Last reviewed: June 1, 2026 · Written by James Carter, Consumer Rights Researcher · Independent resource — not a government site
Report online scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and the FBI at IC3.gov. If money was transferred, call your bank immediately — acting within 24 hours gives the best chance of recovery.
Quick answer: Report an online scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov. If money was transferred, also contact your bank immediately. All reports can be filed anonymously and take under 10 minutes.
Online scams cost Americans over $12.5 billion in 2023 alone — a record high. Not sure if what you received is a scam? Check ScamReporting.org’s Scam Checker tool or review romance scam red flags, smishing examples, and other warning signs. Whether you were targeted by a fake online store, romance scammer, tech support fraud, or social media giveaway scam, reporting it quickly creates a paper trail that helps law enforcement identify and shut down criminal networks.
Most Common Online Scams in the U.S.
The FBI’s IC3 receives over 800,000 online scam complaints per year. The most common types include: fake online shopping sites, investment and cryptocurrency fraud, romance scams, tech support scams, government impersonation scams, fake job offers, lottery and prize scams, and phishing emails impersonating banks or retailers.
Where to Report an Online Scam
| Scam Type | Agency | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| All online scams (start here) | FTC | reportfraud.ftc.gov |
| Internet crimes & large fraud | FBI IC3 | ic3.gov |
| Investment & crypto fraud | SEC + CFTC | sec.gov/tcr | cftc.gov/complaint |
| Wire transfer or bank fraud | Your bank + FinCEN | Call bank immediately |
| Social media scams | Platform + FTC | Report on platform first |
| Fake online store | FTC + state AG | reportfraud.ftc.gov |
How to Report an Online Scam Step by Step
- Stop all contact with the scammer immediately. Do not send more money, personal information, or gift cards. Block them on all platforms. If they threaten you, document the threats but do not engage.
- Screenshot and save all evidence. Capture screenshots of websites, emails, text messages, social media profiles, and any payment receipts before they disappear. Save them to a folder with the scammer’s name or platform.
- Contact your bank or payment service immediately. If you sent money via bank transfer, call your bank’s fraud line within 24 hours — they may be able to reverse the transfer. For credit cards, dispute the charge. For Zelle, PayPal, Venmo, or CashApp, contact their fraud teams directly.
- Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. This is the primary national database for consumer fraud. Include all details: the scammer’s contact info, what happened, dates, amounts lost, and how payment was made. Takes under 10 minutes.
- File a complaint with the FBI IC3 at ic3.gov. The IC3 handles internet crimes and shares reports with federal, state, and international law enforcement. File here in addition to the FTC — especially for losses over $1,000.
- Report to the platform where the scam occurred. Report fake profiles on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter/X. Report fraudulent sellers on Amazon, eBay, or Etsy. Report fake apps to the Apple App Store or Google Play. Platforms can remove scammers and warn others.
- Report investment or crypto scams to the SEC and CFTC. If you were defrauded in a fake investment, crypto scheme, or Ponzi operation, file at sec.gov/tcr and cftc.gov/complaint. These agencies have enforcement power to freeze assets.
- File a police report for your records. While local police rarely investigate online scams, a police report number is useful for insurance claims, bank disputes, and tax deductions on fraud losses over $100.
How to Get Money Back After an Online Scam
Recovery depends on how you paid. Credit cards offer the best protection — dispute the charge under the Fair Credit Billing Act within 60 days for a full chargeback. Bank wire transfers are hardest to recover — act within 24 hours and ask your bank to file a SWIFT recall. Gift cards are nearly unrecoverable — but report the card numbers to the issuer immediately, as occasionally funds can be frozen. Cryptocurrency transfers are generally unrecoverable once confirmed on the blockchain.
Frequently Asked Questions
For related guides see: How to Report a Scam Phone Number, How to Report Identity Theft, and our Fraud & Scams Reporting Hub.