How to Report a Scam: FTC, IC3, Police, and What to Do First

How to Report a Scam: First Hour, Then the Right Offices

Key takeaways

• First: contact the bank, card, wire company, or payment app you used and say it was fraud.[1]
• Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Reports go into Consumer Sentinel and are shared with law enforcement partners. The FTC does not resolve your individual case.[2]
• For internet-related crimes, also file at the FBI’s IC3 (ic3.gov).[3][4]
• Call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360 (Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET) for guidance—not investigation or recovery.[5]
• Tell local police and your state attorney general. Reporting still helps even if money is hard to get back.[3][6]

• Related: Is this a scam? checklist
• Related: Elder fraud and the grandparent scam
• Related: Identity theft protection for seniors

First hour: stop more damage

Do these before you fill out long forms:

Table based on FTC “What To Do if You Were Scammed” recovery paths; bank-first advice also appears in AARP reporting guidance.[1][6]

If you shared passwords or remote-access to a computer, change passwords from a different device when you can, and ask a trusted helper to check for remote-access software.

CFPB reminder: real government agencies and banks do not threaten you, tell you to send money to “protect it,” or tell you to buy gift cards or crypto.[3]

Where to report (and what each office does)

There is no single U.S. clearinghouse for every scam.[6] File in more than one place when it fits.

1. Federal Trade Commission — ReportFraud.ftc.gov

• Go to https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ and choose Report Now.[2][7]
• Pick the category that fits (for example, an impersonator), answer the follow-up questions, and describe what happened.[7]
• Include names, phone numbers, dates, amounts, and how you paid. Do not put your Social Security number, birth date, or full bank account numbers in the comments.[8]
• You may report anonymously. You cannot attach files, and you should finish in one sitting (the form may not save mid-way).[8]
• You get a report number and next-step tips. If you give an email, you get a confirmation.[7]
• Your report is shared with over 2,000 law enforcers through Consumer Sentinel. The FTC says it cannot resolve your individual report; reports help investigations and cases.[2]

Phone option often listed with the online form: 1-877-382-4357 (FTC).[8]

Watch out: Scammers impersonate the FTC. The real FTC will never threaten you, tell you to transfer money to “protect it,” or tell you to withdraw cash or buy gold and give it to someone.[2]

2. FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center — ic3.gov

• File at https://www.ic3.gov/ for internet-enabled fraud (phishing, tech support, romance, investment, government impersonation online, and more).[3][4]
• Keep emails, receipts, account numbers the scammer used, and transaction records.[4]
• IC3 is also the FBI office that receives elder fraud complaints.[4]

3. Local police or sheriff

• Use the non-emergency number or website.[3]
• Ask for a report number. A written record can help later with banks, taxes, or restitution.[6]

4. State attorney general

• Find your office via the National Association of Attorneys General site (linked from CFPB guidance).[3]

5. AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline

• 877-908-3360, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET.[5]
• Call if you spotted a scam, need help deciding whether something is a scam, or you (or a loved one) were victimized.[5]
• Specialists offer guidance and support, not investigation or case recovery.[5]
• Translation services are available on the call.[5]

6. Extra lines for older adults and Medicare

What to have ready before you file

• How they contacted you (phone, text, email, social, in person)
• Names, titles, badge numbers, company names they used
• Phone numbers, emails, websites, wallet addresses
• Dates and times
• Amount paid and payment method
• Screenshots or copies of messages (keep originals; many federal forms do not take attachments)[8]

Why reporting still matters

AARP notes many people stay silent out of embarrassment or doubt that reporting helps.[6] Reports help law enforcement see patterns and connect cases.[2][6] Recovery is often hard, but a record can matter if restitution becomes possible later.[6]

If you are unsure whether the message is a scam, start with our Is this a scam? checklist, or try

.

FAQ

Will the FTC get my money back? Usually not directly. ReportFraud.ftc.gov helps investigations; the FTC says it does not resolve individual consumer reports.[2] Still report, and contact your payment provider right away.[1]

Should I report if I did not lose money? Yes. Reporting an attempt still helps.[2][7]

Do I report to both FTC and IC3? For many online scams, yes—FTC for consumer fraud patterns and IC3 for internet crime complaints.[3]

I feel ashamed. Who can I talk to without judgment? AARP Fraud Watch Helpline is built for that kind of call.[5][6]

Sources

1. Federal Trade Commission. What To Do if You Were Scammed. FTC Consumer Advice. n.d. (content verified via archived official page). https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-do-if-you-were-scammed. Accessed October 29, 2026.
2. Federal Trade Commission. ReportFraud.ftc.gov. FTC. n.d. https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/. Accessed October 29, 2026.
3. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Who do I contact for help with a scam or fraud? CFPB Ask CFPB. Reviewed August 28, 2026. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/who-do-i-contact-for-help-with-a-scam-or-fraud-en-1777/. Accessed October 29, 2026.
4. Federal Bureau of Investigation / Internet Crime Complaint Center. Elder Fraud tri-fold brochure (“Report It!”). IC3. n.d. (includes 2025 elder fraud figures and hotline). https://www.ic3.gov/Outreach/Brochures/elder_fraud_tri-fold.pdf. Accessed October 29, 2026.
5. AARP Fraud Watch Network. Report Fraud to the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline. AARP. n.d. https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/helpline/. Accessed October 29, 2026.
6. Alderton M; reviewed by Stokes K (AARP Fraud Watch Network). How and Where to Report Scams — and Why It’s Crucial to Do So. AARP. Updated July 20, 2026. https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/where-to-report-scams/. Accessed October 29, 2026.
7. Federal Trade Commission. How To Report Fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (video transcript / media page). FTC. n.d. https://www.ftc.gov/media/how-report-fraud-reportfraudftcgov. Accessed October 29, 2026.
8. U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime / National Elder Fraud Hotline materials. Report Fraud to the FTC (consumer tip sheet). OJP. Document dated March 16, 2026. https://ovc.ojp.gov/sites/ovc/files/media/document/DOJ_OJP_NEFH_Report_Fraud_FTC_v3_508c_03162026.pdf. Accessed October 29, 2026.
9. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Reporting Fraud. CMS. n.d. https://www.cms.gov/medicare/medicaid-coordination/center-program-integrity/reporting-fraud. Accessed October 29, 2026.
10. Federal Trade Commission. IdentityTheft.gov. FTC. n.d. https://www.identitytheft.gov/. Accessed October 29, 2026.

Disclaimer

This article is for general education only and is not medical, legal, or financial advice. Talk to your doctor, a licensed attorney, or a SHIP counselor (Medicare) about your situation. In an emergency, call 911.

Attribution

Portions of this page are adapted from "HowToLiveBetter" (高性价比人生指南) by eternity4719, https://github.com/eternity4719/HowToLiveBetter, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Changes: topic and evidence approach adapted from Chapter 08 (anti-fraud); rewritten for the U.S. context and re-sourced to U.S. research and official guidance. Not a direct translation.