Quick answer: Here’s how to report a scam in the U.S. File a report with the FTC. If you paid the scammer, contact the company you paid first (your bank, card issuer, or payment app) and ask for your money back. If it happened online, add a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
How to report a scam: where should you go first?
Start with the FTC. You can report a scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC says it uses reports to build cases against scammers, spot trends, educate the public, and share data about what’s happening in your community. If the scam happened online, also file at IC3.gov. The IC3 is run by the FBI and describes itself as the central hub for reporting cyber-enabled crime. Use it to report online fraud, and you can also file for another person you believe was affected. A few crimes go elsewhere. The IC3 says crimes against children should be filed with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and threats like terrorism at tips.fbi.gov.
What should you gather before you report?
You don’t need everything, but the more you have, the more useful your report is. The IC3 asks for these details in its complaint form:
- Your name, address, phone number, and email
- Payment details: account information, the date, the amount, and who received the money
- What you know about the scammer: name, address, phone number, email, website, or IP address
- A step-by-step description of what happened
- Email headers, if the scam came by email
Keep the evidence you have. That means screenshots, texts, emails, receipts, and (if the payment was a gift card) the card itself. The FTC tells people who paid with a gift card to keep the card and the receipt, because you may need them for your claim. A quick timeline in your notes app helps. Write down what the scammer said, what you did, and when.
What if you lost money?
Call the company that moved your money, and do it right away. The FTC says your money might already be gone, but it’s always worth asking if there’s a way to get it back.
What to do depends on how you paid:
| How you paid | What to do |
| Zelle or a bank transfer | Report it to your bank or credit union. Ask them to reverse the payment and refund your money. |
| A payment app (Venmo, Cash App, PayPal) | Report it to the app right away. Ask them to reverse the payment and refund you. |
| A wire transfer (Western Union, MoneyGram) | Report it to the wire company. Tell them a scammer tricked you, and ask for a refund. |
| A credit card | Contact your card issuer immediately and explain what happened. Ask whether the payment can be reversed or disputed. Unauthorized charges and payments you approved after being deceived may be treated differently, so explain the circumstances clearly. |
| A debit card | Contact your bank or credit union immediately. Explain whether you authorized the transaction or someone used your card without permission. Ask whether the payment can be reversed and what protections apply to your situation.. |
| A gift card | Call the issuer, using the number on the back of the card. Tell them a scammer tricked you into giving up the card number and PIN, and ask for a refund. |
| Cryptocurrency | Contact the cryptocurrency exchange or ATM operator immediately and report the fraudulent transaction. Ask whether any action can be taken to stop or recover the funds. Cryptocurrency transactions are generally difficult to reverse, and recovery is not guaranteed. |
| Cash by U.S. mail | Contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service as soon as possible at 1-877-876-2455 or visit its official website. Ask whether the shipment can be intercepted before delivery. Interception depends on the shipment’s status and applicable service conditions. If you used another carrier, such as FedEx or UPS, contact it immediately. |
If you sent cash through another service, like FedEx or UPS, contact them as soon as you can.
What if you gave the scammer personal information or access to your device?
If the scammer got your Social Security number and used it, go to IdentityTheft.gov to report it. You’ll get a recovery plan based on your situation. If you aren’t sure they used it, the FTC also has a data breach page at IdentityTheft.gov/databreach with steps to protect yourself.If you gave them a username and password and can still log in, create a new strong password. Change it anywhere else you used it, and turn on two-factor authentication. If you can’t log in anymore, the FTC has a guide called “How To Get Back Into Your Hacked Account. If you let them into your computer or phone, update your security software, run a scan, and delete anything it flags. Then change your passwords and turn on two-factor authentication.
Who else should you tell?
Tell the company or platform where the scam happened. If a scammer used a social media account, a marketplace listing, or a money app, use the built-in report option on that platform so they can act on the account. If you lost money, you can also report it to your local police. That gives you a record, which some banks and companies may ask for. Your state attorney general’s office is another place to file a complaint. For a scam that started with a text or email, you can also forward it to 7726 or reportphishing@apwg.org. We cover those steps in our guide on what to do after you click a phishing link.
What happens after you report?
Don’t expect a personal reply. The IC3 says an analyst reviews each complaint and forwards it to law enforcement and partner agencies as appropriate. Its terms also say any contact or investigation is up to the agency that receives your complaint, and that you won’t be contacted by the IC3.
The IC3 adds that your report can help the FBI investigate crimes, track trends and threats, and, in some cases, even freeze stolen funds. If you remember something new later, you need to file a new complaint to add it. Keep watching your bank, card, and other financial accounts for charges you don’t recognize.
Step-by-step: what to do
- Stop all contact with the scammer. Don’t send more money.
- Write down what happened: dates, amounts, names, phone numbers, websites.
- Save screenshots, texts, emails, receipts, and any gift card.
- Call the company you paid and ask them to reverse the payment.
- If you gave out your Social Security number, go to IdentityTheft.gov.
- If you gave out a password, change it and turn on two-factor authentication.
- Report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- If it happened online, file a complaint at IC3.gov.
- Report it on the platform where it happened.
- Check your accounts over the next few weeks for charges you don’t recognize.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting to report because you feel embarrassed.
- Reporting to the FTC but never calling the bank or payment company.
- Sending more money to “fix” or “unlock” the first payment.
- Throwing away the gift card or the receipt.
- Trusting a caller who says they’re from the FTC. The FTC says it will never threaten you or tell you to move your money to “protect it.”
- Paying anyone who promises to get your money back for a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where to report a scam: the FTC or the FBI? Start with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If the scam happened online, also file with the FBI’s IC3 at IC3.gov. They run separate systems, so a report to one isn’t a report to the other.
Should I report a scam if I didn’t lose money? Yes. The FTC uses reports to spot trends and build cases, so your report can help even when you lost nothing. It also helps to warn others.
Can I get my money back? Sometimes. The FTC says to ask the company you paid to reverse the transaction. Card payments have legal protections, while crypto and cash are harder to recover. The faster you ask, the better.
Final thoughts
If you paid a scammer, contact your bank, card issuer, or payment provider as soon as possible and ask whether the transaction can be reversed. Then report the scam to the appropriate authorities and save your complaint details. Even if you didn’t lose money, reporting the incident can help investigators identify patterns and warn others.