Reporting doesn’t guarantee you’ll get your money back, but it helps the authorities investigate, creates a record of what happened, and is often required for other steps, such as a claim with your bank. All the reports in this guide are free.
Short answer
Alert your bank or card issuer first. Then report to IC3 (FBI) and the FTC; if you were offered Forex, futures, or cryptocurrency, also report to the CFTC, and if it was stocks or securities, to the SEC. All reports are free, and it’s best to file them soon.
Before you start
Have on hand your payment timeline, your receipts, the platform’s name and website, the contact details they used with you and, if you sent cryptocurrency, the hashes and addresses. Our evidence guide helps you gather them.
| Where | For which cases |
|---|---|
| Your bank or card issuer | Always, and as soon as possible: some claims have short deadlines |
| FBI · IC3 (ic3.gov) | Fraud committed online, including crypto investment scams |
| FTC · ReportFraud | Consumer fraud in general; also available in Spanish |
| CFTC | Forex, futures, options, and fraud involving cryptocurrencies treated as commodities |
| SEC | Stocks, securities, and investment advisers |
| State securities regulator | Investments offered in your state |
Your bank comes first
If you paid by transfer, card, or a payment app, call your bank as soon as you suspect fraud. Ask whether a claim or a chargeback is possible, get a case number, and confirm everything in writing.
IC3: the FBI’s complaint center
IC3 receives reports of crimes committed online. When you finish, save the confirmation number for your report: you’ll need it for any later steps.
FTC: consumer protection
The FTC collects fraud reports and shares them with authorities across the country. You can file at ReportFraud.ftc.gov; it’s also available in Spanish at ReporteFraude.ftc.gov.
CFTC and SEC: depending on the type of investment
If you were offered Forex, futures, or commodities, the CFTC is the right regulator. If it involved stocks or other securities, or an investment adviser, it falls under the SEC. If you’re not sure which category your case fits, file with both: that’s better than not filing at all.
The exchange and Chainabuse
If you sent cryptocurrency from an exchange, report it there too and include the destination addresses. Chainabuse lets you publicly report addresses linked to scams.
Be careful after you report
None of these authorities will charge you to investigate or ask you for payments to recover your money. If someone contacts you claiming to be from one of them and asks for money, it’s a scam.
Want to file your reports with your evidence organized? Request a free evaluation.
If you just discovered the scam, start with what to do in the first 48 hours.
If you paid by Zelle or wire transfer, read what to do in the first few hours.
