How to Report a Scam to the FTC and IC3

Step 1: Gather your evidence

Before opening any report form, collect everything you have. The more specific your report, the more useful it is to investigators.

• Screenshots of websites, listings, profiles, or chats
• Email headers, sender addresses, and full message text
• Phone numbers, caller IDs, and times of contact
• Payment confirmations: wire receipts, gift card numbers, crypto transaction IDs, Zelle/Venmo/Cash App references
• Names, aliases, business names, and any addresses given

Step 2: File with the FTC

The Federal Trade Commission is the main U.S. consumer-protection agency. Reports go into the Consumer Sentinel database used by more than 2,800 law-enforcement agencies.

1. Go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov
2. Choose the category that best describes what happened (impostor, online shopping, investment, romance, etc.).
3. Describe the scam in your own words: dates, amounts, contact methods, and what they asked you to do.
4. Add the scammer's contact info and your own (used only for follow-up; not made public).
5. Submit and save the confirmation page or reference number.

Identity theft is a special case — file at IdentityTheft.gov instead. It generates a personalized recovery plan and an FTC affidavit.

Step 3: File with the FBI's IC3

The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is the FBI's intake point for online fraud. File here if the scam happened over the internet or involved a financial loss — IC3 data drives federal investigations and the annual Internet Crime Report.

1. Go to ic3.gov and click "File a Complaint".
2. Read the acknowledgement, then provide your name, address, and contact details.
3. Fill in everything about the incident: dates, dollar amounts, payment methods, wallet addresses, IP addresses, websites, and the scammer's contact info.
4. Paste the full text of suspicious emails or messages into the description field.
5. Submit and save the complaint number — you'll need it if the FBI contacts you for more information.

Step 4: Notify your bank and local police

• Call the number on the back of your card or your bank's fraud line — not a number the scammer gave you.
• Ask them to reverse charges, freeze the account, or issue a new card if your details were exposed.
• File a report with your local police department. Many banks and insurers require a police report number before they reimburse.

Step 5: What happens after you file

You usually won't get a personal response. The FTC and IC3 aggregate reports to spot patterns, build cases, and warn the public. That's still useful: even reports that don't lead to your own recovery feed investigations that protect others.

• Save every confirmation number and date.
• Monitor your credit for new accounts opened in your name.
• Be alert to "recovery" scammers who target recent victims, promising to get your money back for a fee.

Other useful reporting channels

• State attorney general — every U.S. state accepts consumer complaints.
• USPIS — for scams that arrived by mail or used a fake delivery notice.
• FCC — for robocalls and spam texts at fcc.gov/complaints.
• AARP Fraud Watch — 877-908-3360 for victim support, especially for older adults.