When we write about fraud or identity theft at CNET, we regularly advise victims to contact the Federal Trade Commission or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center to share their experience.
However, suppose you didn’t lose money or give up any personal identifiable information, like your Social Security number. In that case, you might not think it’s necessary to take this step — but you should.
Only 38% of fraud reports received by the FTC in 2024 involved monetary losses. Fraud reports help the FTC and FBI inform and educate the public about popular scams and aid local and federal authorities in catching criminals.
If you do fall victim to a scam, there are other steps you can take, including signing up for identity theft protection, freezing your credit reports or reaching out to your bank or credit card company to recover stolen funds. But don’t forget to let the FTC and FBI know. Here’s why.
Why should you report fraud?
When you report fraud, you’re being a good samaritan — and you may help reduce the chances of a specific scam hurting someone else.
Both the FTC and the FBI’s IC3 division study trends and update the public about popular swindles orchestrated by cybercriminals using information provided by everyday Americans. Some popular scams the agencies have warned about in recent months include toll road scams, fake USPS texts and criminals impersonating government agencies.
“The more information the FTC and IC3 receive, the better statistics they can get and use to alert consumers,” said Chelsea Binns, a certified fraud examiner and associate professor at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
The FTC and IC3 also release annual reports detailing trends from the previous year using submitted complaints. Data is broken down by age, state, the frequency of specific crimes and dollars lost to each fraud type.
Both agencies allow consumers to receive email alerts about popular scams year-round. To sign up for FTC alerts, click here. You can sign up for IC3 alerts here.
The FTC and IC3 also work with law enforcement to help catch cybercriminals. When you file a report with the FTC, it’s added to its Consumer Sentinel database, which 2,800 federal, state, and local law enforcement partners across the country can access. Trained IC3 analysts similarly review and research complaints and pass along information to authorities.
“This is how they can potentially build cases against fraudsters,” Binns said.
How do I report fraud to the FTC and FBI?
You can report fraud-related scams to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Cyber-related crimes should also be reported to IC3 at ic3.gov. Combined, these agencies received over 3.4 million complaints last year.
Keep in mind that it’s unlikely that you’ll hear from the FTC or IC3 after you file a report — despite your complaint being used to corroborate information or inform trends. If someone posing as a government official reaches out to you and demands money, offers you a prize or threatens to arrest you, it’s a scam.
If you’re a victim of identity theft, a specific category of fraud, you can report your case to the FTC at identitytheft.gov or by calling 1-877-438-4338. The FTC will lay out steps to recover your identity based on the information you provide.
Each of these steps, such as calling bill collectors and contacting bank fraud departments, can be time-consuming and may cost you money, especially if you have a lawyer handle it for you. If you have an identity theft protection service with white glove restoration services, this checklist can be completed for you.
Can I get my money back after falling for a scam?
Typically, unauthorized debit and credit card purchases are easier to reverse. If you send money to scammers yourself (like in a gold bar scam), getting your money back is more difficult. You should contact your bank as soon as possible so they can hopefully cancel a transaction. In cases where cryptocurrency is involved, payments are pretty much irreversible.
Depending on the type of fraud you endured, you’ll want to take basic steps like changing your password, enrolling in two-factor authentication and turning on alerts for purchases made on your credit and debit cards. You should also consider deleting saved payment info from websites, Binns said.
In the weeks and months after falling victim to fraud, it’s essential to be on guard against any stranger who contacts you promising to get your money back.
“What will happen is the original fraudster will come to you posing as an organization or service that is going to help you recover the funds you’ve lost,” she said. “And, in turn, it’ll just be another scam.”