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If you have been a victim of consumer fraud, there are state and local agencies which may be able to help you. In Florida, there is the Florida Attorney General's Senior's vs. Crime Project. You can request help from them by filling out an online form here. You may also seek help from the Division of Consumer Services, which is a part of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. This department is the state’s clearinghouse for consumer complaints, information and protection. You can find their consumer complaint forms here. For more information, you can call:
1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352),
1-(850) 410-3800 - if you are calling from outside of Florida, or
1-800-FL-AYUDA (352-9832) en Español.
Our closest regional consumer help offices are:
Hillsborough County Consumer Protection Agency 1-(813)-903-3430
Pinellas County Office of Consumer Services 1-(727)-464-6200
Another great consumer resource is the 2014 Consumer Action Handbook, published by the federal government. This guide includes a sample complaint letter and useful advice about how to resolve a complaint with a seller. You can pick up a print copy of this handbook at your local Pasco County Library branch.
Here is a video describing the Consumer Action Handbook:
If you live in another state, you can find an index of state consumer agencies here.
The Seniors Vs. Crime Project is a non-profit organization that was started in 1989. This organization works with the Florida Attorney General's Office to educate Seniors about crime prevention and to investigate complaints about companies and individuals who have defrauded the elderly. Volunteers called "Senior Sleuths" help with investigations and by reporting suspicious activity. You can learn more about volunteering here. This organization has two outreach programs: the Florida Seniors Against Investment Fraud (FSAIF) and the Senior Medicare & Medicaid Patrol (SMMP). There is also a link to scam alerts here.
One of their most important activities is helping consumers to get money back from companies which have defrauded them. The Seniors Vs. Crime Project reports that they return approximately $1,000,000 per year to Seniors who have been cheated. If you would like to file a consumer complaint, you can request help online. You can learn more about the Seniors Vs. Crime Project here.
