HOW TO FILE A A Message From ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL CONSUMER COMPLAINT KWAME RAOUL When submitting a consumer complaint, please supply all information requested on the consumer complaint form, including: Nothing is more frustrating than • Your complete address and phone number spending your hard-earned • The business’s address and phone number money on a product or service • Copies of all supporting documentation CONSUMER FRAUD HOTLINES only to find that it wasn’t what you thought you were pay- The information you submit will be used by CHICAGO ing for—or that you’ve been attorneys, investigators and other members of the 100 W. Randolph Street scammed. In many cases, sim- Attorney General’s staff. Chicago, Illinois 60601 ply contacting the business, its 1-800-386-5438 manager or a customer service representative can If appropriate, we will forward a copy of your com- TTY: 1-800-964-3013 settle any dispute you may have. But when that plaint to the subject of the complaint. This infor- doesn’t work or you’re the victim of a scam, my mation also may be shared with other governmental SPRINGFIELD office’s Consumer Protection Division may be able enforcement agencies responsible for consumer 500 S. Second Street to help. protection and other laws. Springfield, Illinois 62701 While attorneys in the Office of the Attorney Complaint forms are public records, which are 1-800-243-0618 General cannot represent individuals in lawsuits, subject to the Freedom of Information Act. If we TTY: 1-877-844-5461 our mediation program can assist in resolving receive a request for copies of records that include CARBONDALE disputes or complaints filed by individual consum- your complaint, we may be required to provide a copy of your complaint to the requester. Information ers. When patterns of fraud, deception or unfair 601 S. University Avenue that would reveal your identity as a complainant is, methods of competition emerge, my office may Carbondale, Illinois 62901 however, exempt from disclosure and will be deleted file suit against a business on behalf of all Illinois 1-800-243-0607 from copies we provide, allowing the requester to consumers. That is why it is important to contact TTY: 1-877-675-9339 read your complaint without compromising your us promptly and file a complaint. The sooner we privacy. know about questionable business practices or SENIOR FRAUD HELPLINE scams, the less likely it is that a fly-by-night oper- Complaint forms may be accessed on our website, ator will leave town or go out of business before IllinoisAttorneyGeneral.gov, or obtained by calling 1-800-243-5377 consumers can get their money back. one of the consumer fraud hotlines listed on the TTY: 1-800-964-3013 back of this brochure. You may complete and submit If you feel you have been a victim of consumer the form at ccformsubmission.ilattorneygeneral.net HEALTH CARE HELPLINE fraud, please call one of the hotlines listed in this or mail the complaint form and any other relevant brochure. By working together, we can better documents to: 1-877-305-5145 protect ourselves from consumer fraud. TTY: 1-800-964-3013 Office of Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul Consumer Fraud Bureau 500 S. Second Street Springfield, Illinois 62701 www.IllinoisAttorneyGeneral.gov Kwame Raoul Or Attorney General 100 W. Randolph Street

Chicago, Illinois 60601 Printed by authority of the State of Illinois. 04.19 This material is available in alternate format upon request. TELEPHONE/ONLINE IMPOSTER SCAMS HOME REPAIR SCAMS CHARITY SCAMS HEALTH CARE SCAMS TOP 5 SCAMS MARKETING SCAMS

• You get a call from the IRS or Social • You receive an unsolicited call from an • Door-to-door salespeople without local • You get solicitations from a phony charity • A promoter markets a health care Security Administration saying you owe unknown person or phone number. connections offer home repair work for with a name that sounds like a better- product as a quick, effective cure-all that money. much less than the market price. known, reputable organization. remedies many diverse ailments. • You get an email from your financial • You are contacted by someone who says institution asking for sensitive account • You receive solicitations for repair work • Fundraisers enclose gifts in mail to • A health product is advertised with they work for your gas or electric company information. from a company that provides only persuade you to donate. impressive, but undocumented, results. to verify payment information or to collect a telephone number or post office box a payment they claim is past due, under • A pop-up message directs you to a website number to contact and does not have • You get solicitations from paid fund- • Promotions are written in medical jargon threat of shutting off your service. prompting you to update or verify account any online presence. raisers who may receive a percentage of that you don’t understand to hide the information. your contribution as a fee. deficiencies of their claims. • Your “grandchild” calls and asks you to • A salesperson or contractor offers to WHAT send money immediately. • A solicitor offers you a travel package, inspect your home for free or asks you to • You receive solicitations from charities • A health clinic requires you to travel and get-rich-quick scheme, recovery of pre- sign a contract that still has blank spaces. with unfamiliar names and without stay far from home during treatment. • You get a call or email asking you to sell viously scammed money, or savings on programs in Illinois. your timeshare or saying you have been phone service, electricity or other utilities. • A contractor demands cash payment or • A health product is advertised as a scientific selected for a job. full payment before work is completed. • A solicitor cannot or will not answer basic breakthrough, miraculous cure, exclusive TO • You receive an email or pop-up message questions about the charity. product or ancient remedy or as containing • Your caller ID shows that a call is coming asking for passwords or personal identi- • You are asked to write a check payable a secret ingredient. from 911, 311, or a local phone number fication numbers (PINs). to a person other than the owner or • A solicitor uses high-pressure tactics to including your own. company name. obtain donations. • A promoter tells you there is a conspiracy • You win the lottery or a “free” gift, vacation to suppress the product by health care WATCH • You are threatened with arrest or in- or prize but must pay for shipping and • A contractor refuses to provide referenc- • You are asked to donate using cash instead companies and doctors. carceration for non-payment of a debt. handling, processing, taxes or other charges. es or proof of insurance when requested. of a check. • Up-front payment is required. • A caller tells you to send money via wire • You must send money, give a credit card • You’re offered discount prices that seem • A solicitor insists on sending someone to transfer or prepaid debit or gift cards for or bank account number or have a check too good to be true. pick up your donation rather than letting • You are promised a no-risk, money-back FOR any reason. picked up by courier before you have had a you mail it. guarantee. chance to carefully consider the offer. • You get a call offering a free medical device or telling you there is a problem with your • A utility contacts you and demands Medicare card or benefits. payment in order to prevent suspension of service.

• Verify the caller’s story. Call your grand- • Reduce the number of telemarketing calls • Refrain from opening your door to • Find out if the charity is registered with the • Ask a pharmacist, doctor or health child, the IRS, your utility company or you receive by signing up for the national contractors or salespeople unless you Office of the Attorney General by calling professional about the product or service whoever else with a phone number from Do Not Call Registry: initiated the call. 312-814-2595 or checking the online data- before purchasing or using it. your records or the phone book. • Log on to: donotcall.gov. base at charitableviewer.ilattorneygeneral.net. • Call: 1-888-382-1222 • Get at least three written estimates. • Contact the Office of the Attorney • Do not wire money. Wire transfers are like (TTY: 1-866-290-4236). • Ask for the charity’s length of operation, General’s Health Care Bureau at sending cash. Once you send the money, • Check the contractor’s background, exact name and local and national 1-877-305-5145 (TTY: 1-800-964-3013) the recipient can pick it up moments later, • Hang up the phone, and do not answer references and prior work. addresses. for more information or to report a scam. and you cannot get your money back. subsequent calls from the scammer’s • Never sign a contract that you do not number. • Ask what percentage of funds raised by the • Do not purchase debit cards or gift cards understand or has blank spaces. charity actually goes to the cause, and (such as iTunes, Vanilla, Green Dot) as a • Ignore the email, and do not click links • Be aware of what licenses are required in request a current financial statement. form of payment. inside it. Do not open attachments if you your municipality and check that your WHAT do not know who sent them or why. • If you feel a solicitation is suspicious, do • Do not pick up calls from numbers you contractor/worker has those licenses. not donate and report it to the Office of don’t recognize. • Refrain from providing personal or • Report scams to local law enforcement the Attorney General. financial information to unsolicited calls and the Office of the Attorney General. • Hang up on suspicious callers. Do not give or messages. YOU the caller your financial or other personal • Contact the Office of the Attorney information, especially your Social Security • Report the incident to local law enforce- General, Better Business Bureau or your or bank account numbers. ment and the Office of the Attorney local Chamber of Commerce for more General. • Let calls from 911, 311, local phone information. CAN DO numbers you don’t recognize or your own • Hang up the phone and contact your telephone number go to voicemail. utility company directly before providing any payment information. • Do not pay up-front for a prize or for assistance selling property. • Report the incidents to local law enforce- ment and the Office of the Attorney General.

Health care fraud information taken from ftc.gov.