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Reporting

Where to report a scam, and in what order

5 min read

By Nora Hale, OwlGuardian Safety DeskPublished How we research

The short answer

Call your bank or the company you paid first, because that's where money can still be stopped. Then report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and, for online losses, the FBI at ic3.gov. Add local police, your state attorney general, and Adult Protective Services if an older adult was exploited.

Why order matters

Reports help investigators, but they rarely bring money back on their own. Your bank or payment company is the only place that can stop a payment in progress. So call them first, then file the reports.

Before you start, gather screenshots, phone numbers, receipts, and dates. Use the same details in every report.

The order

  1. Your bank, card company, or payment service

    Call the number on your card or in the official app and report fraud. If you paid by gift card, wire, payment app, or crypto ATM, call that company too. See our fraud phone numbers.

  2. The FTC

    Report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or call 1-877-382-4357. Your report goes into a database used by law enforcement across the country. If your identity was misused, use IdentityTheft.gov instead for a recovery plan.

  3. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center

    File at ic3.gov if the scam happened online or you lost money through email, websites, apps, or crypto. Include transaction details.

  4. Local police

    Call the non-emergency number and ask for a report. A report number can help with your bank or other companies. Call 911 if you're in danger or someone is coming to pick up money.

  5. Your state attorney general

    Most state attorney general offices take consumer fraud complaints online. Search for your state's attorney general consumer protection office.

  6. Adult Protective Services, if an older adult was exploited

    Report to APS if someone the person knows is taking money, or if the person keeps sending money to a scammer. Find your local office at napsa-now.org or through the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.

  7. The company that was impersonated

    Amazon: amazon.com/reportascam. Microsoft: microsoft.com/reportascam. PayPal: [email protected]. Apple: [email protected]. Social Security: oig.ssa.gov/report. IRS: [email protected]. Medicare: 1-800-633-4227.

  8. Scam texts: forward to 7726

    Forward the text to 7726 (it spells SPAM) to report it to your mobile carrier. Fake USPS texts can also go to [email protected].

Free recovery checklist

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The printable C.A.L.M. checklist and who to call. No sales pitch. Or open the checklist now (PDF).

If the victim is 60 or older

Call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm Eastern). It's run by the Justice Department. A case manager helps with reporting and connects you with other resources. You can call for a parent or someone you know.

The FBI also has a page on elder fraud.

Other places, depending on the scam

  • Something came through the mail: US Postal Inspection Service at uspis.gov/report or 1-877-876-2455.
  • Dating site or social media: Report the profile on the platform.
  • Bank complaint not resolved: You can submit a complaint at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.
  • Investment or brokerage fraud: Report to the SEC at sec.gov/tcr or FINRA.

Keep a record

Write down every report number, the date, and who you spoke with. The C.A.L.M. checklist has space for this. If you're not sure which of these apply, the scam help tool will sort it out for you.

After you report, real agencies won't call asking for a fee to get your money back. Anyone who does is a recovery scammer.

More specific help

Questions people ask

Where do I report a scam?
Start with your bank or the company you paid. Then report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and the FBI at ic3.gov. Add local police, your state attorney general, and Adult Protective Services when an older adult was exploited.
How do I report a scam to the FTC?
Go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov and answer the questions, or call 1-877-382-4357. If your identity was misused, use IdentityTheft.gov instead.
Should I report to the FTC or IC3?
Both, if money was lost online. The FTC collects all kinds of fraud reports. The FBI's IC3 focuses on internet-enabled crime. Filing both is fine and helps investigators.
How do I report elder financial abuse?
Report to Adult Protective Services in the person's state. Find it at napsa-now.org or call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116. For scams against people 60 and over, the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311 also helps. Call 911 if there's immediate danger.
How do I report a scam text?
Forward it to 7726 to report it to your mobile carrier, then report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Delete it after you report it.

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Sources

OwlGuardian provides general safety information, not legal or financial advice. Policies differ by bank and by state, so confirm details with your bank or a qualified professional.