Published:
February 18, 2026
•
8
min read
•
By
Patrick Coughlin
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Many people don't report scams because they feel embarrassed, assume nothing will come of it, or don't know where to start. All three of those concerns are understandable — and all three are worth pushing through and still reporting.
Here's what actually happens with scam reports:
You don't need to have lost money to file a report. Reports of attempted scams are equally valuable.
Regardless of the scam type, these three agencies should receive a report for almost any fraud involving money, personal information, or impersonation.
The Federal Trade Commission is the primary consumer fraud reporting agency in the United States. Filing a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov takes about 10 minutes and covers nearly all scam types: impersonation fraud, phone scams, online shopping scams, identity theft, romance scams, investment fraud, and more.
After filing, you'll receive a personalized recovery plan with next steps based on your specific situation. Your report also goes directly into the FTC's Consumer Sentinel database, which is shared with more than 2,700 law enforcement agencies nationwide.
What to include: How the scam reached you (phone, email, text, website), what happened, when it happened, how much you paid and how, any phone numbers or email addresses involved, and any names or company names the scammer used.
The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is the FBI's online portal for reporting internet-related fraud and cybercrime. It's especially important for:
For very recent wire transfers, the IC3 has a dedicated team — the Financial Fraud Kill Chain — that works with financial institutions to attempt to freeze or recover funds. Speed is everything: ideally within hours of the transfer. File at ic3.gov.
State AGs have enforcement powers the FTC doesn't — they can take action against local businesses, file civil suits faster, and sometimes recover money through state consumer protection statutes. Many states also have dedicated elder fraud units. Find your state AG at naag.org.
Once you've filed with the FTC, use the appropriate agency or platform below based on how the scam reached you or what kind of fraud occurred.
If you received a scam call or robocall, report it to the FCC in addition to the FTC:
Before calling back any unknown number: check it on Scamwise first to see if it's been flagged for scam activity.
To stop scam calls and texts before they reach you: Savi Premium uses an AI-powered scam detection engine to filter out fraudulent calls and texts automatically — and provides call summaries for any calls you miss.
Wire transfer fraud is time-sensitive above all else. If the transfer was very recent:
If a scammer used your personal information to open accounts, apply for credit, or file taxes in your name:
Older adults are disproportionately targeted by scammers — and there are dedicated reporting resources specifically for elder fraud.
Having the right information ready makes your report more useful to investigators and speeds up the process.
Don't worry if you don't have everything — a partial report is still valuable. File with what you have.
FTC: You'll receive a personalized recovery plan immediately after filing. The FTC doesn't contact you individually to follow up on cases, but your report goes directly into their law enforcement database. Enforcement actions — and any resulting consumer refunds — can take months to years, but they do happen.
FBI IC3: You'll receive an email confirmation. The IC3 doesn't provide individual case updates, but all reports are reviewed by analysts and referred to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.
CFPB: Companies are required to respond to CFPB complaints within 15 days. If your bank or financial institution mishandled your fraud situation, a CFPB complaint is one of the most direct ways to force a response.
Platforms (PayPal, Amazon, etc.): Response times vary. PayPal's Resolution Center typically responds within 10 days. Other platforms may resolve reports faster or slower depending on the case type.
Many scams begin with a phone call or voicemail from an unknown number. Before returning any call from a number you don't recognize, look it up on Scamwise first — a free tool that checks any phone number against known scam activity. It takes about 15 seconds and can tell you immediately if a number has been flagged for fraud.
For ongoing protection, Savi Premium blocks scam calls and texts before they ever reach your phone. Savi's scam detection engine identifies and filters fraudulent numbers in real time, and automatically summarizes any calls you don't answer — so you never have to wonder whether a missed call was legitimate.
Check any number before you call back
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Patrick Coughlin
Patrick Coughlin is a cybersecurity and technology expert with over two decades of hands-on experience at the intersection of technology, intelligence, and security. He has built teams, products and companies to protect governments and Fortune 500 enterprises from the most sophisticated cyber threats. When his mother was targeted with an AI-powered impersonation scam, the threat became personal. His debut book, Dark Side of the Boom, reveals the human cost of the growing AI-powered scam economy, explores the organized criminal networks and black-market engines that power it and offers clear-eyed strategies for how to better prepare and protect ourselves and our communities. Patrick is the co-founder and CEO of Savi Security and lives in Los Angeles with his wife, son and dog.
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Getting scammed is devastating — but recovery may be possible. Whether you paid by credit card, wire transfer, gift card, or payment app, your options are different. Here's what to do right away and how reporting to the FTC can sometimes lead to real refunds.
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