How to complain about consumer fraud
In recent years, consumer fraud incidents have occurred frequently, and the issue of consumer rights protection has attracted much attention. Whether you are shopping online or consuming offline, you may encounter problems such as false advertising, counterfeiting, and price gouging. So, when consumers encounter consumer fraud, how should they effectively complain and safeguard their rights and interests? This article will provide you with structured data and practical guidance based on the hot topics and hot content on the Internet in the past 10 days.
1. Common types of consumer fraud

There are various methods of consumer fraud. The following are some of the most popular types of fraud recently:
| Fraud type | Typical cases | Complaint channels |
|---|---|---|
| False propaganda | E-commerce platforms emphasize product efficacy | 12315. Platform customer service |
| price gouging | Increase price first and then discount | market supervision department |
| Counterfeit | Counterfeit brand goods | Consumer associations, public security departments |
| induce consumption | False winning information | 12321 Network Bad Information Reporting Center |
2. Steps for consumer fraud complaints
When you encounter consumer fraud, you can follow the steps below to file a complaint:
1. Preserve evidence
Collect transaction records, chat screenshots, product photos, advertising and other evidence to ensure that there is evidence for complaints.
2. Contact the merchant to negotiate
Prioritize communication with the merchant and request a refund or compensation. If negotiations are fruitless, consider other complaint channels.
3. Complain to the platform or regulatory authorities
Select the corresponding complaint channel according to the type of fraud, such as e-commerce platform customer service, 12315 hotline, etc.
4. Seek legal help
If the amount involved is large or the merchant refuses to handle it, you can file a lawsuit with a consumer association or court.
3. Summary of popular complaint channels
The following are the complaint channels commonly used by consumers recently and their scope of application:
| Complaint channels | Applicable scenarios | Contact information |
|---|---|---|
| 12315 hotline | Offline consumer disputes and false advertising | Dial 12315 or log in to the official website |
| E-commerce platform customer service | Online shopping issues (such as Taobao, JD.com) | Complaint portal within the platform |
| 12321 Report Center | Internet fraud, induced consumption | Call 12321 or report on the official website |
| consumer association | Major consumer disputes | Local consumer association phone numbers |
4. How to avoid consumer fraud?
Prevention is better than complaints, here are some suggestions:
1. Choose a formal platform
Prioritize shopping on reputable platforms and avoid transactions through unknown links or private channels.
2. Read the terms carefully
Pay attention to the product details, return and exchange policies, etc. to avoid being "tricked" due to negligence.
3. Be wary of low price traps
When encountering products that are much lower than the market price, you need to carefully verify the merchant’s qualifications.
4. Pay attention to consumer rights news
Learn about the latest fraud techniques through news or social platforms and raise awareness of prevention.
5. Conclusion
The problem of consumer fraud cannot be ignored, but by retaining evidence, making reasonable complaints and strengthening prevention, consumers can effectively safeguard their rights and interests. We hope that the structured data and practical guidance provided in this article can help you take quick action when encountering fraud, and also call on all sectors of society to work together to create a safer consumer environment.
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