How to Fight Back

Help tag criminals and get help if you've been scammed.

Forward fraudulent e-mails to the Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov and to reportphishing@antiphishing.org. The latter is a consortium of businesses and law-enforcement agencies. Also be sure to send a copy to the company that has been impersonated.

If you think your identity has been hijacked, log on to www.ftc.gov/idtheft for steps to take, or call 877-438-4338.

If you think you've been duped in a credit-repair scam, call in a complaint at 877-382-4357.

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The Internal Revenue service wants to hear if you think a crook is using e-mail to ensnare you in a tax-preparation or tax-refund fraud. Send an e-mail to phishing@irs.gov.

Bob Frick
Senior Editor, Kiplinger's Personal Finance