How to Report Fraud in Florida

To report fraud or a scam in the state of Florida, we’ve provided the contact information for the Attorney General, the Better Business Bureau and many Federal, state and local agencies.

Florida Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General: Bill McCollum

http://myfloridalegal.com/

Mailing Address:

Office of Attorney General

State of Florida

The Capitol PL-01

Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050

Fraud Hotline: 1-866-966-7226

Online Consumer Compaint Form

Download the Consumer Complaint Form PDF

Return to: Office of the Attorney General

PL-01 The Capitol

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1050

Telephone: 850-414-3990

Toll Free within Florida: 1-866-966-7226

Florida Attorney General – Consumer Protection

http://myfloridalegal.com/consumer

The Capitol PL-01

Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050

Phone: 850-414-3300

Lemon Law Hotline 1-800-321-5366 (toll free)

Medicaid Fraud

West Palm Beach, FL Office

Medicaid Fraud Control Unit

Office of the Attorney General

1515 N. Flagler Drive, Suite 900

West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Voice: 561-837-5000

Fax: 561-837-5100

Fort Myers, FL Office

Medicaid Fraud Control Unit

Office of the Attorney General

2075 West First Street, Suite 201

Riverfront Center

Fort Myers, FL 33901

Voice: 239-338-2442

Fax: 239-338-2304

Tampa, FL Office

Medicaid Fraud Control Unit

Office of the Attorney General

Concourse Center 4

3507 E. Frontage Road, Suite 200

Tampa, FL 33607-1795

Voice: 813-287-7940

Fax: 813-281-5513

Florida FBI Field Offices, Mortgage Fraud

White Collar Crime Supervisor

http://jacksonville.fbi.gov/

7820 Arlington Expressway, Suite 200

Jacksonville, FL 32211-7499

Phone: 904-721-1211

White Collar Crime Supervisor

http://miami.fbi.gov/

16320 NW 2nd Avenue

North Miami Beach, FL 33169-6508

Phone: 305-944-9101

White Collar Crime Supervisor

http://tampa.fbi.gov/

500 Zack Street, Room 610, FOB

Tampa, FL 33602-3917

Phone: 813-273-4566

HUD Field Office

Jacksonville Field Office

Charles E. Bennett Federal Building

400 W. Bay Street, Suite 1015

Jacksonville, FL 32202

Phone: 904-232-2627

Fax: 904-232-3759

Miami Field Office

909 SE First Avenue

Miami, FL 33131

Phone: 305-536-4456

Fax: 305-536-5765

Orlando Field Office

3751 Maguire Boulevard, Room 270

Orlando, FL 32803-3032

Phone: 407-648-6441

Fax: 407-648-6310

Tampa Field Office

500 Zack Street, Suite 402

Tampa, FL 33602

Phone: 813-228-2026

Fax: 813-228-2431

HUD Regional Office

Atlanta Regional Office

40 Marietta Street

Five Points Plaza

Atlanta, GA 30303-2806

Phone: 404-331-4111

Fax: 404-730-2392

Florida Department of Banking and Finance

QUESTION & COMPLAINT HOTLINES

Get Lean Line

1-800-GET LEAN (438-5326) answers calls from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., about waste, fraud and abuse in state government, and accepts suggestions on how the state can save money. You can leave a message during non-working hours. Callers can remain anonymous. Names are kept confidential, when given. Banking: 850-410-9111

Office of Financial Institutions and Regulation Consumer Hotline

1-800-848-3792 (Florida only) takes questions and complaints from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday on businesses regulated by the Divisions of Banking, Finance, and Securities, and on matters of investigatory interest to the Office of Financial Investigations.

Funeral & Cemetary Hotline

1-800-323-2627 Takes questions and complaints about regulation of cemeteries in the State or “pre-need” requirements.

Note: Hearing impaired citizens can call the department’s TDD line at 850-410-9700.

Division of Financial Investigations

101 East Gaines Street, Suite 516

Tallahassee, FL 32399-0350

Toll Free: 800-848-3792 (Florida only)

Phone: 850-410-9275

Fax: 850-410-9628

Florida Division of Insurance Fraud

http://www.myfloridacfo.com/fraud/

101 East Gaines Street, Suite 516

Tallahassee, FL 32399-0350

Toll Free: 800-848-3792 (Florida only)

Phone: 850-410-9275

Fax: 850-410-9628

Nationally Chartered Credit Unions

Region III – Atlanta

http://www.ncua.gov/AboutNcua/org/Region3.htm

7000 Central Parkway, Suite 1600

Atlanta, GA 30328

Phone: 678-443-3000

Fax: 678-443-3020

State-Chartered Credit Unions

Florida Division of Banking

101 East Gaines Street, Ste. 636

Tallahassee, FL 32399-0350

Phone: 850-410-9111

Fax: 850-410-9548

Savings & Loan Association or Savings Bank

Office of Thrift Supervision

Consumer Complaints and Inquiries

Email: [email protected]

Southeast Region – Atlanta

1475 Peachtree Street, N.E.

Atlanta, Georgia 30309

Phone: 404-888-0771

Complaints: 800-842-6929

National Fair Housing Alliance

http://www.nationalfairhousing.org/

National Contact: Email: [email protected]

1212 New York Avenue, NW Ste 525

Washington, DC 2005

Phone: 202-898-1661

Fax: 202-371-9744

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Division of Consumer Services

http://www.800helpfla.com/

2005 Apalachee Parkway

Terry Rhodes Building

Tallahassee, FL 32399-6500

Phone: 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352)

Florida Real Estate Commission (REC) Home Page

Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation

Division of Real Estate

http://www.myflorida.com/dbpr/re/index.html

Disciplinary Activity Reports of Brokers and Appraisers:

http://www.myflorida.com/dbpr/re/FREABDARs.html

1940 North Monroe Street

Tallahassee, FL 32399-1027

Phone: 850-487-1395

Fax: 850-922-4191

Florida Better Business Bureau (BBB)

Better Business Bureau of Central Florida

http://centralflorida.bbb.org

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 407-621-3300

Fax: 407-786-2625

1600 S. Grant Street

Longwood FL 32750

Better Business Bureauof Northeast Florida

http://bbbnefla.org

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 904-721-2288

Fax: 904-721-7373

4417 Beach Blvd., Suite 202

Jacksonville FL 32207

Better Business Bureau of Northwest Florida

http://nwfl.bbb.org

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 850-429-0002

Fax: 850-429-0006

912 E. Gadsden St.

Pensacola FL 32501

Better Business Bureau of Southeast Florida & the Caribbean

http://Seflorida.bbb.org

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 561-842-1918

Fax: 561-845-7234

4411 Beacon Circle, Ste. 4

West Palm Beach FL 33407

Better Business Bureau of Southeast Florida & the Caribbean

http://www.bbbsoutheastflorida.org

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 772-223-1492

Fax: 772-463-2439

101 S E Ocean Boulevard Unit 202

Stuart FL 34994

Better Business Bureau of Southeast Florida & the Caribbean

http://www.bbbsoutheastflorida.org

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 305-827-5363

Fax: 305-827-5850

14750 NW 77th Court, Suite 317

Miami Lakes FL 33016

Better Business Bureau of West Florida

http://westflorida.bbb.org

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 727-535-5522

Fax: 727-539-6301

2655 McCormick Drive

Clearwater FL 33759

Internet Crime Complaint Center

IC3’s mission is to serve as a vehicle to receive, develop, and refer criminal complaints regarding
the rapidly expanding arena of cyber crime. The IC3 gives the victims of cyber crime a convenient and
easy-to-use reporting mechanism that alerts authorities of suspected criminal or civil violations.
For law enforcement and regulatory agencies at the federal, state, local and international level, IC3
provides a central referral mechanism for complaints involving Internet related crimes.

Better Business Bureau

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) system in the U.S. extends across the nation; coast-to-coast, and in
Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico. Since the founding of the first BBB in 1912, the BBB system has proven
that the majority of marketplace problems can be solved fairly through the use of voluntary self-regulation
and consumer education.

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James Shepherd
8 years ago

My wife and I have been trying to get our taxes caught up and we have been dealing with NTC Financial. We recently had an IRS withdrawal on our checking account. We have been trying to make contact with the Florida office with no success. I tried the office in Denver,Colorado and had no success. The withdrawal was over $900 dollars and thank goodness we found out before we had checks bounce. We have already put $7,500 into getting our problem resolved. We are on a fixed income and need help. We would appreciate any help.

Mizzoidy Perez
8 years ago

My mother is a victim of rental/deposit scam. I need help. Can someone plse direct me or guide as to how I can report this problem?
Thank you

Ella Williams
8 years ago

I am a victim of windshield scam. A person came up to me at a car wash and said that his company was in the area, and they would fix your windshield. I asked how much would it cost, and he said it was free. He asked to see my insurance information to make sure that I was not driving around without insurance. So I let him see my insurance information, and now the windshield company is suing me. They filled a claim with my insurance company, and it was denied. My insurance company sent me a letter so that is when I found out about what this company. They said that they replaced the windshield when it only had a small spot when an acorn hit my windshield. They wanted to charge me $187. 00 for not even 5 minutes of work. These people are trying to scam my insurance company and me. I am reporting them to the Fraud bureau.

Aida Reyes
8 years ago

the dealer guy said it was ok for me to sing the buyer signature to complete another bank contact since the first one was denied I’m the co-signer since he told me I thought it was ok and I took the contract so the buyer can see the new one he said the price went up double and payments up more I can’t afford it I don’t want to sign take it back snd cancelled. But I signed and my friend told me that is not llegal I didn’t know that I couldn’t it.i told the I’m returning the car I want to cancel contract and he didn’t sing so I think it’s not even a valid contract. They did care they denied my refund my tag on hold and they told me to take it up with the bank I called bank say we don’t exist on their accounts yet they just got car info. They can’t do nothing to go to the dealer. It’s more to this story but too long I just want to leave my comment and we got the car on the 16 of nov sing on 13 both and denied by bank on 19/20 then new contract with other” bank” on nov 20 I only me went on 21 to turn in car he said I find other bank just sign for him also. The buyer said no after seeing it I took it back on nov. 24 nov. 23 I was waiting for buyer to go with me couldn’t I called dealer said 24 I go drop car off and since they didn’t want to give me a cancell note I said then I take car back with me so yall won’t blame stuff on me that I messed it up its still in our responsibility he said no just get out and go. I left walkinG with my 2 boys and I was carrying my one year old and 7 1/2 months pregnant and carrying her car seat and base it was Heaney and I was in pain and suffering just to see me and my kids walking at 7 pm in the cold with no jackets and dark. I had no money for cab and police denied me a ride twice.

Efrain reyes
8 years ago

My daughter was sold a car that caught on fire while she was driving 2 weeks after buying it its a mirical she wasnt hurt.we tried to get the dealer to return or exchange the car he tolds us to go screw our selfs. We dont know what else to do. She cant afford to buy another car and she has a little girl to support

J Alexander
7 years ago
Reply to  Efrain reyes

Report them to State Attorney’s office for the county she bought it in; report them to Florida Highway Patrol and DMV for county she bought in esp if they lied to her about condition; file with Atty Gen; BBB; Ripoff Report; People Claim; Scam Guard; if all else fails try the Press, the TV station in her area. Look up their name and address to see if anybody else has filed claim. I just had major fraud by car dealer who lied about car’s condition, it needed a new engine and doesn’t run–the only money I had and they had me come all the way to get it. They forged the name of somebody else they had bought the car from knowing it was a dangerous wreck and needed a new engine. He was honest when he sold it to them. They never did repairs and I asked for refund within one hour but had no address since they had me pay their mech. He had lied in text messages. They never did proper Title Transfer and Notice of Sale was in the name of the guy they bought it from not theirs. He had sold it to mechs because it needed work. He had no idea they had forged his name, address, and signature plus put it up for sale on their lot for $5500 more than what they paid. He sold it cheap to them. I could have been killed because of its condition. It was very dangerous to drive and I had no idea it had engine problems. They had said it was a sensor when I wanted refund. I was pressured to buy it in their dealership office and they wouldn’t let me take it to outside mech. They kept lying and since they were speaking in a foreign language I didn’t understand. I wanted another mech to look at it but they wouldn’t let me. I wanted refund when I found out at FL DMV but they wouldn’t let me. Since I had no address for their mech and it was done on dealership lot I wanted to return it. They said it wasn’t their fault it was his but they were the ones who had advertised it in first place putting up the photos. I haven’t been able to get out of the house because of their fraud. They knew it was all the money I had and I needed this car for school, work, etc. it’s very serious situation since there is no public transportation here. I can’t get to doctor, pharmacy, store, etc. Then mech here stole car repair money on top of what they did, raped me, stole credit cards after raping me again, stole my only protection. So I had their fraud, his fraud, and then another one’s fraud. They didn’t put their car dealership name on the Notice of Sale nor do Title Transfer on purpose so they could do this to somebody. They even changed the Carfax to remove the wrecks it had been in they never disclosed.

Wayne Weatherbee
7 years ago

My Question Is.
Is it legal to have two final hearings on an Ordinance #230-M?
When on Feb 12,1991 #230-M was Tabled INDEFINITELY.( closer of a street )
Some how Resurrected for a total different Use.
On August 13,1991 Again another final hearing on #230-M to Adopt The Comprehension Plan, 6 Months After being Tabled INDEFINITELY.
( I thought Indefinitely was forever )
And on Aug 13 The City manager Quoted Saying in Minutes that the City Planning & Zoning on August 6,1991 had a Unanimous Vote for Approval.
But it is NOT on the Agenda, there Is NO Proof that The City ever had a Vote for Approval.
( See Attachments )
Is This or it This NOT Legal?
According to The City of Clermont’s Own Codes of Ordnance Sec.1-14. Altering Code.
‘It shall be Unlawful for any person or persons, To Alter, Change, Add, Delete, Amend , Any portion of a Ordnance it is thereby FRAUD.’
So is The City of Clermont’s Comprehensive. Plan is based on a premise of FRAUD?

JAX
7 years ago

I was scammed by a car dealership and his mechanic. They bought a dangerous wreck with major engine problems that was a Manufacturer’s Lemon for $500 from a private seller. They advertised it online as being worth $5100 more than it was worth and what they paid. A junker said it was $140. They lied in their online ad, their Notice of Sale was forged with the original Seller’s name,address, signature he never signed. They didn’t do a Title Transfer ouf of original guy’s name so they could claim he sold it to me even though I never met them. They knew it could kill somebody or be killed in the condition it was in which they lied about. They knew it needed a completely new engine. I demanded a refund within one hour because it had 225,000 miles difference between Title and Odometer. They wouldn’t let me take it outside mech. Both their mechs said it had no engine, transmission, frame, or electrical damage. I wanted a refund within ONE hour because of all of this. I never saw Title before I paid. Then it was in somebody else’s name. They wore religious clothing pretending they were religious and devout, wouldn’t cheat anybody. It turns out they did this all the time and one of their locations got its license suspended. I filed with BBB, FTC, Consumer Law of Atty Gen, Senior v. Crime, Mayor of Town they did business in, State Atty, FHP, DMV Fraud division. I have text messages and Notarized Affidavits from people that saw their misleading ad which one was another car dealer. I can’t get out of house to go anywhere because of the. A mech here said it wasn’t worth repairing and would cost more to do so than what I paid for it. They spoke in a foreign language so I wouldn’t understand. The Carfax they never let me see either showed the wrecks it had been in, that it had been a fleet car, had diff between odometer and title. Their ins adjuster changed the Carfax to remove mention of the wreck, the 225,000 mile diff between Odometer and Title, that it had been a fleet car. She ignored the fact they fraudulently signed the Notice of Sale and the failure to do a Title Transfer.

Allison Demichele
7 years ago

I was scammed by a gold digger and Okaloosa county supports this. My dad had dementia… she was denied marriage license in Okaloosa county because of his mental state so she kidnapped my dad and took him to Alabama for a marriage license(which the state of AL doesn’t require but 1 person for a marriage license) now my dad has passed and she has taken everything. The same county that denied her a marriage is the same county that is accepting the marriage from another state. they were only married for 60 days, she tried filing for his social security but they weren’t married long enough so she filed for a military depend card and received one … and now is reaping the military dependent benefits. To add insult my dad had a Last Will in Testimony and she’s not in it because he had no intent of marring anyone. Okaloosa county is disregarding the Will and my dad’s last wishes. This a gold digger story that happens everyday…how can I make the legal system actually follow the law??????? Why doesn’t a Last Will in Testimony no long stand up in court, so whats the point of having a Will if the courts don’t abide by them????? I will get this story out.. I have be defrauded by her, the county, and the legal system!! And to add to this she is defrauding the federal government!!! Shame Shame

Bob Pott
7 years ago

Home Building Fraud -Florida is number one in Fraud for the United States. Sadly it appears to me that while Florida claims to be proactive in dealing with criminal fraud, it’s not. Criminals and crooked lawyers see old people retiring with money as a challenge to separate the two. Most policing agencies just try to pass fraud complaints off to other agencies. Not my jurisdiction! That’s a civil complaint! Home builder associations claim to guarantee builders in Cape Coral , oh but not that builder! They claim your fraud is not criminal but you have to pursue it civilly by hiring a lawyer. Law enforcement is a joke and makes all their easy money giving traffic tickets. Florida has three things, land, lawyers and warm weather. The realtors help stay employed selling repossessed land and property. The lawyers who run the system see making money representing both sides of fraud cases. Too bad all the criminals like warm weather also. Why doesn’t Florida require surety bonds for building new homes? Lose via fraud over $100,000 in a home build and you,d think twice about what it cost for a surety bond. The system condones this fraud. The lien / commencement notice system doesn’t work. The trades are getting ripped off. The home owner that signs a commencement notice with a contractor is giving the home builders a license to steal. That’s all right as long as the lawyers make money. Even if a home builder files bankruptcy they often just change the company name and go back into business. I wasn’t the first to get swindled in a real estate purchase in the state of Florida and won’t be the last. What is the definition of insanity – doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. I guess we are as stupid as the criminals think we are. A couple years ago one of Cape Coral claim to fame was that it had no crime. They just didn’t look very hard or the criminals thought it was an advertisement for employment hear in paradise.

Kaye Fisher
6 years ago

I am writing from Alberta, Canada. I became involved with gsf Global Service. My master card was charged in Aug., 2016, again in Nov.2016 and again in Dec., 2016. I spoke by telephone with a lady and I was under the impression that amends were being made Last month (first part of June, I believe) I was phoned by a man (and I specifically asked if he were calling from gsf and his reply was to the affirmative.) He wanted more money and when I said that there was no way that I was giving any more money and besides I had a new master card number. That did not matter they could still charge me and rudely hung up. Certain enough, although it is under dispute, $693.68 is being added to my June statement. When I asked it be not paid , as my bills are automatically paid at the bank, there was no way that it could not be avoided. I have “googled” the company’s name and it would seem that they have skipped the country as there is no mention of them. Hence I am unable to phone them.. If I pay this amount , due July 20, I am certain I shall never have it reimbursed, even if it is fraud. What suggestions do you have?

Elouise Hennigan
6 years ago

I paid a $588. Deposit to XXX in April 2017. They cut 6 weeks and stopped. They do not answer their phone, text messages, or emails. I am at a total loss at what to do. This company owes me $520. and refuses to return my money or mow lawn. I have been to the city permit and licensing dept and they are unable to help. Does anyone have a suggestion on what I can do next??

D
6 years ago

Property manager using tax exempt illegally and pocketing the difference of purchase. Made me a co without my permission or knowledge. figured it out afterwards … contact me