How to Report a Phone Scam: Where to Go and What to Include

To report a phone scam, file a report with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If money was lost or the scam involved the internet, also report it to the FBI at ic3.gov. Report unwanted sales calls at DoNotCall.gov, and forward scam texts to 7726.

Where do you report a scam call?

ReportFraud.ftc.gov (FTC)

This is the main place to report scam calls, including impostor calls from fake government agencies, banks, tech support or relatives. You can report even if you didn’t lose money.

ic3.gov (FBI)

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center takes reports of internet-related fraud. Report here if money was lost, especially through wire transfers, cryptocurrency, payment apps or online accounts, or if the scam involved a computer pop-up or remote access.

DoNotCall.gov (FTC)

Use this site to report unwanted sales calls and robocalls. You can also add a number to the National Do Not Call Registry. Scam callers don’t follow the registry, so a report is still useful even if the number is already on it.

7726 for scam texts

Forward scam text messages to 7726, which spells SPAM on the keypad. This lets your mobile carrier know about the message.

When should you call the police?

• Call 911 if a courier is coming to the door to collect money.
• Contact your local police if money or valuables were handed over in person, or if you think someone is in danger.
• A police report number can be useful when you talk to your bank.

When should you contact your state attorney general?

Your state attorney general’s office handles consumer protection in your state. Many take complaints about scams and unfair business practices. Look up the office’s official website and use the complaint form or phone number listed there.

What if an older adult lost money?

• Call the bank on the number on the back of the card right away.
• Call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311), Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm ET. The hotline helps people 60 and older with reporting. Scammers sometimes pretend to be this hotline, so dial the number yourself.
• The AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline, 877-908-3360, can also help.

What should you include in a report?

Write down what you know before you start:

• The date and time of the call.
• The phone number that called, even if you think it was faked.
• The name, agency or company the caller claimed to be.
• What the caller said and asked for.
• Any money paid: amount, method, date and any receipts or transaction numbers.
• Any texts, emails or websites the caller sent you to.

Don’t include your full bank account or card numbers in a public complaint. Agencies will ask for what they need.

What happens after you report?

The FTC shares reports with law enforcement partners, who use them to find patterns and build cases. The FTC usually doesn’t resolve individual reports, so contact your bank or payment company directly to try to get money back.

How can you get ahead of the next call?

Most of these reports start with an unknown phone call. FamilyDefender checks unknown calls to an older parent while they happen and can warn the parent and alert family when a call looks risky.