Report Fraud (2024)

FAQs

Is it worth reporting a scammer? ›

The most efficient way is to report scams immediately to your bank's fraud department if you had money stolen from you on a credit or debit card. The FTC focuses on stopping businesses who use scams to make money. They also work to get customers refunds for any money lost from scams.

Every report is a piece of the puzzle that lets the FTC see the full picture of what scammers are doing and then stop them, because scammers don't scam just one person. But you could be the one person whose story tips the balance, stops someone from falling for the scam, or stops the scammer. So tell your story.

The power of ReportFraud.ftc.gov

Your report is shared with more than 2,800 law enforcers. We can't resolve your individual report, but we use reports to investigate and bring cases against fraud, scams, and bad business practices.

The IRS Whistleblower Program rewards whistleblowers by paying 15 to 30% of government recoveries that result from the whistleblower's reporting to the IRS Whistleblower Program.

While agencies can't always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.

If you paid by card or PayPal

If you've paid for something you haven't received, you might be able to get your money back. Your card provider can ask the seller's bank to refund the money. This is known as the 'chargeback scheme'. If you paid by debit card, you can use chargeback however much you paid.

Contact the company or bank that issued the credit card or debit card. Tell them it was a fraudulent charge. Ask them to reverse the transaction and give you your money back.

The person that got defrauded will NOT have a chance of recovering their money or justice, and the scammers will keep on doing scams because there are no consequences for them.

Explore Online Footprints: The digital age leaves traces, and the scammer's online activity can be a valuable source of leads. Utilize social media platforms to search for the scammer's name or usernames. Look for any profiles or accounts that match details they provided you with.

How do I report a suspicious scammer? ›

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has the power to investigate and remove scam websites. It's free to report a suspicious website to us and it only takes a minute. By reporting suspicious websites, you can help us stop cyber criminals and protect others online.

If the NFIB decide there might be enough information in your report for the police to investigate, they'll send it to the local police force for the place the crime happened. That police force will look at the information and decide whether to investigate the case.

When you report a scam, the FTC can use the information to build cases against scammers, spot trends, educate the public, and share data about what is happening in your community. If you experienced a scam — or even spotted one, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Simple incidents of opportunistic fraud may only take anywhere from a day to a week to close the book on. More sophisticated fraud cases – especially those involving fraud rings – can take months or even years, often requiring the assistance of law enforcement.

A good way to deal with unwanted calls is to block them. Blocking software or devices can stop a lot of the unwanted calls you get — like scam calls and illegal robocalls — before they reach you.

Don't call back a number if your phone rings once.

Spam callers can hide international numbers with ID spoofing. These one-ring calls are bait — the fraud happens when you call back the spam number. If you must call back after a missed call, check the area code to ensure it's in the United States.