How to Report a Scam
Scams cost American consumers billions of dollars every year. Whether you have been the victim of an online fraud, phone scam, identity theft, or deceptive business practice, reporting the scam is critical. Reporting not only helps you seek recovery but also helps law enforcement identify patterns, shut down scam operations, and protect other potential victims.
Step 1: Stop All Contact with the Scammer
Once you realize you have been scammed:
Do not send any more money — No matter what the scammer says, do not send additional payments.
Do not provide further personal information — Stop sharing any details about yourself, your accounts, or your identity.
Block the scammer — Block their phone number, email address, and social media accounts.
Preserve all evidence — Save emails, text messages, screenshots, receipts, bank statements, and any other documentation of the scam. Do not delete anything.
Step 2: Report to Federal Agencies
Several federal agencies handle different types of scams:
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) — File a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC is the primary federal agency for consumer fraud complaints. Your report is shared with over 3,000 law enforcement agencies through the Consumer Sentinel Network.
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) — File a complaint at ic3.gov for internet-related fraud, including online shopping scams, romance scams, business email compromise, and cryptocurrency fraud.
U.S. Postal Inspection Service — Report mail fraud at uspis.gov if the scam involved the U.S. mail system.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) — Report investment fraud at sec.gov/tcr if the scam involved securities, stocks, or investment schemes.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) — File a complaint at consumerfinance.gov for scams involving financial products and services.
Step 3: Report to State Authorities
State agencies are often more responsive to individual complaints than federal agencies:
State Attorney General — Every state has an attorney general's office with a consumer protection division. File a complaint through your state AG's website.
State consumer protection office — Some states have a separate consumer protection agency.
Better Business Bureau (BBB) — While not a government agency, filing a BBB complaint creates a public record and may prompt a response from the business.
Step 4: Contact Financial Institutions
If you lost money, act quickly to limit your losses:
Credit card companies — If you paid by credit card, dispute the charge immediately. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, you have 60 days to dispute a charge, and your liability is limited to $50.
Banks — If money was transferred from your bank account, contact your bank immediately to attempt to reverse the transaction.
Wire transfer services — If you sent money via wire transfer (Western Union, MoneyGram), contact the service immediately. Recovery is difficult but sometimes possible if you act fast.
Payment apps — If you paid through Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or similar services, report the fraud through the app and contact your linked bank.
Cryptocurrency exchanges — If you sent cryptocurrency, report the fraud to the exchange. While crypto transactions are generally irreversible, exchanges may be able to freeze the recipient's account.
Step 5: Protect Against Identity Theft
If you shared personal information with the scammer:
Place a fraud alert on your credit reports by contacting one of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). One bureau is required to notify the other two.
Consider a credit freeze — A freeze prevents anyone from opening new accounts in your name. You can freeze and unfreeze your credit for free.
Monitor your accounts — Check bank statements, credit card statements, and credit reports regularly for unauthorized activity.
Report identity theft — File a report at IdentityTheft.gov, which creates a personalized recovery plan.
Change passwords — Update passwords for any accounts that may have been compromised. Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication.
Common Types of Scams
Knowing how to identify scams can prevent future victimization:
Phishing — Emails or texts pretending to be from legitimate companies to steal login credentials or personal information.
Romance scams — Fake online relationships designed to manipulate victims into sending money.
Tech support scams — Fake warnings claiming your computer is infected, followed by demands for payment to fix the nonexistent problem.
Government impersonation — Callers claiming to be from the IRS, Social Security Administration, or other agencies threatening arrest if you do not pay immediately.
Advance fee fraud — Promises of large payoffs (lottery winnings, inheritance) in exchange for upfront fees.
Employment scams — Fake job postings designed to steal personal information or money.
When to Contact Law Enforcement
In addition to reporting to agencies, contact local police if:
You lost a significant amount of money.
The scammer has your Social Security number or other sensitive information.
You feel physically threatened.
You know the identity or location of the scammer.
A police report creates an official record that may be useful for insurance claims, credit disputes, and legal proceedings.
Disclaimer: This guide provides general information about reporting scams. Recovery of lost funds is not guaranteed. Consult a consumer protection attorney if you have suffered significant losses.