Fraud is one of several most prevalent issues that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) aims to avert through its various efforts. In itself, fraud is already unlawful as a practice, yet it remains a problem for consumers in trade and commerce. At least for consumers, it is sometimes possible to find resolution in some cases of fraud through one of the FTC's efforts against unlawful practices - the consumer complaint system. When consumers file a complaint with the FTC, the complaint is investigated before being placed in the Consumer Sentinel, a secure database that is accessible by law enforcement officials. If a case reveals a widespread fraud or scam, the FTC may proceed with their own methods, taking action against the company and even possibly making prosecutions. However, the FTC cannot handle individual complaints, although they will still be placed in the Consumer Sentinel. Since fraud is a federal offense, law enforcement agencies may also be able to offer assistance after the complaint has been filed, assuming that their was indeed a true case of fraud. In the worst-case scenario, the consumer can proceed to file a lawsuit against the guilty party in their state's district court, after having filed a complaint and received advice on how to do so.