How to Report a Scam to the FTC and FBI

Reporting scams helps authorities track and stop scammers. Here is exactly where to report different types of fraud — phone scams, internet fraud, identity theft, and more.

In this guide (4 steps):

1.Report to the FTC for most consumer scams
2.Report internet crime and significant financial fraud to the FBI
3.Report identity theft to the FTC Identity Theft portal
4.Report other fraud types to the right agencies

Report to the FTC for most consumer scams

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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the primary US agency for consumer fraud complaints. Go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov (or call 1-877-382-4357). This is for: phone scams and robocalls, email phishing, fake websites, prize and lottery scams, impersonation scams, Venmo/Cash App/Zelle fraud, subscription or billing fraud, and identity theft. After submitting, the FTC gives you a personal recovery plan and tracks your case in their national fraud database used by law enforcement.

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: Even if you did not lose money — if you were targeted but recognized and avoided the scam — report it. Attempted scams help the FTC identify active scam operations.

Report internet crime and significant financial fraud to the FBI

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The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov handles: online fraud and financial losses (especially over $1,000), email account compromise and wire fraud, ransomware attacks, romance scam financial losses, business email compromise, and cryptocurrency fraud. File a complaint at ic3.gov — the FBI reviews all complaints and initiates investigations when patterns emerge. You can reference your IC3 complaint number when talking to your bank or law enforcement.

Report identity theft to the FTC Identity Theft portal

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If your personal information was stolen (Social Security number, bank account, credit card, or medical records): go to IdentityTheft.gov — a dedicated FTC resource specifically for identity theft. The site creates a personalized recovery plan: which credit bureaus to contact, how to place a fraud alert, sample letters to send to creditors, steps to file a police report if needed. IdentityTheft.gov guides you through the entire recovery process step-by-step.

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: File a fraud alert with all three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) immediately after identity theft. You can do this at AnnualCreditReport.com or by calling each bureau directly. A fraud alert requires businesses to verify your identity before opening new accounts.

Report other fraud types to the right agencies

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Depending on the fraud type: Medicare fraud — report to the HHS OIG hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS. Social Security fraud — report to the Social Security OIG at 1-800-269-0271 or oig.ssa.gov. Investment fraud — report to the SEC at sec.gov/tcr. Mail fraud — report to the US Postal Inspection Service at postalinspectors.uspis.gov. State-level: also report to your state attorney general's consumer protection division — many states have active elder fraud units that investigate local cases. Search your state's name plus "consumer protection" or "elder fraud" to find the right number.

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If you have been targeted by a scam — whether you lost money or not — reporting it matters. Your report helps federal agencies track fraud patterns, identify criminal networks, warn the public, and in some cases pursue legal action against scammers. Thousands of cases have been built using consumer reports.

Many people do not report scams because they feel embarrassed or think nothing will come of it. But reporting requires no follow-up on your part, and the information you provide genuinely contributes to investigations. This guide tells you exactly where to report different types of fraud.

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