How to Report a Scam and Where to File Complaints

When a scam happens, it can be hard to know where to report it. Should you call the bank? File with the FTC? Contact the police? Report it to the FBI? Submit a complaint to the CFPB?

The answer depends on what happened. Start with the place that can stop the damage, then report the scam to the agencies that track fraud, identity theft, financial complaints, or cybercrime.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to report a scam, where to file complaints, and what information to gather before you start.

TL;DR: Quick Decision Guide

• If money was taken → contact the bank, card issuer, payment app, wire service, or gift card company first.
• If your identity was used → file at IdentityTheft.gov.
• If the scam happened online → report it to the FBI’s IC3.
• If a financial company will not help → submit a CFPB complaint.
• If an older adult was targeted → call the National Elder Fraud Hotline.

Step 1: Contact the Company Connected to the Money

Before filing reports, try to stop the money from moving. If you paid by card, bank transfer, wire, payment app, gift card, crypto, or check, contact the company tied to the payment.

The FTC recommends contacting the company or bank immediately and asking whether the transaction can be reversed, stopped, or reported as fraud.

What to do:

• Call the number on your card, statement, or official website.
• Ask for the fraud department.
• Report the transaction as fraud or unauthorized if appropriate.
• Ask whether the payment can be stopped, reversed, recalled, disputed, or investigated.
• Save claim numbers, confirmation emails, and representative names.

Do not use phone numbers, links, or “support” contacts the scammer gave you.

👉 Compare: Identity Protection Tools in the Marketplace →

Step 2: Report General Scams to the FTC

For most scams, the FTC is the main place to report what happened. ReportFraud.ftc.gov is the federal government’s website for reporting fraud, scams, and bad business practices. You can report even if you did not lose money.

Use ReportFraud.ftc.gov for:

• Text scams
• Phishing
• Fake shopping websites
• Charity scams
• Job scams
• Romance scams
• Government impersonation scams
• Tech support scams
• Payment app scams
• Student loan scams
• Fake debt relief offers

What to do:
File the report and save the confirmation. The FTC may not resolve your individual case directly, but reports help agencies spot patterns, investigate scams, and warn others.

Smile Money Tip: Reporting matters even when you cannot get the money back. Your report may help stop the same scam from reaching someone else.

Step 3: Use IdentityTheft.gov if Your Identity Was Misused

If someone used your personal information to open accounts, make purchases, file taxes, claim benefits, or pretend to be you, use IdentityTheft.gov.

IdentityTheft.gov provides step-by-step recovery advice to help limit damage, report identity theft, and fix your credit. The FTC describes it as the federal government’s one-stop resource for identity theft recovery.

Use IdentityTheft.gov if someone:

• Opened a credit card or loan in your name
• Used your Social Security number
• Opened a bank, utility, phone, or payment account
• Filed a tax return using your information
• Used your child’s identity
• Used your medical insurance
• Created accounts using your personal information

What to do:
Save your FTC Identity Theft Report. You can use it when disputing fraudulent accounts, contacting companies, and working with credit bureaus.

👉 Related: How to Recover From Identity Theft Step-by-Step →

Step 4: Report Online Scams to the FBI’s IC3

If the scam happened online or involved cyber-enabled fraud, report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov.

IC3 is the FBI’s central hub for reporting cyber-enabled crime. The FBI says reports are used for investigative and intelligence purposes, and rapid reporting can help support recovery of lost funds.

Use IC3 for:

• Cryptocurrency scams
• Online investment fraud
• Romance scams
• Business email compromise
• Account takeovers
• Online extortion
• Ransomware
• Fake websites
• Internet-based elder fraud
• AI voice or deepfake scams
• Online marketplace scams

What to do:
Gather transaction details, wallet addresses, usernames, email addresses, phone numbers, websites, screenshots, and messages before filing.

Be careful to use the official IC3 site. Scammers sometimes create fake government reporting sites to steal more information.

👉 Related: What to Do If Your Bank Account Was Hacked →

Step 5: File a CFPB Complaint for Financial Company Problems

If your issue involves a bank, credit card company, payment app, credit bureau, debt collector, mortgage servicer, student loan company, or other financial business, and the company is not helping, consider a CFPB complaint.

The CFPB accepts complaints about financial products and services, sends complaints to companies for response, and says most companies respond within 15 days.

Use the CFPB if you have problems with:

• Bank accounts
• Credit cards
• Payment apps
• Money transfers
• Credit reporting
• Debt collection
• Student loans
• Mortgages
• Personal loans

What to do:
Contact the company first when possible. If the issue is unresolved, submit a complaint with a clear summary, dates, amounts, case numbers, and supporting documents.

Step 6: Know When to Contact Police or Elder Fraud Support

Local police may be appropriate if the scam involved stolen property, threats, a local suspect, cash pickup, a courier, stolen checks, or documentation needed for a company or creditor.

If an older adult was targeted, the National Elder Fraud Hotline can help. The hotline is available at 833-FRAUD-11 and is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern. Services are available in English, Spanish, and other languages.

What to do:

• Call local police if there are threats, in-person theft, or local criminal activity.
• Call 911 if someone is in immediate danger.
• Contact Adult Protective Services if exploitation, coercion, abuse, or neglect is suspected.
• Use the National Elder Fraud Hotline for help with reporting and next steps.

Where to Report by Scam Type

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Sending more money to recover the first payment
• Deleting messages before saving evidence
• Reporting to only the platform but not the payment provider
• Using contact information the scammer gave you
• Filing a report but not saving the confirmation
• Waiting too long to contact your bank or card issuer

What to Gather Before Filing Reports

Save:

• Names used by the scammer
• Phone numbers and email addresses
• Usernames and profile links
• Website URLs
• Screenshots
• Texts, emails, and direct messages
• Receipts and transaction IDs
• Gift card numbers
• Crypto wallet addresses or transaction hashes
• Bank or card statements
• Police report number, if filed

Create one folder so you can reuse the same evidence across reports.

FAQs on Reporting a Scam and Where to File Complaints

Final Thought

Reporting a scam helps you create a record, protect yourself from more damage, and help agencies track fraud patterns.

Start with the money, then report the scam, document everything, and follow up until the issue is resolved.

Next Steps:

• 👉 Learn: How to Report a Scam After It Happens →
• 👉 Read: How to File an Identity Theft Report With the FTC →
• 👉 Read: How to Recover From a Payment App Scam →
• 👉 Compare: Identity Protection Tools in the Marketplace →