🕵️ Report a Scam

If you or someone you know has been targeted by a scam, you are not alone — and help is available. Reporting these crimes helps prevent others from being victimized. Below are the primary U.S. agencies, organizations, and platforms that accept scam reports and assist victims.

💻 Federal and National Reporting Resources

  • FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) Central portal for most online scams — including romance, sextortion, business email compromise (BEC), crypto, and investment fraud. https://www.ic3.gov
  • U.S. Secret Service Cyber Fraud Task Force Investigates large-scale financial cybercrime, BEC, and money mule networks. https://www.secretservice.gov/investigation/cyber
  • Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Handles consumer fraud, deceptive business practices, and identity theft. https://reportfraud.ftc.gov
  • CISA – Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Report ransomware, hacking, or data breaches. https://www.cisa.gov/report

🏦 If You Sent Money

Contact your bank or payment platform immediately. Ask for their fraud or recovery team and request an account freeze or recall. Always get a case number for your records. Mention that you’ve filed with the FBI IC3.

  • Zelle / Venmo / Cash App – contact support directly through the app
  • PayPal – paypal.com/us/cshelp
  • Credit Card Company – dispute charges immediately

🪙 Crypto & Investment Scams

Fake investment platforms and “pig-butchering” scams often promise guaranteed profits through cryptocurrency. Report crypto or investment fraud through:

🔒 Sextortion Scams & Exploitation

Sextortion involves blackmailing someone with private or intimate photos, videos, or conversations. If you or someone you know is being threatened, do not pay. Take screenshots, block the scammer, and report it immediately.

📱 Social Media & Platform Reporting

Many scams begin through direct messages, dating apps, or fake profiles. Social platforms can remove accounts and preserve evidence faster than federal agencies.

🤝 Victim-Support & Nonprofit Organizations

  • Intelligence for Good (I4G) — Helps coordinate data between victims, banks, and investigators. intelligenceforgood.org/
  • AVAH (Anti-Violence and Harassment Network) — Offers compassionate support for emotional and online abuse victims. avahnetwork.org
  • GASA – Global Anti-Scam Alliance — Promotes education and policy for scam prevention. gasa.org
  • GASO – Global Anti-Scam Organization — Supports scam victims and collects intelligence on scam compounds. globalantiscam.org/report
  • Operation Shamrock — Volunteer-driven investigation and public awareness network. operationshamrock.org

👥 Adult Protective & Family Services

If an older adult or dependent family member is being targeted or financially exploited, contact your local Adult Protective Services (APS) or Family Services Office. They can open a welfare case and coordinate with banks and law enforcement to safeguard finances.

Find your state APS office: https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/Resources/Index.aspx

📤 Share Technical Evidence

If you have emails, domains, crypto wallets, or screenshots, share them responsibly with trusted researchers. This helps identify and link criminal networks.

🚓 Local Law Enforcement

File a report with your local police department. Even if the scam was international, this creates an official record for banks, insurance, or credit bureaus.

🧠 After You Report

Once reports are filed, it’s normal to feel anxious or helpless. Most agencies won’t contact you directly, but your report still contributes to larger investigations and prevention. Focus on self-care, connect with support groups, and remember: being scammed doesn’t define you.

⚠️ Important note: Some agencies or institutions can be dismissive or unkind during the reporting process. That doesn’t mean your story isn’t valid — it means the system needs to do better. Compassionate organizations and advocates exist to help you be heard, believed, and supported.

Reporting is the first step. Together, through education and awareness, we can stop scams before they start.