If you lost money, call your bank first
Reports to agencies help, but your bank or card company is the one that can stop a payment. Call them first, using the number on the back of your card. Then file the reports below.
Where to report
- Any scam, fraud, or bad business practice: reportfraud.ftc.gov, or call the FTC at 1-877-382-4357.
- Scams that happened online, by email, or through a website: ic3.gov, run by the FBI.
- Someone pretending to be from Social Security: oig.ssa.gov.
- Medicare fraud or someone using your Medicare number: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
- Someone pretending to be from the IRS: report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 if you are unsure about a real tax letter.
- Your identity was stolen: identitytheft.gov.
- Unwanted sales calls: donotcall.gov.
- Scam texts: forward them to 7726.
Have these details ready
- The phone number, email address, or website the scam came from.
- The date and time, and what was said or written. A screenshot helps.
- How much money was lost, if any, and how it was paid.
- Any names, account numbers, or tracking numbers the scammer gave you.
Local help
You can also report to your local police and to your state attorney general's consumer protection office. A police report number can help when you dispute charges with your bank.
If you want someone to talk it through with, the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360 is free and open to everyone.
Will they get my money back?
Agencies rarely call each person back, but every report goes into a database that police and investigators use to build cases. Anyone who calls promising to recover your money for a fee after you report is a scammer.
Stuck on a step?
Text Uncle at +1 208 214 0093 and tell him what you see on your screen. He walks you through it in plain words, one step at a time.
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Written by the Textuncle team. Last updated October 3, 2026.
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