Having these ready makes filing fast and maximises the value of your report: Scammer contact details (phone numbers, email addresses, social media usernames, website URLs). Dates and timeline (when first contact was made, when money was sent). Payment details (amount, method, transaction IDs, gift card numbers/receipts, wire transfer reference numbers, cryptocurrency wallet addresses). Communication records (screenshots of texts, emails, chat messages — save before blocking). Names used (even if fake, they help identify patterns across complaints).
Step 1: Report to the FTC — Always Do This First
The Federal Trade Commission is the primary consumer fraud reporting agency in the United States. Every scam report should start here, regardless of what type of scam it was.
Online: ReportFraud.ftc.gov — the fastest method, takes about 15 minutes. You'll be asked what happened, how you paid, and basic scammer contact information. Be as specific as possible with dates, amounts, and descriptions.
By phone: 1-877-382-4357 (1-877-FTC-HELP), Monday–Friday 9am–5pm ET. Spanish: ReporteFraude.ftc.gov
What happens after you file: Your report enters the Consumer Sentinel Network — a database shared with over 2,000 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The FTC uses complaint patterns to identify the largest fraud operations and bring enforcement actions. When the FTC wins cases, it pursues refunds for victims — you can see active refund programs at ftc.gov/refunds.
Step 2: Report to the FBI — Essential for Large Losses or Online Fraud
The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) handles cyber-enabled fraud — which includes virtually every modern scam conducted by phone, email, text, or online. File here if your scam involved any online component, any financial loss, or if you suspect the scammer operated internationally.
Online: IC3.gov — type this address directly into your browser, as scammers have created spoof sites. The complaint form takes 15–20 minutes.
Priority cases: IC3 pays particular attention to losses over $10,000, organised criminal networks, and cases involving cryptocurrency or international wire transfers. If you submitted a fraudulent wire transfer, mention it specifically — IC3's Recovery Asset Team can sometimes work with banks to freeze funds before they're moved.
Elder fraud specifically: The FBI has a dedicated elder fraud section at ic3.gov/crimeinfo/elderfraud. Operation Level Up — the FBI's proactive crypto fraud intervention program — is fed by IC3 complaints.
Need help filing? Call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311). Case managers can help you navigate the IC3 filing process.
Step 3: Report to Your State Attorney General
State AGs have consumer protection divisions that accept fraud complaints and — importantly — have authority to pursue scammers operating in your state or targeting your state's residents. They sometimes have more agility than federal agencies for locally-operating fraud rings and can pursue civil remedies that lead directly to victim compensation.
Directory: naag.org/find-my-ag — lists every state AG's consumer protection complaint portal
What to report: Any scam. AGs particularly focus on local business fraud, home repair scams, elder financial exploitation, and phone scams targeting state residents.
Tip: If the scammer impersonated a local business or government entity, your state AG is especially well-positioned to act.
Step 4: Report to Specialised Agencies Based on Scam Type
Different scam types have specific agencies with authority and expertise. File with the specialised agency in addition to the FTC and FBI — not instead of them.
Investment & Cryptocurrency Fraud
- CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission): cftc.gov/complaint or 866-366-2382 — for cryptocurrency fraud, commodity investment scams, and futures fraud
- SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission): sec.gov/tcr — for investment fraud involving stocks, bonds, or securities
- FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority): finra.org/investors/have-problem — for complaints against registered brokers or investment advisors
IRS & Tax Fraud
- TIGTA (Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration): 800-366-4484 or tigta.gov — for IRS impersonation scams
- IRS Identity Theft: 800-908-4490 or IRS.gov/idtheft — if your SSN was used to file a fraudulent return
Medicare Fraud
- HHS Office of Inspector General: oig.hhs.gov or 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) — primary agency for Medicare fraud investigations
- Senior Medicare Patrol: 877-808-2468 or smpresource.org — free assistance identifying and reporting Medicare fraud
Social Security Impersonation
- SSA Office of Inspector General: oig.ssa.gov/report or 1-800-269-0271 — for scams impersonating Social Security Administration
Mail Fraud
- US Postal Inspection Service: postalinspectors.uspis.gov — for any fraud that involved the postal mail, including fake cheques, lottery scam letters, or cash sent to scammers through the mail
Phone & Robocall Fraud
- FCC (Federal Communications Commission): consumercomplaints.fcc.gov — for spoofed calls, robocalls, and wireless fraud
- Do Not Call Registry: donotcall.gov — to report violations and register your number
Step 5: File a Local Police Report
A local police report creates a formal legal document that some creditors and credit bureaus require when disputing fraudulent accounts. It may also connect your case to local investigations of the same scammer.
When filing, bring all your documentation — screenshots, receipts, transaction records. Ask for a copy of the report and keep it. Even if local police cannot investigate the scam itself (most are operated from overseas), the report has value as a legal document for your recovery process.
Does Reporting Actually Help?
This is a fair question. The honest answer is: your individual report will probably not lead directly to an arrest. But that's not how these agencies work.
Federal agencies aggregate thousands of complaints to build patterns. When enough reports point to the same operation — same phone numbers, same scripts, same payment methods — that pattern enables enforcement action. The FTC uses this data to identify the largest fraud networks and pursue injunctions, asset freezes, and refunds. The FBI uses IC3 data to build criminal cases that have led to arrests of international fraud rings.
The DOJ's victim compensation program has returned over $12 billion in forfeited assets to fraud victims since 2000 — money that was only recoverable because complaint data led investigators to seize those assets. Your report becomes one data point in a pattern that, collectively, can shut down a criminal operation.
Beyond enforcement, your FTC report immediately enters a database shared with over 2,000 law enforcement agencies. Your IC3 report goes to FBI investigators who may be working a case that your information helps close. And reporting helps the FTC publish consumer alerts that warn others about emerging scams before they become victims.
Reporting on Behalf of Someone Else
If your parent or loved one was scammed and needs help filing, you can report on their behalf at any of these agencies. The FTC accepts third-party reports. The National Elder Fraud Hotline (833-FRAUD-11) specifically exists to support family members helping an elder fraud victim navigate the reporting process — case managers will guide you step by step.