If you already sent money, contact the payment provider promptly and ask what it can do. If you shared passwords or personal information, secure the affected accounts. Start with the guides below, then use the official reporting links when you are ready.
Start with your situation
| Situation | Next step |
|---|---|
| I sent money | Follow the payment and account response checklist. |
| I received an unexpected email or text | Check for phishing before using the link. |
| A caller says my money or identity is at risk | Verify the caller and avoid impersonation scams. |
| Someone used my identity | Read our identity-theft recovery guide. |
Consumer Complaint Help provides guidance. We do not receive fraud reports, contact your bank, or recover money on your behalf.
Explore scam guides
What to do after a scam →
Take practical steps after a scam: contact your payment provider, protect exposed accounts, save evidence, and report what happened.
Scam response guidePhishing emails and texts →
Check suspicious messages without using their links, and choose recovery steps based on whether you clicked, entered information, or paid.
Scam response guideBank and government impersonation →
Recognize impersonation tactics, verify calls through trusted contacts, and respond if you shared money, codes, or computer access.
Scam response guideFake stores and marketplace scams →
Check a suspicious seller, preserve order evidence, use marketplace support, and find the right payment-dispute or scam-reporting steps.
Scam response guideRomance and relationship scams →
Recognize requests for money from an online relationship, preserve useful records, and contact the payment provider and platform.
Scam response guideJob and recruitment scams →
Check a recruiter and job offer, spot fake-check and upfront-payment requests, and protect money or information you already shared.
Pause when someone pressures you
Be cautious when an unexpected contact demands secrecy, urgent payment, a login code, or access to your device. Verify the request through an organization’s known app, website, or phone number before acting.
If someone tells you to move your money to “protect” it, end the conversation and contact your bank yourself. A caller ID, logo, or badge number does not prove identity.
Prepare a useful report
Keep messages, profile or listing URLs, dates, amounts, and transaction references in a private folder. Save the evidence before blocking the account. Do not post passwords, verification codes, card numbers, or identity documents in public complaints.
Report suspected fraud at the FTC’s official ReportFraud website. Also notify the platform where the contact or listing appeared. A fraud report does not replace contacting your payment provider or securing an affected account.
Describe the request, how you responded, and any loss. An FTC report can help authorities identify patterns and investigate; it does not guarantee a refund. Contact your payment provider separately.
Find help for related consumer problems
A late delivery or refused refund may involve a consumer dispute without establishing a scam. Our shopping and refund guides explain those routes. Use the evidence checklist to organize records, and our settlement-notice guide to check unexpected claims or payment notices.
Common questions
Where do I report a scam?
Use the FTC’s official ReportFraud website and notify the platform involved. If money or account access is at risk, contact the provider promptly as well.
Can this site get my money back?
No. We explain the steps and link to official resources. Your provider can explain available recovery or dispute options.
Do I need to know the scammer’s real name?
No. Preserve the names, profiles, contact details, and transaction references you have, and explain what remains unknown.
Keep going
Your next useful guide
What to do after a scam
Take practical steps after a scam: contact your payment provider, protect exposed accounts, save evidence, and report what happened.
Problem guideIdentity theft recovery
Report identity theft, contact affected companies, compare credit freezes with fraud alerts, and keep a recovery record for fraudulent accounts.
Notice verification guideVerify a settlement notice
Check a settlement email, text, or letter against case records and administrator sources before sharing information or following payment instructions.
Sources and page information
Official source links checked September 26, 2026. Requirements can change; use the relevant agency’s current instructions.
- FTC: What To Do if You Were Scammed
- FTC: How To Avoid Imposter Scams
- FTC: How To Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams
Prepared with AI assistance. Examples and worksheets are illustrative. This is general information, not legal advice. We do not submit complaints, determine eligibility, or guarantee a result.