Quick overview

Reporting scams to government portals channels your complaint to agencies that collect data, analyze patterns and sometimes take enforcement actions. The major federal portals you’ll use most often include:

(Agency homepages and portals listed above are maintained by the FTC, CFPB, FBI/IC3, IdentityTheft.gov and BBB.)

Why reporting matters

Agencies rarely act on a single report the same way a police investigator might on a major theft, but your report is data. When hundreds or thousands of people report similar activity, regulators and law enforcement can identify patterns, seize domains, close accounts, and notify victims. In my practice helping clients recover from fraud, timely reporting often triggered financial institution investigations that reduced additional losses.

Step-by-step: How to report a scam

  1. Stop the harm immediately
  • Cease all contact with the scammer. Do not make further payments or share additional personal information.
  • If payments were made by card, contact your bank or card issuer to dispute charges and ask them to block further transactions.
  • If account credentials were exposed, change passwords and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA).
  1. Gather evidence before it disappears
  • Save emails (full headers when possible), text messages, screenshots, call logs, URLs, transaction IDs, bank statements, and copies of any contracts or receipts.
  • Photograph mailed checks or letters and note dates and phone numbers.
  • Keep a timeline of contacts and transfers (date, time, amount, account numbers).
  1. Identify the right portal
  1. File the report (what to include)
  • Your contact details (agencies may follow up). If privacy is a concern, you can still submit many reports anonymously, but follow-up is easier when you provide contact info.
  • Names, phone numbers, email addresses, and physical addresses used by the scammer.
  • Dates, amounts, and means of payment (wire transfer, gift card, ACH, credit card, cryptocurrency).
  • Screenshots, attachments, and links to webpages or social media profiles.
  • Any documentation showing impersonation (bank logos, fake invoices, forged documents).
  1. Use agency features to get a recovery plan or next steps
  • IdentityTheft.gov creates a step-by-step recovery plan and generates letters you can use with credit bureaus and businesses.
  • The CFPB and FTC send acknowledgement receipts and may provide a case or complaint number you can use for follow-up.
  • IC3 forwards internet-crime complaints to the FBI field office when appropriate.
  1. Report to your bank, credit bureaus and local police
  • Place a fraud alert or credit freeze (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) if identity theft occurred.
  • File a local police report if you lost money—many financial institutions require a police report for reimbursement requests.
  • Notify your state Attorney General if a business or local actor was involved.

How to choose the correct portal

Think in terms of the primary harm:

  • Money taken via a bank account or loan problem -> CFPB.
  • Personal or identity use of your SSN -> IdentityTheft.gov and the FTC.
  • Internet-originated crime -> IC3.
  • Investment scams -> SEC/FINRA and state securities regulator.

If you’re unsure, start with the FTC Complaint Assistant (https://www.ftc.gov/complaint). The FTC triages reports and refers matters to more specific agencies when needed.

Sample information checklist to have ready

  • Your full name and best contact (phone and email)
  • Date(s) of contact and dates of transactions
  • Name(s) and phone/email/addresses used by the scammer
  • Exact amounts, bank account / routing or card numbers involved
  • Screenshots or copies of messages, emails, invoices, or webpages
  • Social media profiles, website URLs, and screenshots of profiles
  • Any receipts showing payments (wire confirmation, gift card receipts)

What to expect after you file

  • Confirmation or case number: Most portals give an acknowledgement and a case number.
  • No immediate refund guarantee: Agencies collect information and may investigate; recovery depends on your bank, the method of payment, and whether law enforcement obtains a judgement or restitution.
  • Possible referrals: The agency may forward your report to state or federal partners for action.
  • Aggregated impact: Your report contributes to public alerts and future enforcement even if there’s no individual resolution.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Waiting too long to report. Banks and law enforcement often have shorter windows to freeze transactions.
  • Submitting incomplete evidence. Missing screenshots or transaction IDs slows investigations.
  • Reporting to only one place. File with the portal that matches the harm and also to the FTC and local police for redundancy.
  • Sharing more personal data with the scammer during reporting. When you file, do not give new sensitive information unless required by the agency and via its secure portal.

Real-world examples (anonymized)

  • A client received a convincing bank-email phishing message and entered login credentials. After contacting their bank, we filed an FTC complaint and an IC3 report. The bank was able to stop additional transfers and the client used IdentityTheft.gov to reset credit and place a fraud alert.
  • An older client lost money to a lottery/advance-fee scheme. Filing a police report, an FTC complaint and reporting to the state Attorney General helped trigger a local investigation and stopped the scheme from reaching two more victims.

Additional resources and internal reading

FAQs (short answers)

  • What info do I need to report? Basic contact info, dates, amounts, copies of messages, and proof of payment if available.
  • Will reporting get my money back? Not necessarily; reporting helps create a paper trail and can support bank disputes and law enforcement actions but does not guarantee reimbursement.
  • Can I report anonymously? Some portals allow anonymous submissions, but agencies often need contact information to follow up.

Quick checklist (one-page)

  • Stop contact and payments
  • Take screenshots and save records
  • Notify your bank/credit card issuer
  • File at the primary portal(s) listed above
  • Place fraud alert or credit freeze if identity theft
  • File police report and contact state Attorney General if local actor involved

Professional note and best practices

In my practice I emphasize documenting everything in real time and prioritizing bank contact before filing if money is still moving. Use secure portals (not email) to submit reports and always keep copies of submission confirmation numbers. For tax-related identity theft, contact the IRS immediately—fraudulent tax filings often require a separate flow with the IRS Identity Protection unit (https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams).

Sources and further reading

Professional disclaimer

This article is educational and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Procedures and agency response times change; consult a qualified attorney, your financial institution, or the relevant government agency for personalized assistance.