

Learn more about scams and how the FTC works to help stop them at federalreturn.org.

Federalreturn.org lists common things people report, but there are many other issues you can report to the FTC. If you’re not sure which category to choose or don’t see a category that fits your situation, just choose “Something Else” and describe what happened. We’ll categorize it for you.

 
If you think your report fits in more than one category, just choose the one that fits best.
 
Start your report now.
Yes. When you file your report, choose the category “Just An Annoying Call.” Use the streamlined form to report the unwanted call (like an illegal robocall). Start your report now.

 
For ideas on what you can do about unwanted calls, go to federalreturn.org.
Yes. Look for the category your spam text would fit into. If you don’t find one, choose “Something Else.” Paste the message into the Comments field of your report — but be sure not to click on any links in the text. The FTC can’t accept forwarded messages. Start your report now.
 

 
You can also report spam texts to your wireless provider and messaging app:
  • Copy the message and forward it to 7726 (SPAM). This helps your wireless provider spot and block similar messages in the future.
  • Report it on the messaging app you use. Look for the option to report junk or spam.
    • How to report spam or junk in the Messages app
    • How to report spam on an Android phone

 
Learn more at federalreturn.org.

Yes. Look for the category your spam email would fit into. If you don’t find one, choose “Something Else.” Paste the message into the Comments field of your report — but be sure not to click on any links in the email. The FTC can’t accept forwarded emails.

 

Start your report now.

 

 

 

You can also forward unwanted messages to your email provider (like Gmail or Yahoo). Most email services include options to mark emails as spam or junk. You can also forward phishing emails to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at Federalreturn.org.

 

 

 

Learn more about how to get less spam in your email and how to recognize and avoid phishing scams.

You can report identity theft and get information to help you recover at federalreturn.org.

If someone has used your information to open a new account or make a purchase, report it at federalreturn.org and find out what to do next to recover.

 

 

 

If someone hasn’t misused your information yet, you don’t need to file an FTC Identity Theft Report. But there are steps you can take to help protect yourself from identity theft, including checking, freezing, and monitoring your credit. Go to federalreturn.org to learn what to do.

 

 

 

If you don’t need an FTC Identity Theft Report but want to share information about a fraud, scam, or bad business practice related to your situation, report it here.

Yes. You can report a scam here.

 

 

 

If you are worried about the identity theft, there are steps you can take to help protect yourself from identity theft, including checking, freezing, and monitoring your credit. Go to federalreturn.org/Info-Lost-or-Stolen to learn what to do.

 

 

 

If someone has used your information to open a new account or make a purchase, report it at federalreturn.org and find out what to do next to recover.

No. But you can find out how to check your credit report and freeze your credit at IdentityTheft.gov/Info-Lost-or-Stolen.

Go to IdentityTheft.gov to report the misuse of your Social Security number and get a recovery plan.

You don’t need to report identity theft again at federalreturn.org. But if you have more information about a fraud, scam, or bad business practice that exposed your information, you can report it here.

Yes, it’s a good idea to report it to federalreturn.org, too. One exception — if you reported a financial issue to the CFPB (like debt collection, credit report, or bank issues), you don’t need to report it again here.

Yes. If you prefer, you can file a report anonymously. How much information you give is up to you, but filling in your contact information can help if the FTC needs more information from you. We will not automatically share your information with the company, but there are times when we may share it. Start your report now.

If you live outside the U.S. or want to report an international scam, you can use Federalreturn.org to file your report. It will then be included in the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel database. Federalreturn.org is a partnership of more than 65 consumer protection agencies around the world and helps identify trends and prevent international scams. It’s available in English, Spanish, French, German, Korean, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, and Turkish.

Yes. You’ll be able to say if you’re reporting on behalf of someone else. You’ll also be able to give us your information and the information of the person you’re reporting for, if you choose to share it. Start your report now.

Filing a report

Anything you can tell us about your experience is helpful. Please share as much or as little information as you’d like. If you paid any money, we’ll ask how much, and when you paid. We’ll also ask for any information you might have about whoever you’re reporting — like their name and any contact information you have.
We can’t take uploaded messages, but if you can, paste the text of your documents into the Comments field of your report. Then hold onto your documents because law enforcement might ask you for them in connection with an investigation.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) handles issues related to debt collection, credit card companies, credit reporting, and banking and might be able to help you resolve your issue. If your report falls into one of these categories, we’ll send you to the CFPB’s website. But don’t worry — your report will still end up in the FTC’s database, which makes reports available to federal, state, and local law enforcement across the country.

If you’re not able to use Federalreturn.org to file a report, you can call the FTC’s Consumer Response Center at 877-382-4357.

To file your report in Spanish, go to Federalreturn.org.

 

To report in languages other than English and Spanish, call 877-382-4357 from 9 am to 5 pm ET. Press 3 for a list of languages, and then 0 for more languages.

Protecting the privacy and security of consumers’ personal information is very important to us. Learn more about what the FTC does with the information you give us at ftc.gov/site-information/privacy-policy. Giving us your contact information can help if we need more information, but how much information you share is up to you.

Yes, you can file a report anonymously. You also can give as much or as little information as you want. It’s helpful to have contact information in case the FTC needs to learn more about your experience.

 

Start your report now.

Getting my money back

After you file your report, we will give you steps to take that could help as you try to get your money back or stop a charge, depending on how you paid. The quicker you act, the better your chance of getting your money back. You also can find that information at Federalreturn.org.

 
In some cases, an FTC law enforcement action gets money back to people. To see recent FTC cases that resulted in refunds, go to federalreturn.org. But if someone tells you to send money to get a refund from the FTC or any other government agency, it’s a scam.
If you bought a gift card and gave a scammer the numbers:
  • Contact the company that issued the gift card right away. Use this list of contacts. Tell them the card was used in a scam and ask for your money back.
  • Try to find your receipt from when you bought the gift card and the card itself. It could help you recover your money from the gift card company.
  • Learn more at ftc.gov/giftcards.
If you paid a scammer with a wire transfer:
  • Contact the bank or company that did the wire transfer right away. If you used a money transfer company, call them immediately to file a fraud complaint. Call the complaint department:
    • MoneyGram at 1-800-MONEYGRAM (1-800-666-3947)
    • Western Union at 1-800-325-6000
  • Ask for the wire transfer to be reversed. It’s unlikely to happen, but it’s important to ask.
If you paid a scammer with a credit or debit card:
  1. File a dispute (also called a “chargeback”) with your credit or debit card company.
    • Online: Log onto your credit or debit card company’s website and go through the dispute process.
    • By Phone: Call the phone number on the back of your card and tell them why you’re filing a dispute.
  2. Follow up with a letter to your credit or debit card company. To protect any rights you may have, follow up in writing by sending a letter to the address listed for billing disputes or errors. Use our sample letter.
  3. Save your records. Keep any letters, notes, or emails related to the scam — they could help prove you’re entitled to a refund if the credit or debit card company has any questions.
  4. Find out your rights at ftc.gov/credit.
If you paid with an electronic bank transfer or withdrawal:
  • Contact your bank immediately. Ask if the bank can stop the transaction or recover your money from the person’s or company’s account. Tell the bank the reason you want to stop the transfer, and give them the bank account number your money was sent to. Don’t wait. Let your bank know as soon as you can.
  • If the bank won’t help you, file a complaint with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.
  • If you sent cash by U.S. mail:
    • Contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455.
    • Ask the U.S. Postal Service to “intercept” the package. To learn more about this process, visit https://faq.usps.com/s/article/USPS-Package-Intercept-The-Basics.
    • Otherwise, contact whatever delivery service you used as soon as possible.
To stop payment on a money order:
  • Contact the company that issued the money order right away. See if you can stop payment.
  • Next, try to stop delivery of the money order. If you sent it by U.S. mail, contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455. Ask the U.S. Postal Service to “intercept” the package. To learn more about this process, visit https://faq.usps.com/s/article/USPS-Package-Intercept-The-Basics. Otherwise, contact whatever delivery service you used as soon as possible.
Try contacting the seller first to resolve the problem and get a refund. Most legitimate businesses want to keep you happy so you’ll keep coming back.

 
If that doesn’t work, you can use these tips to try to reverse the charge or get your money back, depending on how you paid:

If you paid a scammer with cryptocurrency:

 

While it is very difficult to get your money back when you pay using cryptocurrency, you can try to contact the company you used to send the money and tell them it was a fraudulent transaction. Ask to have the transaction reversed, if possible.