How to report a scam in the United States

Why it's hard to tell

Many people do not report a scam. It can feel embarrassing, the amount may seem too small to matter, or it may be unclear where to go.

A report does have a purpose. The FTC publishes reported phone numbers each business day to help phone companies and law enforcement build call-blocking and labelling tools. Your report may stop the next person from picking up.

Common tricks used

• A scammer telling you to keep the matter secret, which keeps reports from being made.
• Suggesting that you will be in trouble yourself if you tell anyone. A genuine agency does not say this.
• Following up with a second caller who offers to recover your money for a fee. The FTC warns that people who have lost money are sometimes contacted again.

How to verify, step by step

Think of this as a short list with the urgent part first.

1. If money has left your account, contact the company that moved it. The FTC lists the steps by payment type. For a bank transfer or Zelle, tell your bank and ask them to reverse it. For a payment app, report it to the app. For a wire, contact the wire company. For a card, call the number on the back. For a gift card, call the issuer and keep the card and receipt. For cryptocurrency, contact the exchange or ATM operator. For cash sent by US mail, the Postal Inspection Service can be reached at 1-877-876-2455.
2. If you shared a password or let someone into your device, follow our guide on what to do after you shared a code or gave someone access.
3. Report to the FTC. Go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you lost no money and only want to report a call, DoNotCall.gov is the route. Give the number that called, the number shown on caller ID, any callback number, and the date and time.
4. Report a scam text. Forward it to 7726 (SPAM) so your carrier can learn from it, use the report junk option in your messaging app, and report it to the FTC.
5. If your identity was used, go to IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan matched to what happened.
6. Consider the FBI. For internet-enabled fraud and many impersonation scams, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center takes complaints at ic3.gov. Its September 2026 alert asks for scammer phone numbers and email addresses, payment records, and copies of any texts or emails, so keep these. The alert also advises telling your financial institutions and your local law enforcement.
7. Use the specialist route for your case. The IRS has its own page for reporting tax scams at irs.gov/help/report-fraud. For Medicare, call 1-800-MEDICARE or your local Senior Medicare Patrol on 1-877-808-2468. For a charity, your state charity regulator, found at nasconet.org, is a useful addition. For a rental or marketplace ad, report to the website where it appeared.

Things to watch

• Anyone who contacts you offering to recover lost money, especially for a fee or by asking for remote access to your computer.
• Messages that claim to be from the FTC or a police officer and ask you to pay. The FTC has said it will never ask you to send money.
• Any website that claims to be a reporting site but asks for payment. Reporting is free.

Keep screenshots, call logs and receipts. Our guide to checking a caller ID shows what to note down. Readers in Britain can use our guide on how to report a scam in the UK.