Reporting scams: where and how

Report to the FTC, your bank, and the platform (email, phone). What to send and what happens next.

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Reporting scams: where and how

Report to the FTC, your bank, and the platform (email, phone).​‍​​‍‍‍​‍​‍​​‍‍​​​​​‍‍‍​‍‍‍‍​‍‍​​‍​​‍‍‍​​​‍​‍‍‍​‍​​‍​‍‍​​‍‍‍​‍‍​ What to send and what happens next.

Why reporting helps

Your report helps the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and other agencies find and stop scammers. It can also protect others and sometimes help with recovery. Even if you’re not sure it was a scam, reporting is still useful.

Report to the FTC (most important)

  • Go to reportfraud.ftc.gov.
  • Answer the questions: what happened, how you were contacted, how much you lost (if any), and who you think is behind it.
  • Submit the form. You’ll get a reference number — save it.

The FTC doesn’t resolve individual cases, but your report is used for investigations and to warn the public.

Report to your bank or card company

If you paid with a credit card, debit card, or bank transfer:

  • Call your bank or card issuer right away. Ask to dispute the charge or report fraud.
  • Say exactly what happened and when. They may freeze the card or account and send you forms to fill out.
  • Follow up in writing if they ask you to (email or secure message is usually fine).

Report to the platform

  • If the scam came by email, forward it to the real company (look up their real website and find “report phishing” or “abuse”).
  • If it was by text, you can forward to 7726 (SPAM) and report in your phone’s blocking/report options.
  • If you signed up through an app or website, use that service’s “report” or “help” option.

If you think someone is impersonating the FTC

Scammers sometimes pretend to be the FTC. The real FTC will not call you to demand money or threaten you. If you’re unsure, report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov and read about FTC imposter scams.

What to have ready when you report

  • How they contacted you (phone, email, text, social media).
  • What they said and what they asked for (money, gift cards, passwords, etc.).
  • Dates and amounts (if you paid).
  • Any names, numbers, emails, or URLs they gave you.
  • Your FTC report number (from reportfraud.ftc.gov) when you talk to your bank.

Learn more