City of Chicago Department of Consumer Service
The Department of Consumer Services serves the buying public by ensuring fair treatment in the marketplace. The Department responds to consumer complaints and conducts inspections of business establishments to ensure compliance with City laws and licensing requirements. The Department also regulates the taxicab industry and other public passenger vehicles such as limousines, tour boats, sightseeing buses and horse-drawn carriages to ensure their safe operation.

AT&T
AT&T is among the world's premier voice, video and data communications companies, serving consumers, businesses and government. This website was made possible by a generous grant from AT&T and would not have been possible without its support. Backed by the research and development capabilities of AT&T Labs, the company runs the world's largest, most sophisticated communications network, and is the largest cable operator in the U.S. The company is a leading supplier of data and Internet services for businesses and offers outsourcing, consulting and networking-integration to large businesses.

Chicago-Kent College of Law
Located in downtown Chicago, Chicago-Kent College of Law, the law school of the Illinois Institute of Technology, is nationally recognized for the scholarship and accomplishments of its faculty and student body. The second oldest law school in the state of Illinois, Chicago-Kent has always emphasized professional responsibility in the broadest sense, encompassing intellectual discipline, careful analysis, comprehensive research, and sensitivity to the needs of clients and the context in which the law operates. Chicago-Kent College of Law is accredited by the American Bar Association (1936) and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools (1951) and the Order of the Coif (1989).

American Institute of Certified Accountants
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) is the national, professional organization for all Certified Public Accountants. The AICPA offers seals of approval for Internet businesses that abide by the AICPA's guidelines for internet privacy and business practices.

Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a non-profit organization that protects the public by providing consumer protection reports about businesses. In addition to providing information that alerts and educates the public about consumer protection, the BBB also offers seals of approval for web companies and businesses that agree to follow the BBB's voluntary Internet privacy and business practices guidelines. Consumers can also report complaints with the Bureau, which will work with the consumer and business to try and come to an acceptable resolution.

The On-line Shopping Web Site was recently launched by the Federal Trade Commission, a government institution working to protect consumers. The Site is aimed at providing information to consumers in order to help them safely sell and buy on-line. The Site provides information about on-line payment services, Internet auctions, resolving complaints, rules for on-line advertising, and more.

Internet Fraud Complaint Center
The Internet Fraud Complaint Center ("IFCC") is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National White Collar Crime Center. The IFCC centralizes consumer complaints in a manner that alerts authorities of possible fraud patterns and trends.

National Fraud Information Center Internet Fraud Watch
The National Fraud Information Center Internet Fraud Watch was established in 1996 by the National Consumers League, the oldest nonprofit consumer organization in the United States. The site educates consumers about Internet promotions and intakes fraud reports. The organization routes these reports to the appropriate government agencies.

Online Privacy Alliance
The Online Privacy Alliance is a group of corporations and associations that work together to promote individual online privacy. The alliance encourages entities in the private sector to follow privacy guidelines and offers information, such as recommended guidelines, which aids businesses in protecting consumer privacy.

United States Customs Service
The U.S. Customs Service is one of the main government law enforcement agencies protecting U.S. borders. If you are planning on making an international sale or purchase, the U.S. Customs Service provides invaluable information regarding pertinent laws and regulations, advice in avoiding fraud and other scams, and information regarding appropriate duties and other fees.

United States Postal Inspection Service
As one of our country's oldest federal law enforcement agencies, Postal Inspectors are federal law enforcement officers who investigate crimes that adversely affect or fraudulently use the U.S. Mail and postal system. Although the service cannot resolve individual disputes between buyers and sellers, it does have the power to make arrests and serve subpoenas, which protects the public from future illegal activity.