Resource
Scam reporting guide
Use this scam reporting guide to find where to report fraud, identity theft, cybercrime, payment app scams, suspicious messages, and account takeover.
Reviewed July 17, 2026
Quick answer
Use this scam reporting guide to decide where to report based on what happened: a suspicious message, payment loss, identity exposure, account takeover, mail issue, or online fraud.
Contact the bank, platform, card issuer, payment app, or agency that can act on the immediate problem before relying only on public reports.
Start with the type of harm
The best reporting path depends on what happened. A suspicious message can go to the FTC and the platform. A cyber-enabled loss may also fit IC3. Identity exposure belongs at IdentityTheft.gov. A payment or account problem should also go directly to the bank, card issuer, app, or platform.
Reporting may not guarantee recovery, but it creates a record and helps agencies and companies identify patterns. If money, identity details, or account access are involved, contact the affected provider first so they can freeze cards, lock accounts, reverse what is still reversible, or tell you what records they need.
Keep the message, phone number, email address, payment receipt, tracking number, wallet address, username, website, and screenshots in one place before you file reports. You do not need a perfect record to report, but clear details make the report more useful.
- Forward scam texts to 7726 when your carrier supports it.
- Use ReportFraud.ftc.gov for most scam attempts and losses.
- Use IC3.gov for cyber-enabled losses, account takeover, crypto, or online fraud.
- Use IdentityTheft.gov when identity information was exposed or misused.
Where to report by situation
Start with the place that can act on the immediate problem, then file public reports when appropriate.
Situation
Suspicious text, email, or call
First contact
Carrier, platform, or email provider reporting tools
Public report
ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Situation
Money, card, bank, or payment app loss
First contact
Bank, card issuer, payment app, or merchant support
Public report
ReportFraud.ftc.gov and IC3.gov when online or cyber-enabled
Situation
Identity details or Social Security number shared
First contact
Affected accounts and credit bureaus as needed
Public report
IdentityTheft.gov
Situation
Mail, package, or postal notice
First contact
USPS or postal inspection reporting channel
Public report
USPIS report page and ReportFraud.ftc.gov
For urgent account or payment problems, contact the provider directly before relying on a public report.
Keep a simple report record
Write down the date, how the message arrived, what the person wanted, how you responded, and which accounts or payment methods were involved. Add screenshots or photos only if they are safe to keep and do not expose more private information than needed.
If you already contacted a bank, platform, agency, or app, keep the case number and the exact support channel you used. This makes follow-up easier and helps you avoid calling back a number that came from the suspicious message.
- Save the original message or screenshot when possible.
- Record the official support channel you used for follow-up.
- Track case numbers, claim numbers, or confirmation emails.
- Avoid sending full passwords, one-time codes, or full identity numbers in follow-up messages.
Common situations to compare before reporting
If you are not sure what happened, start with the closest pattern and save the details it tells you to collect. Payment app, marketplace, invoice, ticket, pet, toll, debt, student loan, rental, and car-sale scams often need both provider contact and a public report.
Small toll balances, late fees, state links, or QR codes.
Fake invoices, support numbers, and charge panic.
Instant bank transfers, fake alerts, and marketplace pressure.
Fake screenshots, mistaken transfers, and refund pressure.
Giveaways, fees, and stranger payment requests.
Urgent resale offers and hard-to-verify transfers.
Fake listings, shipping fees, deposits, and transport pressure.
Deposits before verification, copied listings, and remote landlords.
Fake checks, distant buyers, movers, and refund requests.
Useful reporting links
Open official reporting pages yourself rather than using links from suspicious messages.
General FTC fraud reporting.
Identity theft recovery plans.
FBI cybercrime reporting.
Mail and postal scam reports.
Trusted sources
ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Federal Trade Commission
FTC reporting intake collects scam reports and helps route information to law enforcement partners.
IdentityTheft.gov
Federal Trade Commission
FTC identity theft guidance helps people build a recovery plan after Social Security, account, or identity information is exposed.
Cryptocurrency and AI Scams Bilk Americans of Billions
Federal Bureau of Investigation
FBI IC3 reporting names phishing, spoofing, extortion, and investment schemes among the most reported complaint types.
Smishing: Package Tracking Text Scams
United States Postal Inspection Service
USPIS explains that package-tracking text scams use unsolicited messages and unfamiliar links.
Common questions
Should I report a scam if I did not lose money?
Yes. Reports help agencies and platforms track scam patterns even when you caught the message in time.
Should I call my bank before reporting?
If money, cards, or accounts are involved, contact the provider immediately and then file the appropriate reports.
Where do I report identity theft?
Use IdentityTheft.gov for an official identity theft recovery plan.
Where do I report online account or crypto losses?
IC3.gov is appropriate for many cyber-enabled losses, including account takeover and crypto scams.