Fraud, Identity Theft, and Unethical Business Practices
Not sure if it's a scam? Search the Federal Trade Commission for your topic.
Ask for a Fee Waiver if you can't afford filing fees
In most cases, you have to pay a fee to file papers with the court. If you can’t afford the filing fee, you can ask the court for a “fee waiver” in order to file for free. With a fee waiver, you also may not have to pay for certified copies, sheriff's service of process fees, or other costs related to starting a case, such as the cost for a court reporter to be at your trial.
Avoiding and Addressing Problems with Attorneys and Fraudsters
Avoiding and resolving problems in relation to: hiring an attorney, client security fund, avoiding notary fraud, and avoiding legal fraud.
Avoiding Fraud by Immigration Consultants
If you're looking for help with an immigration issue and want to hire an immigration consultant rather than an attorney, it's important to understand what an immigration consultant can and cannot do for you. This resource includes a few tips to avoid fraud.
California Department of Consumer Affairs: General Complaint Form
A standardized complaint form for California consumers to report issues with businesses or professionals regulated by the department, or to submit comments about DCA services.
Center for Financial Empowerment Services - Los Angeles
Offers Los Angeles County residents free financial-empowerment services including one-on-one counseling, safe bank-account access, debt and credit help, tax filing assistance and more to build financial stability for low- and moderate-income households.
Checking A Company's Background
A guide from the California Department of Justice advising you to research a business—via multiple websites, reviews, complaints—before entering a contract or making a large purchase
Commodity Futures Trading Commission - Fraud Center
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s consumer education hub that explains market risks, identifies common frauds in financial trading, and shows how to check registered professionals and submit complaints.
Common Scams
Outlines a variety of common scams targeting consumers, with tips on how to recognize and protect against them.
Consumer Complaint Against A Business/Company
Enables Californians to file complaints about businesses or companies that may have violated consumer-protection laws.
Consumer Fraud Complaint Form - Sacramento County
Provides local residents of Sacramento County a structured form to report alleged consumer-fraud, with instructions for submission and guidance on documenting the issue.
Consumer Protection Complaint Form: Los Angeles County
A form for consumers in Los Angeles County to document and submit complaints about businesses or individuals, including details of the transaction, contact with the business, and whether others are affected.
Credit Cards - Disputing a Charge
Guidance from the California DOJ on how to dispute unauthorized or incorrect credit-card charges, including timelines and what kinds of claims (billing errors, seller-failures) you can raise.
Dealing with Errors on Your Consumer Report
You have the right to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information in any consumer report prepared about you by a consumer reporting agency (CRA) including credit reporting agencies (credit bureaus) and specialty agencies (check writing history, medical records, rental history).
Department of Financial Protection & Innovation: Consumer Alerts Page
The DFPI's consumer alerts page lists the latest scams and financial risks, offering updates and guidance to help protect consumers from fraud and deceptive practices.
Disputing Credit Card Charges
It takes a little patience and knowledge of the dispute settlement procedures provided by the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA).
Don't Fall for NFT Scams
Resource for artists on how NFT-related scams work and steps to protect yourself when approached with crypto or digital art offers.
Elder Fraud
Overview of common scams targeting older adults/seniors and how the FBI helps victims report and recover from financial fraud.
Federal Court Scams - Watch Out!
This resource describes common scams to watch out for. Malicious phone calls and emails targeting people and others who interact with the federal courts, instructing them to take action, may lead to people being scammed out of money or personal information.
Financial Literacy Resource Webinar - Consumer Protection and Scams!
This webinar discusses strategies for financial literacy and resources available to California consumers.
Grandparent Scams
Educational video highlighting real examples of scams and practical tips to protect yourself online and offline.
Have You Been a Victim of Nonattorney or Notario Fraud?
If someone gives legal advice without a license, that is called the unauthorized practice of law (UPL). In California, only attorneys can give legal advice. If an attorney loses their license to practice, but continues to take and advise clients, that is also considered the unauthorized practice of law.
How to Avoid a Government Impersonation Scam
FTC advice on identifying fake government calls, emails, and texts that demand payment or personal information.
How to Complain
This guide offers suggestions to help you get results when you have a problem with the purchase of goods or services. It explains the proper way to make a complaint, and also discusses using government agencies, consumer groups, lawyers and small claims court. A sample complaint letter and a list of compliant-handling agencies are included.
How to File a Complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD)
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is responsible for administering and enforcing some of the nation’s most important worker protection laws. WHD is committed to ensuring that workers in this country are paid properly and for all the hours they work, regardless of immigration status.
How to Protect Yourself from ‘Muse’ Scams on Social Media
Explains how scammers target artists and creators with fake “muse” offers on social media and how to recognize and avoid them.
How To Spot, Avoid, and Report Tech Support Scams
Explains how fake tech support schemes operate, provides tips for spotting and avoiding scams, and outlines what to do if personal information or money has been stolen.
Identity Theft and Account Fraud
How to clean up if you're a victim of ID theft or fraud.
Impersonator Scams
FTC resource explaining how impersonation scams work and offering shareable tips to help others recognize and stop them.
IRS Identity Theft Affidavit
This affidavit is for victims of identity theft to report to the IRS.
Job Scams
Job scammers promise jobs that are too good to be true. Your first job may be to send them untraceable funds or to help them scam others. They may also steal your identity. Click this link to find out more information.
Job Schemes and Business Opportunity Schemes
Offers insight into fraudulent job and business schemes, detailing how to spot and avoid scams related to employment and business opportunities.
Lawyer Referral Service - Fresno County Bar Association
2444 Main Street, Suite 125 Fresno, CA 93721
(559) 264-2619
www.fresnocountybar.org/?pg=clientreferrals
This group does not provide legal representation in court.
Making a Good Password
Passwords can be your first line of defense against stolen personal information (phone data, banking information, email, medical records) so it’s important to create one that is strong.
Mortgage Relief Scams
Information about fraudulent foreclosure rescue scams and where to find help.
National Elder Fraud Hotline
If you or someone you know has been a victim of elder fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline. 833–FRAUD–11 or 833–372–8311 Monday–Friday, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. eastern time English/Español/Other languages available
Pig butchering – how to spot and report the scam
explains the "pig butchering" scam, a type of investment fraud, and provides advice on how to identify and report it.
Protect Yourself From Fraud Resources to Help You Achieve Financial Security
A consumer-education booklet produced by the DFPI that explains how to spot and avoid financial fraud and scams, safeguard personal data, understand your rights, and where to turn for help — essentially a fraud-prevention starter kit for Californians.
Questions and Answers about Credit Card Fraud
Recognizing, preventing, and dealing with fraud.
Recovering from Identity Theft - The Basics
What to do when your identity has been stolen and used.
Rental Listing DRE Consumer Alert
A statewide Consumer Alert for anyone looking for rental housing, after seeing an increase in identity theft scams.
Rental Listing Scams
Scammers don't actually own the homes they try to rent out to you. Identify them and make a report if you've been scammed.
Replace Driver's License
The California DMV page provides information on how to replace a lost, stolen, or damaged driver’s license or identification card. It includes instructions for requesting a replacement online, by mail, or in person.
Replace Social Security Card
The Social Security Administration page explains how to replace a lost, stolen, or damaged Social Security card. It provides details on how to request a replacement online, by mail, or in person, and the required documents.
Reporting Cyber-Enabled Crime with the FBI
Official portal run by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for reporting cyber-enabled fraud, scams, and internet crimes, helping law enforcement collect trends and investigations.
Resolve to Protect Yourself From Scams This Year
A blog post by the Social Security Administration encouraging you to strengthen passwords/passkeys, limit what you share on social media, scrutinize QR codes and stay updated on scam trends in 2025.
Resources on Notario Fraud
The wrong kind of immigration help can hurt. Learn who can help. Know where to find the right immigration help and where to turn if you’ve been harmed by someone unauthorized to provide immigration legal services.
Rules Regarding Funeral Costs, Services, and Goods
The Funeral Rule, enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), makes it possible for you to choose only those goods and services you want or need and to pay only for those you select, whether you are making arrangements when a death occurs or in advance. The Rule allows you to compare prices among funeral homes, and makes it possible for you to select the funeral arrangements you want at the home you use. (The Rule does not apply to third-party sellers, such as casket and monument dealers, or to cemeteries that lack an on-site funeral home.)
Sample Letter for Disputing Credit or Debit Card Charges
A resource from the FTC providing a template letter and instructions you can use to formally dispute mistaken or unauthorized card charges.
Scams Against Immigrants
Whether you’re renewing your green card, becoming a citizen, or trying to find the right forms to fill out, immigration issues can be complicated — and it’s important to do things right. Use the resources on this page to help you spot and avoid scams and find the right kind of help.
Scams and Financial Hardships: Resources for Victims of Financial Crimes
portal listing brochures, alerts and support for victims of online financial crimes, including steps on reporting losses, credit issues, and protecting yourself from future cyber-fraud.
Self Help Guide: Filing Complaints with the California Contractor State License Board
This guide helps consumers file a complaint with the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) against a licensed (or unlicensed) contractor by walking them through the form, identifying what to fill out and how to support the complaint.
Self-Help “Pro Per” Guide for Completing: California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation PACE Complaint
A downloadable guide that walks Californians through how to file a complaint with the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) about a PACE (“Property Assessed Clean Energy”) assessment, showing section-by-section how to complete the form and what information to include.
Solar Energy Scams are Against the Law
A federal-government consumer-advisory about how unscrupulous solar companies may mislead homeowners about costs, tax credits and savings; it outlines how to audit offers, what red flags to watch for (e.g., “free” solar panels) and how to report suspected scams.
This Medicare Open Enrollment season, learn how to protect yourself from scams
Warns about common scams targeting older adults during Medicare’s open enrollment season and offers tips to recognize and avoid fraudulent offers.
Using Credit Cards and Disputing Charges
Overview of credit-card rights and responsibilities: how to use a credit card wisely, what issuers must do, and how you can dispute billing errors under federal law.
What To Do if You Were Scammed
Explains the steps to take if you paid a scammer, shared personal info, or had your computer/phone compromised, including contacting your financial institution and reporting the incident.
What You Should Know about Unemployment Scammers
California Employment Development Department fact sheet outlining common unemployment and job-related scams and how to report them.