This page was last updated on: April 23, 2008
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MLM Watch Dog Coaching on Your Complaint
All of these Consumer Protection and Law Enforcement agencies below are over run by crime.  So you have to work to get noticed.  If you lost $500 or less probably the most you can hope for is revenge.   It is my opinion from years of experience unless it ends up on national or regional media.... No rapid action.  However volume of complaints does count.  If a State Attorney General gets 20 letters about a scam they may investigate.  I call it the "trigger point."   Or an AG and the FTC may be hoping that you send in letters about a particular scam because they need witnesses.   That is the major reason I promote sending letters and even making phone calls.

I have gotten major scams on ABC's 20/20 and Nightline.  It took litterally years, backed by investigation and having a large metro newspaper investigate and write stories to do part of their work for them. 

Would I report being scammed!   Heck yes!  I may not get my money back but the scumbag may be prevented from scamming someone else!

HERE IS HOW ROD COOK WOULD GET THE MOST "COMPLAINT IMPACT"
I have helped with hundreds of complaints.  Now I am out of time.  The next best thing is to help you do your report.  First  I have created a DATA GATHERING report for you to use.  Do the report in notepad, wordpad or MS Word to cut and paste into complaint forms so you can sent out mutiple copies to all legal sources.  Or print it off and use it just to gather your information.  This information needs to be in detail just like you were reporting it to a policeman in your living room. Don't be angry - be objective just like giving a crime report (you are).
Link To Your DATA GATHERING report form
http://www.mlmwatchdog.com/Complaints_sample_form.html



BBB First Neccessity and Practice!
You want to start with sending a complaint to the Better Business Bureau as close to the crooks - scammers.  Why?  Many Government Agencies will ask you that as a first question.  Say no BBB... your complaint goes to middle or bottom of pile.  Many Government Agencies look at BBB Reports first and may even work with the BBB.  First Stop to practice your scam reporting.  Better Business Bureau - Look for the bureau in the city the crook or company is in or closest to:
http://www.bbb.com

FIRST IF THE SCAM IS ON THE INTERNET...... PRACTICE ON THIS ONE
BUT DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH FOR RESULTS UNLESS $1 MILLION OR MORE
The Internet Fraud Center, run by the FBI
The IFCC is a centralized reporting authority that insures the proper investigative body is alerted to suspected cyber crime. Last year, Operation E-Con, which also utilizes the manpower and resources of 43 United States Attorneys' Offices, the Postal Inspection Service, the Secret Service and the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, served 70 warrants leading to 130 arrests and over $ 17 million in property seizures and recoveries.  They only TAKE REPORTS and rarely act on an activity unless it is BIG.   Not a waste of time, please do it.
http://www.IFCCFBI.gov

State Level Complaint Resources - Attorney Generals (AG)
You will need to file two complaints.  One to Your State Attorney General in the State you live in.  The Second is to the Attorney General for the state that the crook or scam artist is located or does business in.  You need to file 2 electronic and 2 by certified mail to the Two AG's

State Attorneys General Offices are listed for complaint filing  on the link below - find the state the offending party is in and send an electronic complaint fast.  Look for Consumer Protection on the AG's website and how to file a complaint (Somes it takes a Hunt).    The best thing is to copy the electronic letter - keep a copy and send a copy by certified or registered mail.  BE SURE TO DO BOTH electronic and written by regualr mail:
http://www.naag.org/ag/full_ag_table.php

California AG: We love California but a lot of complaints come from there!
http://ag.ca.gov/consumers/mailform.htm

Arizona AG:Special note: Because of all the Aussie 2 Up's and Training Scams out of Arizona here is the shortcut to complain to the Arizona Attorney General.
http://www.azag.gov/consumer/complaintform.html


Federal Trade Commission Consumer Complaint Form:
The Federal Trade Commission does not move fast, however if enough complaints show up they will eventually do something.  First do the electronic submission below.  Then once again send a written copy of your complaint except with this letter send all of all the preceeding letters you have written to the BBB, FBI, and AG's
https://rn.ftc.gov/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01

SEC ~ Securities Exchange Commission
Did it involve a promise of a return on your money "invested" like many of the HYIP (High Yield on Invesment Program) Ponzi - Pyramid schemes on the Internet.
http://www.sec.gov/complaint.shtml

US Postal Inspection Service:
If the money was sent by mail or you were solicited by a mailed piece these guys can be one of the best helps.  However many crooks have the money order or cash mailed by Fedex or UPS to stay away from Postal Inspectors.
http://www.usps.gov/postalinspectors/fraud/MailFraudComplaint.htm

Political Complaints About Agencies Above
Congress: No response out of  the Federal Agencies (above) and you lost a large sum of money in an Interstate scam, I would write my Congressperson and 2 Senators.
http://thomas.loc.gov/

United Kingdom (UK) Complaints: 
London: See UK - EUC pages
                                http://www.consumercomplaints.org.uk/         http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/consumers/consumers.cfm
             
Register A Distributor Complaint with MLM WatchDog - to publicize or brainstorm

Click Here: Complaint Form
www.mlmwatchdog.com/Form_Complaints.html

This training is a public service to help report scams and theft from the public.  MLM - Network Marketing is a good industry and gets blammed for many criminal activities just by word and perception association.  This Consumer complaint source is to help  people file legitimate  consumer complaints to Attorney Generals, FBI, Internet crime Fraud, and other agencies.  By getting rid of scams we can direct people into the legitimate realm of Network Marketing - MLM
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. FCC ~ Consumer Assistance:
http://www.fcc.gov/ccb/consumer_news/unsolici.html

.

- https://rn.ftc.gov/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_SUBMIT_FLAG=Y

. MLM WatchDog: Rod Cook:
-http://www.mlmwatchdog.com
Email:   rod at mlmwatchdog  (typed out WITH SPACES so spambots don't copy it manually enter)

-MLM WatchDog Complaint Form
Complaint Form___www.mlmwatchdog.com/Form_Complaints.html
.
. Senators:
http://www.senate.gov/

. Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 Title 47:
http://www.terabyte.net/title47.htm

. Unsolicited Faxes:
The Federal Communications Act prohibits the sending of unsolicited faxes.



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