Reporting scams matters. It helps law enforcement identify criminal patterns, shut down scam operations, and recover stolen funds. The FTC uses consumer reports to build cases against fraud networks, and the FBI's IC3 has recovered over $1 billion in losses through its Recovery Asset Team. Yet only an estimated 7% of scam victims report the incident. This guide shows you exactly where and how to report every type of online scam.
Step 1: Document Everything
Before reporting, preserve the evidence:
- Take screenshots of emails, texts, social media messages, and website pages
- Save the sender's email address, phone number, and any usernames
- Note all URLs involved — copy them without clicking
- Record dates and times of all interactions
- If you made payments, gather transaction records, receipts, and bank statements
- Run the suspicious content through IsThisAScam.to and save the analysis — it provides a detailed breakdown that can support your report
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Step 2: Report to Federal Agencies
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
The FTC is the primary agency for consumer fraud complaints in the US.
- Website: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- What to report: Any fraud, scam, or deceptive business practice
- What happens: Your report goes into the Consumer Sentinel database, which is shared with over 2,500 law enforcement agencies
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
IC3 handles internet-enabled crimes, especially those involving significant financial loss.
- Website: ic3.gov
- What to report: Internet fraud, email scams, BEC (business email compromise), ransomware, crypto scams
- Important: If you lost money, file with IC3 as soon as possible. Their Recovery Asset Team can sometimes freeze wire transfers within 72 hours
Identity Theft (if personal information was stolen)
- Website: IdentityTheft.gov
- What it provides: A personalized recovery plan with pre-filled letters for creditors and businesses
Step 3: Report to Your Financial Institutions
If you lost money, contact your bank or payment provider immediately:
- Credit card fraud: Call the number on the back of your card. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, you are liable for no more than $50 in unauthorized charges, and most banks waive even that.
- Bank wire transfer: Contact your bank's fraud department. If the transfer was recent (within 72 hours), there may be a chance to reverse it.
- Zelle, Venmo, CashApp: Contact the app's support and your bank. Recovery is difficult for person-to-person payments, but filing a dispute creates a record.
- Cryptocurrency: Recovery is extremely rare, but report to IC3 and the exchange where the transaction occurred.
- Gift cards: Contact the gift card company (Apple, Google, Amazon, etc.) with the card numbers and purchase receipt. Some can freeze remaining balances.
Step 4: Report to the Platform
Report the scam on the platform where it occurred:
- Gmail: Click the three dots on the email > "Report phishing"
- Facebook/Instagram: Use the "Report" option on the post, message, or profile
- Amazon: Customer Service > "Report something suspicious"
- WhatsApp: Open the chat > tap the contact name > "Report"
- LinkedIn: Click the three dots on the message or profile > "Report"
- Craigslist: Click "prohibited" at the top of the listing
- Text messages: Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM)
Step 5: Report to State and Local Authorities
- State Attorney General: Most state AGs have a consumer protection division that handles fraud complaints. Find yours at naag.org.
- Local police: File a report with your local police department. You will receive a report number that may be needed for insurance claims or credit disputes.
- Better Business Bureau: File a report at bbb.org/scamtracker. BBB data helps identify scam trends.
Reporting Specific Scam Types
IRS/Tax Scams
Forward emails to phishing@irs.gov. Report calls to TIGTA at treasury.gov/tigta.
USPS/Delivery Scams
Report to the US Postal Inspection Service at spam@uspis.gov or uspis.gov/report.
Investment/Securities Fraud
Report to the SEC at sec.gov/tcr.
International Scams
Report at econsumer.gov, operated by the FTC for cross-border fraud.
After Reporting
- Monitor your accounts for 90 days for unauthorized activity.
- Consider a credit freeze if personal information was compromised.
- Set up fraud alerts with the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion).
- Keep copies of all reports and reference numbers.
Every report makes a difference. The FTC's actions against scam operations are built on the aggregate of consumer complaints. Your report — even if the money is not recovered — helps protect others. Start by documenting the scam using IsThisAScam.to to get a detailed analysis you can include in your reports.