Report to the Federal Trade Commission first, then to your bank or payment service

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the main place to report internet scams in the United States. You report to them at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and the report takes about 10 minutes. The FTC does not investigate individual cases, but they collect reports to spot patterns — if thousands of people report the same scam, the FTC can take action against the company or person running it.

After reporting to the FTC, report to your bank, credit card company, or payment service (PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, or whoever you sent money through). Call the number on the back of your card or the app itself — do not use a number from an email or text, because scammers sometimes send fake contact information. Your bank can freeze the transaction if you catch it within hours, and they can dispute the charge if money already left your account.

If you gave a scammer your password, Social Security number, or other personal information, also report to the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) so they can flag your file and make it harder for someone to open accounts in your name. You can do this free at AnnualCreditReport.com or by calling 1-877-322-8228.

Key Takeaways

  • Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov; they use your report to identify patterns and take action against scammers, even though they do not investigate individual cases.
  • Contact your bank or payment service when ready by phone using the number on your card or app, because they can stop a transaction within hours if you catch it fast enough.
  • If you shared your Social Security number or password, contact the three credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your file.
  • Report to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) if the scam involved a large amount of money or if you suspect the scammer is outside the United States.
  • Keep copies of all messages, emails, and transaction records from the scam — you will need them for your bank and for any police report.

What information you need to have ready when you report

Gather everything related to the scam before you start reporting. Write down the date you first contacted the scammer, the date money left your account, and the exact amount. Take screenshots of emails, text messages, social media messages, or website pages — do not just describe what you saw, because details matter and you may forget them later.

If you sent money through a wire transfer, bank transfer, or cryptocurrency, write down the transaction ID or confirmation number. If you paid through a gift card, write down the card number and the PIN. If the scammer asked you to read software or click a link, note what it was and when. The more specific you are, the more useful your report becomes to investigators and to other people trying to spot the same scam.

Reporting to the FBI if the scam was large or international

The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at IC3.gov handles scams that cross state lines or involve large amounts of money. If you lost more than a few hundred dollars, or if you believe the scammer is outside the United States, report there in addition to the FTC. The IC3 shares reports with law enforcement and can open investigations into organized scam rings.

The IC3 report asks for the same information as the FTC report — dates, amounts, screenshots, and transaction IDs. You do not need to report to both if the scam is small and local, but there is no harm in reporting to both. The FTC and FBI share information, so a report to one helps the other.

Reporting to your state's attorney general or consumer protection office

Every state has a consumer protection office, usually run by the state attorney general. You can find yours by searching "[your state] attorney general consumer complaint" or by visiting the National Association of Attorneys General at NAAG.org. State offices sometimes investigate scams that happen within their state, especially if multiple people report the same scammer.

A state report is useful if the scammer is a business with a physical location in your state, or if the scam involves a product or service regulated by your state (like insurance or real estate). For most online scams, the FTC report is enough, but filing with your state as well creates another record and may trigger an investigation if others have reported the same person.

Reporting to the platform where the scam happened

If the scam happened on Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, eBay, Craigslist, or any other website or app, report it to that platform directly. Each one has a "Report" or "Flag" button on the scammer's profile or listing. Platforms use these reports to remove fake accounts and shut down scam operations — they are not law enforcement, but they move faster than police.

When you report to the platform, describe what happened clearly: "This seller sent me a tracking number that does not work" or "This person asked me to pay outside the app and then blocked me." Include screenshots of the conversation. Platforms care about protecting their users, so a detailed report increases the chance they will remove the account before it scams someone else.

What happens after you report, and what to expect

The FTC will send you a confirmation number and may send you updates if your case becomes part of a larger investigation. Most of the time, you will not hear back — the FTC uses reports to spot trends, not to solve individual cases. If the scammer is part of a known operation, the FTC may take legal action months or years later, but you will not be involved in that process.

Your bank or payment service will investigate the transaction. If you report within 24 hours, they may be able to stop the payment. If the money already left, they will open a dispute and may refund you, depending on the type of payment and your account agreement. This process usually takes 30 to 90 days. Keep checking your account and responding to any requests from your bank for more information.

Police will rarely investigate a small online scam, but if you lost a large amount of money, you can file a report with your local police department. Bring your screenshots and transaction records. The police report creates an official record, which can help if you need to dispute the charge with your bank or if you are claiming the loss on your taxes.

How to avoid being scammed in the first place

Most internet scams follow the same patterns. If someone you do not know asks you to pay upfront for a job, a prize, or a romantic relationship, it is a scam. If a website or email asks you to click a link and log in to your bank account, it is a scam — your real bank will never ask you to do this. If someone asks you to buy gift cards and send them the codes, it is a scam.

Slow down before you pay. If you are in a hurry or feeling emotional — excited about a job offer, worried about a problem, or lonely — you are more likely to miss warning signs. Ask yourself: Does this person have a reason to contact me? Can I verify who they are by calling a number I find myself, not one they gave me? Am I being asked to pay in a way that cannot be reversed, like a wire transfer or gift card?

If you are buying something from a stranger online, use a platform with buyer protection (eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist) rather than sending money directly. If you are looking for a job, explore through the company's official website, not through a link in an email. If someone claims to be from your bank, hang up and call the number on your card. These small steps stop most scams before they happen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get my money back after I report a scam?

It depends on how you paid and how fast you reported it. If you used a credit card or PayPal, you have a good chance of getting your money back through a dispute. If you sent a wire transfer or bought gift cards, the money is usually gone — wire transfers and gift cards cannot be reversed. Report to your bank when ready; the faster you act, the better your chances.

Do I need to report to both the FTC and the FBI?

Report to the FTC for all scams. Report to the FBI's IC3 if you lost more than a few hundred dollars or if you think the scammer is outside the United States. You do not need to report to both for a small local scam, but reporting to both does not hurt — they share information anyway.

What if I do not know the scammer's real name or address?

Report what you do know: the email address, phone number, username, or website they used. Include screenshots of all communication. Law enforcement can trace these details even if the name is fake. The more information you provide, the more useful your report becomes.

Will the scammer face criminal charges if I report them?

That depends on the size of the scam and whether law enforcement decides to investigate. Small individual scams rarely result in criminal charges, but if the FTC or FBI discovers a large organized operation, they can file charges. You will not be involved in that decision — your job is to report what happened.

Should I respond to the scammer or try to get my money back myself?

No. Do not contact the scammer again, and do not send them more money even if they promise to return what you lost. Once you know it is a scam, stop all contact and report to the authorities. Scammers use follow-up messages to extract more money from people who are already upset about losing money.