FTC Reaches out to Spanish-Speaking Consumers; Spanish Language Complaint Form Posted at WWW.FTC.GOV

The Federal Trade Commission today announced the availability of a Spanish version of its consumer complaint form. Spanish-speaking consumers can use the form to submit fraud complaints to the FTC by going to the Commission's web site at www.ftc.gov/spanish. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints it receives into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies.

"As the nation's primary source for collecting consumer fraud complaint data, we are pleased to provide this additional service to consumers," said FTC Chairman Timothy J. Muris. "Providing Hispanic-Americans a Spanish form for submitting complaints supports our commitment to consumer services."

Consumers also can file a complaint or order consumer publications from a Spanish-speaking operator by calling the FTC's toll-free help line, 1-887-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).

Consumer Sentinel's data allow the FTC to pinpoint trends and developments in consumer fraud. Through data sharing agreements, Consumer Sentinel includes not only consumer fraud and identity theft complaints received by the FTC, but also complaints from over 60 different U.S. and Canadian federal, state, and non-governmental organizations. This diversity of sources gives Consumer Sentinel's law enforcement users a broader, more complete picture of current trends in consumer fraud and identity theft.

In addition to the consumer complaint form, consumers also can access publications at www.ftc.gov/spanish. FTC consumer publications available in Spanish include those dealing with identity theft, fair debt collection, deceptive lending practices, health and fitness, buying a used car, scholarship scams, fraudulent telemarketing, and job scams. In 2002, the FTC has distributed over 50,000 printed copies of publications in Spanish and over 100,000 visitors have accessed information in Spanish on the FTC website.

The FTC encourages all consumers to provide their names and contact information on the complaint form but does not require it. Consumers who submit a fraud complaint in Spanish and contact information will receive a written acknowledgment in Spanish.

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint, or to get free information on any of 150 consumer topics, call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357), or use the complaint form at http://www.ftc.gov. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.