BBB Scam TrackerSM is an online tool that enables consumers and businesses (as well as donors and charities) to report scams in an effort to prevent others from falling prey to similar cons. The easy-to-use tool collects and presents scam data in a searchable online “heat map,” showing users the number and types of scams and hoaxes reported in their communities.

ScamTracker can be accessed here:

The web page consists of an interactive map of the continent with scam hotspots. Users will see numbers of scams in those areas, and when clicked, will rank swindles broken down by zip codes. This allows you to zoom in to your city or neighborhood, to see what your family, friends, neighbors and other consumers are reporting.

The current number of reported scams is shown at the top of the page. The features rely upon consumers clicking on “Report a Scam” and entering information about fraud attempts. No personal information is published in Scam Tracker. In fact, when you submit the information, Better Business Bureau reviews it to remove any personal information that may have been entered.

If you believe you have been the subject of a scam that involves a charity, please identify “charity” as the scam type in the appropriate box. If, however, you are seeking to file a complaint about a charity, such as getting off a mailing list, do not complete ScamTracker, visit this page instead.

The information collected through Scam Tracker allows sharing of its data with law enforcement and regulators, while providing consumers with the latest scam trends. Better Business Bureau is working with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to see how the data can be used on a national scale, by revealing what types of fraud are evolving or returning. The ultimate aim is to locate and prosecute the perpetrators.