Where to Get Help If You’ve Been Scammed

Who to contact after you’ve been scammed

When you’ve been scammed, one of the most frustrating parts is figuring out where to get help. There’s no single office that handles all scams, and the right place to report depends on what happened — what kind of scam it was, how you paid, and what information the scammer obtained. This guide organizes the major resources so you can find the right help for your specific situation.

You don’t need to contact every agency on this list. Start with the ones most relevant to your situation, then work through additional reports as you have time. Every report helps — even if it doesn’t immediately recover your money, it contributes to investigations that prevent future scams.

Federal reporting agencies

These are the primary national agencies that track and investigate scams across the United States.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

The FTC is the main federal agency for consumer fraud complaints. Their reports feed into a database used by over 2,800 law enforcement agencies nationwide. File your report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Report here if: You were involved in any type of consumer scam — phishing, impersonation, fake products, prize scams, unwanted charges, or identity theft. The FTC accepts reports for virtually all scam types.

What happens after you report: The FTC does not resolve individual cases, but it uses reports to build larger investigations against scam operations. Your report may help shut down the operation that targeted you.

FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

IC3 is the FBI’s centralized portal for internet-based crime, including scams, fraud, and cybercrime. File at IC3.gov.

Report here if: The scam happened online and involved significant financial loss, business email compromise, ransomware, or cryptocurrency fraud. IC3 prioritizes cases with larger dollar amounts, but all reports are accepted.

IdentityTheft.gov

If the scammer has your Social Security number, date of birth, or enough personal information to open accounts in your name, IdentityTheft.gov creates a personalized recovery plan. It walks you through every step based on your specific situation, including pre-filled letters to send to creditors.

For a complete walkthrough of protecting yourself after SSN exposure, see our guide on what to do if a scammer has your Social Security number.

Where to report based on how you paid

How you paid the scammer determines which organizations can help with recovery. Each payment method has different protections and different recovery processes.

Bank transfer or debit card

Call your bank’s fraud department immediately — use the number on the back of your card. Ask them to flag the transaction, freeze your account if necessary, and begin a fraud investigation. You should also file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) if your bank is unresponsive.

Zelle, Venmo, or Cash App

Contact the app’s support team through the app itself and report the transaction as fraud. Then contact your bank, since Zelle payments in particular are processed through your bank’s system. Recovery is difficult with these services because the money moves instantly, but reporting is still important. Learn more about how these scams work in our guide to Zelle scams.

Credit card

Call your credit card issuer and request a chargeback. Credit cards offer the strongest consumer protection — under the Fair Credit Billing Act, you can dispute charges for goods or services not received. Provide any evidence: screenshots, emails, and transaction details. Most chargebacks are resolved within 30-90 days.

Gift cards

Call the gift card company immediately. The number is on the back of the card. If the funds haven’t been redeemed, the company may be able to freeze the balance. Major gift card issuers include:

  • Apple/iTunes: 1-800-275-2273
  • Google Play: Contact through the Google Play app
  • Amazon: 1-888-280-4331
  • Target: 1-800-544-2943
  • Walmart: 1-888-537-5503

Also report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, which specifically tracks gift card scam data.

Wire transfer (Western Union, MoneyGram)

Contact the wire transfer company immediately — if the money hasn’t been picked up, it may still be recoverable:

  • Western Union fraud line: 1-800-448-1492 or file online
  • MoneyGram fraud line: 1-800-926-9400

Cryptocurrency

Report to the exchange you used (Coinbase, Kraken, Cash App, etc.) and provide the wallet address you sent funds to. Also report to IC3 at IC3.gov. While crypto transactions are generally irreversible, law enforcement agencies are increasingly able to trace and recover cryptocurrency in larger cases.

Where to report based on scam type

Some scams have specific reporting agencies beyond the general resources above.

Identity theft

Start at IdentityTheft.gov for a personalized recovery plan. Freeze your credit with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Place a fraud alert. File a police report for documentation.

IRS or tax-related scams

Report to the Treasury Inspector General at 1-800-366-4484 or TIGTA.gov. If someone filed a fraudulent tax return using your information, complete IRS Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit).

Social security scams

Report to the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov/report or call 1-800-269-0271.

Medicare or health insurance scams

Report to the Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-877-808-2468 or the HHS Office of the Inspector General at oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud/.

Investment or securities scams

Report to the SEC at sec.gov/tcr or FINRA at finra.org. If cryptocurrency is involved, also report to the CFTC at cftc.gov/complaint.

Romance scams

Report to IC3 at IC3.gov and the FTC. If the scam happened on a dating platform, report the profile through the app. For scams involving military impersonation, also report to the Army CID at cid.army.mil. Learn more about how these scams operate in our article on online romance scams.

Tech support scams

Report to the FTC and to the company being impersonated. Microsoft, Google, and Apple all have dedicated pages for reporting tech support scams. If the scammer gained remote access to your computer, change all passwords from a different device and run a full malware scan.

Your state attorney general

Every state has an attorney general’s office with a consumer protection division. These offices investigate scams targeting residents of their state and can sometimes take legal action against scammers operating within state borders.

Search “[your state] attorney general consumer complaint” to find the filing process. Many states accept complaints online. Even if the scammer is out of state or overseas, filing with your AG creates a record that helps identify patterns.

Local police

Filing a police report is useful even when local police can’t investigate the scam directly. A police report creates an official record that you may need for:

  • Bank fraud claims
  • Credit card chargeback disputes
  • Identity theft recovery (creditors and credit bureaus often require a police report number)
  • Insurance claims

Bring your documentation: screenshots, transaction records, the scammer’s contact information, and a timeline of what happened.

Emotional support and counseling

Being scammed can be a deeply stressful experience. Financial loss is part of it, but many people also feel shame, anger, or anxiety — especially if the scam involved emotional manipulation, like a romance scam or a friend or family impersonation scam.

These feelings are normal and valid. If the experience is affecting your daily life, consider reaching out to:

  • AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline: 1-877-908-3360 — Free support for scam victims of any age, staffed by trained specialists
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline: 1-800-950-6264 — For emotional support and referrals
  • Your insurance provider’s mental health resources — Many plans cover counseling sessions

There is no shame in being scammed. Scammers are professionals who exploit trust, urgency, and normal human behavior. Seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness.

What to do next

Start with the resources most relevant to your situation. You don’t need to contact everyone on this list — focus on reporting to the FTC, securing your financial accounts, and protecting your personal information. Then work through additional reports as you have energy and time.

If you haven’t already taken immediate protective steps — securing accounts, changing passwords, freezing credit — start with our step-by-step guide: I Got Scammed – Now What?

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