New resources to help protect consumers and small businesses from fraud

New resources to help protect consumers and small businesses from fraud

lfair

November 8, 2023 | 12:02PM

New resources to help protect consumers and small businesses from fraud



By

Lesley Fair






Consumers speak many languages and unfortunately scammers are conversant in all of them. That’s why the FTC has reinforced its fraud fighting capabilities by collecting scam reports in multiple languages . As a member of the business community, you can lend a hand by sharing these new resources with employees, friends, and others in your network. To report in Mandarin, Tagalog, Vietnamese, French, Arabic, Korean, Russian, Portuguese, Polish, and many other languages, consumers can call the FTC at (877) 382-4357, and press 3 to speak to an interpreter. To report identity theft, they can call (877) 438-4338 and choose the option for their preferred language. Lines are open between 9AM-5PM Eastern Time. For consumers who prefer to report in English, a visit to ReportFraud.ftc.gov or IdentityTheft.gov will get them immediate guidance on the next steps to take. Spanish-speaking consumers can go to ReportFraude.ftc.gov or RobodeIdentidad.gov .



Image






The FTC also just announced additional online resources for consumers in multiple languages with to-the-point guidance on how to avoid scams. Prefer it in print? Visit ftc.gov/bulkorder to order free copies. In addition, we have a new resource for entrepreneurs. The revised publication Scams and Your Small Business is now available in English , Spanish , Simplified Chinese , Korean , and Vietnamese . Share this useful guide with members of your local business community. Every page features actionable advice on how to spot, stop, and report questionable practices that target small business owners.