Reviewed September 2026.
Reporting a scam is two jobs: document the fraud for investigators and start payment disputes with the institutions that moved the money. The FTC’s consumer portal is ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Identity-theft recovery plans (fake accounts in your name) use IdentityTheft.gov instead; see Report credit report fraud and Rebuild after identity theft.
Same-day order that usually works
- Stop contact with the scammer. Do not pay a “refund fee” or install remote-access software.
- Call your bank or credit union fraud desk using the number on the back of the card or on a paper statement (not a number in a text).
- File at ReportFraud.ftc.gov while details are fresh.
- File channel-specific reports (wire service, gift-card brand, crypto exchange, IC3.gov for internet crime).
- Save confirmation numbers in one folder (PDF + note with dates).
Broader pattern library: Credit and debt scams. Romance payment rails: Romance scam money movement.
ReportFraud.ftc.gov (what to enter)
Use a browser bookmark or type the address yourself.
| Field | What to include |
|---|---|
| Scam type | Impostor, online shopping, investment, romance, job, etc. |
| Money lost | Dollar amount by rail (card, wire, crypto, gift card, P2P) |
| How they contacted you | Phone, SMS, email, dating app, social DM |
| Impersonated brand | Bank, IRS, Amazon, utility (if any) |
| Payment details | Last four of card, wire ref, wallet address, gift-card brand |
| Dates | First contact, each payment, when you realized |
The FTC report does not automatically refund you. It feeds Consumer Sentinel so agencies and researchers can spot patterns. Keep the PDF or confirmation page.
Bank and card steps
| Payment type | Who to contact | What to ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Credit card charge | Issuer fraud line | Dispute / chargeback; block card; case number (Dispute a credit card charge) |
| Debit card / ATM | Bank fraud line | Reg E error investigation; new card |
| ACH pull | Bank | Unauthorized ACH dispute (Unauthorized ACH debit) |
| Wire | Sending bank | Attempt recall; written fraud statement |
| Zelle / other P2P | Bank or app support | Report scam; ask about any reimbursement policy (Zelle and P2P) |
Authorized payments you sent willingly to a scammer are harder to reverse than stolen-card charges. Still report; timelines matter (often days, not months).
Worked example: $2,100 fake “Amazon refund”
Riley sends $2,100 in Apple and Google Play cards after a caller claims an Amazon refund needs “verification.” Riley:
- Hangs up; does not buy more cards.
- Calls the credit-union number on a statement; no bank transfer occurred, only cash for cards.
- Files ReportFraud.ftc.gov with card brands, amounts, and the spoofed caller ID.
- Reports the gift cards through Apple and Google’s official fraud forms.
- Files IC3.gov because the pitch was phone + online codes.
Outcome: cards already redeemed; no cash return. Riley still has a paper trail if the same number hits relatives.
Extra reports worth filing
- IC3.gov (FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center) for online, crypto, and romance losses.
- State attorney general consumer complaint portal if the scammer claimed a local business license.
- USPS Inspection Service for mail theft / washed checks (see check-washing guide when relevant).
- Credit bureaus: place freezes/fraud alerts preventively when identity data was exposed; also dispute inaccurate new accounts or inquiries if they appear.
Never call a phone number from the scam message. Official contacts come from statements, chip cards, or sites you type yourself.
Checklist
- Contact the bank/issuer fraud desk the same day; get a case number.
- File ReportFraud.ftc.gov; save the confirmation.
- Add IC3.gov for internet or crypto losses.
- Report gift-card or wire brands through their official fraud channels.
- Preserve chats, receipts, wallet addresses, and caller IDs.
- If fake credit accounts appear, switch to IdentityTheft.gov and bureau freezes.
Educational only. Not legal advice. Agency sites and bank dispute deadlines change; use ReportFraud.ftc.gov, IdentityTheft.gov, IC3.gov, and your institution’s official channels for current forms.