How to Report a Scam (And Actually Make a Difference)
You just realized you were targeted by a scammer. Maybe you caught it before any damage was done. Maybe you weren’t so lucky. Either way, one of the most important things you can do right now — for yourself and for everyone else who could be next — is report it.
Most people don’t.
The FTC estimates that the vast majority of scam victims never file a report. That silence is exactly what scammers count on. Every unreported scam is a scammer who faces zero consequence and keeps operating.
This guide tells you exactly where to report a scam depending on what happened, what information you’ll need, and what to realistically expect after you file. We’ll also cover what ScamSave members get that goes beyond reporting — because knowing what to do before a scam finds you is even more powerful.
Why Reporting Scams Actually Matters
It’s easy to feel like reporting a scam won’t do anything. But here’s what actually happens with your report:
The FTC uses complaint data to build cases. When thousands of people report the same phone number, the same fake company, or the same scam tactic, the FTC can identify patterns, issue warnings, and take legal action against fraud operations. Your single report adds to that picture.
Banks and payment processors use fraud reports to freeze accounts. If you report quickly enough after a financial scam, there’s a real chance the transaction can be stopped or reversed — especially with wire transfers and some card payments.
Law enforcement tracks trends. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) uses aggregate complaint data to investigate and disrupt large-scale cybercrime operations, including scam call centers operating overseas.
Future victims get protected. Scam alert databases like the BBB Scam Tracker are built entirely from consumer reports. When you report, the next potential victim might see that warning before they fall for it.
Your report matters. Here’s where to file it.
Where to Report a Scam: The Complete 2026 Guide
1. Report to the FTC — Your Most Important First Step
Website: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Best for: All types of scams — phone, text, email, online, impersonation, fake prizes, investment fraud, romance scams, and more
The Federal Trade Commission is the primary U.S. agency for consumer fraud complaints. Filing at ReportFraud.ftc.gov takes about 10 minutes and feeds directly into the Consumer Sentinel Network — a database used by over 2,800 law enforcement agencies across the country.
What to have ready:
- How you were contacted (phone, text, email, social media)
- What the scammer said or sent
- Any phone numbers, email addresses, website URLs, or names used
- Whether you lost money — and how much
- How payment was made (gift card, wire transfer, Zelle, credit card, etc.)
You’ll receive a personal recovery plan after submitting, which includes next steps specific to your situation.
2. Report to the FBI’s IC3 — Especially for Online and Financial Crimes
Website: IC3.gov
Best for: Internet-based fraud, wire fraud, ransomware, investment scams, business email compromise, cryptocurrency fraud, and scams involving significant financial loss
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) focuses specifically on internet-enabled crime. If your scam involved any online component — a website, email, social media, or cryptocurrency — IC3 is where it belongs.
IC3 complaints are reviewed by FBI analysts and routed to appropriate federal, state, or international law enforcement partners. If you lost a substantial amount of money, IC3 is where recovery efforts are most likely to be coordinated.
Pro tip: File with both the FTC and IC3. They serve different purposes and feed different systems.
3. Report to Your State Attorney General
How to find yours: Search “[your state] attorney general scam report”
Best for: Scams involving local businesses, in-state fraudsters, consumer protection violations
Every state has a consumer protection division under the Attorney General’s office. State-level complaints are particularly effective when the scammer operates locally or when the fraud involves a business licensed in your state. Some states — including Florida, California, and New York — have aggressive consumer fraud enforcement units.
4. Report to the BBB Scam Tracker
Website: BBB.org/ScamTracker
Best for: Warning other consumers, tracking business-related fraud, adding to the public scam database
The Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker is a publicly searchable database of reported scams. Unlike FTC or FBI reports, BBB Scam Tracker reports are visible to the public — meaning your report could directly warn someone else before they become a victim. It takes less than 5 minutes to file and no account is required.
5. Report Text Scams to Your Carrier
How: Forward the scam text to 7726 (spells SPAM on a phone keypad)
Best for: SMS and MMS smishing scams, robotexts
All major U.S. carriers — AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and others — participate in the 7726 reporting system. Forwarding a scam text to this number feeds it directly into carrier fraud detection systems, which can result in the originating number being blocked network-wide. It’s one of the fastest ways to stop a smishing campaign from reaching more victims.
After forwarding, you’ll typically receive an automated reply asking for the number the text came from.
6. Report Phone Scams to the FCC
Website: ConsumerComplaints.fcc.gov
Best for: Robocalls, spoofed caller ID, illegal telemarketing, Do Not Call registry violations
If you received an unsolicited scam call — especially a robocall or a call that spoofed a legitimate number — the Federal Communications Commission handles telecom-related fraud. The FCC works with carriers to trace and block illegal calling operations.
7. Report to Your Bank or Financial Institution — Immediately
How: Call the number on the back of your debit or credit card, or visit a branch
Best for: Unauthorized transactions, wire transfer fraud, card fraud, account takeover
If money was taken — or if you gave a scammer your banking information — contact your bank the moment you realize what happened. Time is critical. Banks have fraud departments specifically equipped to:
- Freeze or close compromised accounts
- Dispute unauthorized transactions
- Attempt to recall wire transfers (success rates drop sharply after 24–48 hours)
- Issue new cards and credentials
Under federal law, you have protections against unauthorized transactions — but those protections depend on reporting promptly. Don’t wait.
8. Report Gift Card Scams Directly to the Issuer
Best for: Scams where you were pressured to buy and share gift card numbers
Gift card scams are rampant because they’re nearly impossible to reverse. However, if you report quickly, the card issuer may be able to freeze the remaining balance before the scammer drains it. Contact the card issuer’s fraud line immediately — the number is typically on the back of the card.
Also report to the FTC, as gift card fraud data is a key part of their enforcement efforts against scam operations.
Major issuers with fraud lines:
- Google Play: 1-855-466-4438
- Apple iTunes: 1-800-275-2273
- Amazon: 1-888-280-4331
- eBay: 1-866-961-9253
- Target/Visa: 1-800-440-0680
9. Report Investment and Cryptocurrency Fraud to the SEC and CFTC
SEC: SEC.gov/tcr
CFTC: CFTC.gov/complaint
Best for: Fake investment platforms, crypto fraud, Ponzi schemes, pig butchering scams
If you were targeted by an investment scam — including the increasingly common crypto “pig butchering” fraud — report to the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or Commodity Futures Trading Commission in addition to the FTC and FBI. These agencies have jurisdiction over securities and commodities fraud and have been ramping up enforcement on crypto-based scams significantly.
10. Report to AARP Fraud Watch Network (Especially for Seniors)
Helpline: 1-877-908-3360
Website: AARP.org/FraudWatch
Best for: Seniors and family members of seniors who have been targeted
The AARP Fraud Watch Network operates a free helpline staffed by trained fraud specialists. If you’re a senior — or you’re helping an elderly parent or relative navigate a scam situation — this is one of the most valuable resources available. Specialists can walk you through reporting, recovery steps, and how to prevent future targeting.
What Information to Gather Before You Report
The more detail you can provide, the more useful your report becomes. Before filing, try to collect:
- Contact details used by the scammer: Phone numbers, email addresses, website URLs, social media profiles, usernames
- Communication records: Screenshots of texts, emails, or chat conversations
- Payment details: How you paid, how much, when, and to what account or address
- Names used: Real names or fake names the scammer provided
- The script they used: What they said, what they claimed, what they promised
- Any receipts or transaction records from payments made
You don’t need all of this to file a report — partial information is still valuable. But the more you have, the better.
What to Expect After Reporting
Let’s be honest: most individual scam reports don’t result in an arrest or a refund. Especially when scammers operate overseas, law enforcement options are limited.
But here’s what can happen:
- Financial recovery is possible if you report quickly enough to your bank, especially for credit card transactions and some wire transfers
- Pattern-based investigations are triggered when enough people report the same operation — your report contributes to that threshold
- Phone numbers and websites get taken down faster when reported through the right channels
- You create a paper trail that may matter if the scam escalates into identity theft or further fraud down the road
Even if nothing happens immediately, your report is not wasted. It is data. Data builds cases. Cases stop scammers.
Not Sure If What Happened Was a Scam? Use ScamSave’s AI Triage Tool
Before you report, you need to know what you’re dealing with. If you’re unsure whether what you experienced was actually a scam — or what kind of scam — our AI Scam Triage Tool can help you figure it out in seconds.
Just describe what happened or paste the suspicious message. The AI analyzes it against known fraud patterns and current scam databases and gives you a clear assessment: what it likely is, how serious it is, and what your immediate next step should be.
No guesswork. No second-guessing yourself. Just clarity.
👉 Use the ScamSave AI Scam Triage Tool — Free
Stay Protected Before the Next Scam Reaches You
Reporting is reactive. ScamSave is built to make you proactive.
ScamSave members get ongoing protection and education that goes far beyond knowing where to report after the fact:
🔔 Live Scam Alerts
Real-time scam news pulled from the FTC, FBI IC3, and BBB Scam Tracker — so you know what’s circulating right now in your area and across the country.
📋 Top 100 Scams Database
An always-updated library of the most active scams by category — phone, text, email, investment, romance, government impersonation, and more.
🛡️ CISSP-Certified Expert Guidance
ScamSave is built by a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) with decades of cybersecurity and fraud prevention experience. Everything on this site is written to actually protect you — not just scare you.
📚 Member-Only Prevention Resources
Printable checklists, scam prevention guides, family protection resources, and tools specifically designed to help you protect elderly parents or relatives who are disproportionately targeted by scammers.
🤖 Unlimited AI Triage Tool Access
Members get unlimited use of the AI Scam Triage Tool — so every suspicious message, call, or offer can be evaluated instantly before you act on it.
Americans lose tens of billions of dollars to scams every year. Most of it is preventable with the right knowledge and tools. ScamSave membership costs less than a cup of coffee per month — and it puts expert-level fraud protection in your corner 24/7.
👉 Join ScamSave Today and Stay One Step Ahead
Frequently Asked Questions
Will reporting a scam get my money back?
It depends on how you paid and how quickly you act. Credit card payments have the strongest fraud protections. Bank wire transfers may be recoverable if reported within 24–48 hours. Gift cards, cryptocurrency, and peer-to-peer payments like Zelle are the hardest to recover. Report to your bank immediately if money was involved — time is everything.
Can I report a scam anonymously?
Yes. The FTC’s ReportFraud.ftc.gov allows anonymous reports. However, providing contact information makes it easier for investigators to follow up if needed.
What if the scammer was from another country?
File with the FTC and FBI IC3 regardless. The FBI coordinates with international law enforcement through programs like Interpol, and the FTC works with foreign consumer protection agencies. Overseas fraud is harder to prosecute but not impossible — especially large-scale operations.
I didn’t lose money — should I still report?
Yes. Reporting attempted scams is just as valuable as reporting successful ones. It helps authorities identify active campaigns and warn others before victims are made.
How do I report a scam that happened to my elderly parent?
You can file reports on behalf of a family member. Use all the same channels listed in this guide. The AARP Fraud Watch Helpline (1-877-908-3360) is specifically equipped to help families navigate this situation and is a great starting point.
What if I’m embarrassed about falling for a scam?
You shouldn’t be — and you’re not alone. Scammers are professionals. They study psychology, create convincing scenarios, and target millions of people. Many highly educated, intelligent people fall for scams every year. The only wrong move is staying silent. Report it, protect yourself, and help protect others.
The Bottom Line
Reporting a scam is one of the most important things you can do after being targeted. It protects you, creates a paper trail, and helps law enforcement build cases that stop fraudsters from harming the next person.
The key steps: report to the FTC first, report to the FBI IC3 if money or online fraud was involved, contact your bank immediately if funds were taken, and forward scam texts to 7726.
And when you’re not sure what you’re dealing with — ScamSave has you covered.
👉 Analyze a Suspicious Message with Our Free AI Triage Tool
👉 Become a ScamSave Member and Stay Protected Year-Round
Written by a CISSP-Certified cybersecurity professional. ScamSave is dedicated to helping everyday people protect themselves from fraud, scams, and financial crime.
