How to Report a Scam — A Step-by-Step Guide for Every Country

After realising she had been scammed out of $4,800 by a fake tech support caller, Patricia from Ohio felt embarrassed. She almost kept it a secret. But her daughter convinced her to report the fraud to the FTC and FBI. Six months later, that single report — combined with hundreds of others — led to the arrest of a fraud ring that had stolen over $2 million from seniors across the country.

Patricia got part of her money back. More importantly, the scammers could not hurt anyone else.

Your report matters more than you think. And this guide will show you exactly how to report a scam, step by step, no matter where you live.

Why Reporting a Scam Matters (Even If You Feel It Will Not Help)

Most people never report scams. They feel embarrassed, assume nothing will happen, or simply do not know where to go. That silence is exactly what scammers count on.

Here is the truth: every single report builds a bigger picture. Law enforcement agencies use fraud reports to identify patterns, track criminal networks, and build cases strong enough for arrests and prosecutions.

Even if your individual case seems small, here is what reporting can do:

• Help catch the criminals — agencies connect dots across thousands of reports
• Warn other people — your report can trigger public alerts that protect your neighbours and friends
• Sometimes recover your money — especially if you report quickly (within 24-48 hours for bank fraud)
• Shut down scam operations — reported phone numbers and websites get blocked faster
• Improve scam prevention — data from reports shapes new consumer protection laws

The bottom line? You are not just helping yourself. You are protecting every other person who might get that same scam call or email tomorrow.

Now let us get into exactly where and how to report fraud, country by country.

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How to Report a Scam in the United States

The US has several agencies that handle different types of scams. Here is where to go depending on what happened to you.

1. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) — For Most Scams

The FTC is your first stop for almost any scam in the United States. They handle everything from phone scams targeting seniors to fake online shopping sites.

• Website: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
• Phone: 1-877-382-4357

The online form takes about 10-15 minutes. You do not need an account. Just describe what happened, and the FTC adds your report to a database that over 3,000 law enforcement agencies use to investigate fraud.

2. FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) — For Cyber Crime

If you were scammed online — through email, a fake website, social media, or any internet-based scheme — you should also file a cyber crime report with the FBI.

• Website: ic3.gov

This is the place to report internet scams, including romance scams, investment fraud, phishing emails, ransomware, and cryptocurrency scams. The FBI uses IC3 reports to track and dismantle major fraud operations.

Important: If you lost a large amount of money (over $10,000) or the scam involved wire transfers, contact your local FBI field office directly as well.

3. Social Security Administration — For Social Security Scams

Getting calls from someone claiming your Social Security number has been "suspended" or "compromised"? That is a scam, and it is extremely common.

• Website: oig.ssa.gov
• Phone: 1-800-269-0271

Report it immediately. The real Social Security Administration will never call you and threaten arrest or demand payment.

4. IRS / Treasury Inspector General — For Tax Scams

Scammers love pretending to be the IRS. If someone calls or emails claiming you owe back taxes and must pay immediately, that is a scam.

• Website: treasury.gov/tigta
• Phone: 1-800-366-4484

Remember: the real IRS contacts you by mail first, never by phone call or text message demanding immediate payment.

5. Your State Attorney General

Every US state has an Attorney General office that handles consumer fraud complaints. This is especially useful for scams by local businesses or contractors.

• Find yours: naag.org

6. Local Police

For any scam — but especially if you lost money, gave out personal information, or feel physically threatened — file a police report. You can report a scammer to police at your local station or by calling the non-emergency line.

A police report creates an official record. You will need this report number if you file insurance claims or dispute charges with your bank.

What Information You Will Need (US)

Before you start any report, gather these details:

• The scammer's phone number, email, or website
• Dates and times of contact
• What they said or promised
• How you paid (credit card, wire transfer, gift cards, cryptocurrency)
• Transaction amounts and any reference numbers
• Screenshots of texts, emails, or websites
• Names or company names the scammer used

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How to Report a Scam in the United Kingdom

The UK has a well-organised system for action fraud reporting and cyber crime. Here is where to go.

1. Action Fraud — The Main Reporting Centre

Action Fraud is the UK's national fraud and cyber crime reporting centre. This is where you should report any scam, whether it happened online, by phone, or in person.

• Website: actionfraud.police.uk
• Phone: 0300 123 2040 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm)

The online reporting tool walks you through the process step by step. You will receive a crime reference number, which is important — keep it safe. This is your official fraud report for any follow-up.

If you are in Scotland, report to Police Scotland on 101 instead of Action Fraud.

2. National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)

If you received a suspicious email or text, forward it directly:

• Suspicious emails: Forward to report@phishing.gov.uk
• Suspicious texts: Forward to 7726

This helps the NCSC shut down scam websites and block fraudulent phone numbers across the UK.

3. HMRC — For Tax Scams

Getting calls, texts, or emails from someone claiming to be HMRC? Report them.

• Website: gov.uk/report-suspicious-emails-websites-phishing
• Forward phishing emails to: phishing@hmrc.gov.uk
• Forward scam texts to: 60599

Real HMRC will never ask you to make an urgent payment over the phone or threaten you with arrest.

4. Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

If the scam involved investments, pensions, loans, or any financial product, report it to the FCA.

• Website: fca.org.uk/consumers/report-scam
• Consumer helpline: 0800 111 6768

The FCA maintains a warning list of known scam firms — always check it before investing.

5. Your Bank

If you sent money to a scammer, contact your bank immediately. Many UK banks are part of the Contingent Reimbursement Model, which means you may be able to get your money back if you acted quickly and in good faith.

6. Local Police (101)

For serious cases — especially if you know the scammer's identity, if you are being threatened, or if you have lost a significant amount of money — call 101 (or 999 in an emergency) to speak to local police.

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How to Report a Scam in Canada

1. Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC)

The CAFC is Canada's central agency for collecting information on fraud and identity theft.

• Website: antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca
• Phone: 1-888-495-8501 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4:45pm ET)
• Online reporting system: Available 24/7

You can report fraud even if you did not lose money. Attempted scams are valuable intelligence too.

2. Local Police

For scams involving significant money loss or identity theft, also file a report with your local police service. You will need the police report number for any insurance or banking claims.

3. Competition Bureau

For deceptive business practices or misleading advertising:

• Website: competitionbureau.gc.ca
• Phone: 1-800-348-5358

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How to Report a Scam in Australia

1. Scamwatch (ACCC)

Scamwatch is run by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and is the primary place to report scams in Australia.

• Website: scamwatch.gov.au

Scamwatch collects reports to monitor trends and issue public warnings. Your report directly helps protect other Australians.

2. ReportCyber

For serious cyber crime — including online fraud, identity theft, and hacking — file a cyber crime report through ReportCyber.

• Website: cyber.gov.au/report

3. IDCARE

If your personal information was compromised, IDCARE provides free support for identity theft victims.

• Website: idcare.org
• Phone: 1800 595 160

4. Your State or Territory Consumer Protection Agency

Each Australian state and territory has its own fair trading or consumer affairs office. Contact them for local scams or disputes with businesses.

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How to Report Specific Types of Scams — Quick Reference

Not sure where to go? Use this quick guide based on the type of scam:

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What Information to Gather Before You Report — Your Checklist

Having the right information ready makes your report stronger and faster to file. Before you sit down to report, gather as much of this as you can:

• What happened — write a brief timeline in your own words
• When it happened — dates and times of calls, emails, or transactions
• How they contacted you — phone, email, text, social media, in person
• Contact details they used — phone numbers, email addresses, website URLs, social media profiles
• What they said — any names, company names, or badge numbers they gave
• How you paid — credit card, debit card, bank transfer, wire transfer, gift cards, cryptocurrency
• How much you lost — total amount, plus any transaction reference numbers
• Evidence — screenshots, emails, text messages, call logs, receipts, bank statements
• Any other details — did they ask for personal information like your Social Security number, date of birth, or passwords?

Tip: Do not delete any messages or emails from the scammer. They are evidence. Save them in a separate folder if you need to get them out of your inbox.

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What Happens After You Report a Scam

Let us set realistic expectations so you are not disappointed.

You will probably not hear back right away. Agencies like the FTC, Action Fraud, and the CAFC collect reports and look for patterns. They may not investigate your individual case, but your report becomes part of a larger picture.

Here is what typically happens:

1. Your report is logged and assigned a reference number. Keep this number safe.
2. Analysts review reports looking for patterns — same phone number used in 500 complaints? That gets flagged.
3. Investigations launch when enough evidence accumulates. This can take weeks or months.
4. Enforcement actions happen when cases are built. This can mean arrests, asset seizures, website shutdowns, and sometimes restitution for victims.
5. Public warnings may be issued based on trends in reports, protecting others before they get scammed.

For bank fraud specifically, act fast. If you contact your bank within 24-48 hours, there is a much better chance of reversing fraudulent transactions. Many credit card companies have zero-liability policies — but you must report promptly.

If you used gift cards to pay a scammer, contact the gift card company immediately. Some (like Apple, Google, or Amazon) have fraud teams that can sometimes freeze the funds.

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Protect Yourself Going Forward

Reporting is one critical step. But here are a few more things to do after a scam:

• Change your passwords — especially if you gave out any login credentials. Use a password manager to create strong, unique passwords.
• Monitor your bank accounts — watch for any unauthorized transactions for at least the next 90 days.
• Consider identity theft protection — a good monitoring service can alert you if someone tries to open accounts in your name. Check out our guide to the best identity theft protection for seniors.
• Tell someone you trust — a family member, friend, or neighbour. There is no shame in being targeted. Scammers are professionals, and they trick millions of people every year.
• Stay informed — scammers constantly change their tactics. Learning how to spot scam emails and recognising phone scams targeting seniors will help you stay one step ahead.

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You Are Not Just a Victim — You Are a Protector

Here is the most powerful thing about choosing to report fraud: you stop being a victim and start being part of the solution.

Every scam report is a brick in the wall that law enforcement builds against criminals. Patricia's single report helped bring down an entire fraud ring. Your report could do the same.

It does not matter if you lost $50 or $50,000. It does not matter if you feel embarrassed. What matters is that you speak up.

The scammers want your silence. Do not give it to them.

Report it. Protect yourself. Protect others.

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If you or someone you know has been scammed, bookmark this page and share it. The more people who know how to report a scam, the harder it gets for criminals to operate in the shadows.