In most states, consumers have a right to report consumer fraud to the state's attorney general. The attorney general is responsible for the following three things:
1. Enforcing the state's laws.
2. Protecting the state's residents from criminal activity.
3. Making efforts to stop criminal activity when reported.
To report consumer fraud in Virginia, use the Virginia's hotline at VA.gov's Consumer Protection - File a complaint page.
Phone Number: (804)786-4718
How to help the Virginia Attorney General stop consumer fraud by reporting it
Individual consumers play an essential role in enforcing consumer protection laws. Criminals and fraudsters are free to prosper if you don't report suspicious or abusive consumer activity. Only when we report this kind of activity can we provide the evidence the attorney general needs to take action to stop this actvity.
Federal government websites
The federal government is also charged with protecting consumers. The following agencies can help you with complaints.
How to contact federal government agencies
Consumer Products and Safety
- Consumer Complaints. Learn where to report your consumer complaint and find contact information to file.
- International Complaints. File an official report online to complain about an international e-commerce transaction.
- Cosmetics. Call or write to report adverse reactions to the Food and Drug Administration.
- Foodborne Illness and Food Product Complaints. Call to file a complaint.
- Postal Service. Email your questions about the U.S. mail or other postal services to the U.S. Postal Service.
- Meat and Poultry Hotline. Call to talk to the food safety education staff (available in English and Spanish).
- Report Animal Drug Reactions or Animal Feed/Pet Food Complaints. FDA encourages veterinarians and animal owners to report adverse drug reactions and medical product failures.
- Telephone Service Complaints. File a complaint with the FCC about your telephone service if you have concerns about inaccurate billing, false advertisement, scams, or other issues.
- Unsafe Products. Email a report of an injury, or file a complaint about a product to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
- Unsafe Vehicle. Email or call to report an unsafe vehicle.
Fraud, Law Enforcement, and Crime
- Antitrust Violations. Email, call, or mail a report of a possible antitrust violation or potential anti-competitive activity, whether civil or criminal, to the Department of Justice.
- Arson, Bombs, Firearms, Tobacco, or Other Related Criminal Activities. Call to report arson, bomb, firearms, or tobacco related criminal activity.
- Asset Forfeiture. Email a question or comment about asset forfeiture and auctions.
- Community Oriented Policing. Email or call for information on grants and training programs.
- Consumer Fraud. Email your complaints to the Federal Trade Commission.
- Crime Victims. Email or call for crime victims' support and assistance.
- Domestic Violence Hotline. Email or call for crisis intervention, information about domestic violence and referrals to local service providers to victims of domestic violence and those calling on their behalf. Services are available in English and Spanish.
- Fraud and Waste in Government. Email, call, fax, or mail reports of government fraud and waste to the Federal Inspectors General.
- Homeland Security Department. Look-up emails and telephone numbers, mailing addresses, help desk support for web applications, instructions on how to report incidents and more.
- Identity Theft. Email your complaint.
- Immigration and Naturalization. Call for information about immigration and naturalization assistance (provided in English and Spanish).
- Immigration and Naturalization Local Offices. Call, write, or visit a local office to find the status of your case.
- Internet Fraud (Civil or Criminal). Email reports of suspected fraud to the FBI's Internet Fraud Complaint Center.
- Medicare Fraud. Report Medicare fraud and abuse.
- Nuclear Facilities. Email or call to report any safety or security concern involving a nuclear reactor, nuclear fuel facility or radioactive materials.
- Religious Discrimination. File a complaint if you've experienced religious discrimination or violation of religious liberty rights.
- Terrorist Activity. Email leads to the FBI online, or call your local FBI Field Office.
- Victim's Rights, Services, and Criminal and Juvenile Justice. Call for information and referrals.
- Violence Against Women and Family Violence. Email your questions about laws, regulations, grants, and other resources.