Skip to main content

When ReportFraud.ftc.gov launched in late 2020, it made telling the FTC about scams much easier. But here’s the thing: we know we’re still not hearing from lots of communities around the country. Not hearing those stories means we might not learn about the problems they experience, or bring cases to stop the bad practices and get money back. Which is, of course, always the goal.

But a new Community Advocate Center is aiming to address that. It gives community legal aid organizations a way to report fraud and bad business practices to the FTC — on behalf of their clients. These organizations that give people access to free and low-cost legal services often serve exactly the communities that the FTC wants to hear more from, including communities of color, speakers of other languages, and lower-income communities.

When advocates tell us people’s stories (or when people tell us directly), the FTC can give advice on next steps, including how to try to recover their money. For example, each year, people use their credit cards to pay scammers millions upon millions of dollars. That’s money people should usually be able to get back, and ReportFraud.ftc.gov tells people how.

If you know someone who works in a legal aid organization, please share this post with them. Send them to ReportFraud.ftc.gov/community to learn more. And tell them that the FTC would be happy to have them join Legal Services Corporation, Inc., the National Legal Aid & Defender Association, the National Consumer Law Center, and the National Association of Consumer Advocates in supporting this initiative.

Meanwhile, spread the word. If you’ve spotted a scam, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Search Terms

It is your choice whether to submit a comment. If you do, you must create a user name, or we will not post your comment. The Federal Trade Commission Act authorizes this information collection for purposes of managing online comments. Comments and user names are part of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) public records system, and user names also are part of the FTC’s computer user records system. We may routinely use these records as described in the FTC’s Privacy Act system notices. For more information on how the FTC handles information that we collect, please read our privacy policy.

The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

  • We won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
  • We won’t post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups.
  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
  • We won’t post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.

Sapejo
March 03, 2021
The problem is your website requires a valid phone number that the call came from but now a days most of the caller spoof numbers so the only number we can give you is a spoofed one. If it happens to be a valid number the owner of that number is not the caller.
FTC Staff
March 03, 2021

In reply to by Sapejo

It helps when you report illegal calls, even if you think the caller used a spoofed number. We collect the numbers people report and release them each business day. This helps telecommunications carriers and other industry partners that are working on call blocking solutions. Read about how to stop unwanted calls at www.FTC.gov/calls.

Many call-blocking solutions rely on “blacklists,” which are databases of telephone numbers that have received significant consumer complaints. Blacklists are one way to determine which calls should be blocked or flagged before they reach consumers’ phones.

Les
March 03, 2021
I get so many fraudulent calls and emails everyday that it becomes overwhelming... especially since I turned 65. Have someone come up with a way, preferably through your emails where I can report multiple separate instances, every day, and I will report more than I already do. There are days when I can get 20-50 scam calls.... I cannot report them all separately.
Shattered2
March 03, 2021
I was scammed out of $500. Can I get my money back?
FTC Staff
March 03, 2021

In reply to by Shattered2

You can report a scam or fraud to the FTC at www.ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

After you file your report, the reporting system tell you some steps to take that may help as you try to get your money back or stop a charge, depending on how you paid. The quicker you act, the better your chance of getting your money back. You also can find that information at ftc.gov/scams.

Read about how to get money back yourself, depending on the way you paid, on this page of Frequently Asked Questions.

barbpower
March 04, 2021
I receive dozens of scams; especially as messages or notifications on my phone. Last time I reported one I thought was particularly bad; I received a message from the fTC stating you didn't process individual reports
FTC Staff
March 04, 2021

In reply to by barbpower

The FTC can't take action on behalf of individuals, but it does process each report it gets. We use reports to investigate and bring cases against fraud, scams, and bad business practices. When you submit a report, we offer next steps you can take to protect yourself or recover from fraud. If you include your email address in your report, we'll also send you an email with these steps.

johnbgood
March 03, 2021
Well,I got scammed out of 10 thou 16 yrs ago.I was in a vulnerable state at the time.Wish I knew about it then but it did teach me a most valuable(and expensive)lesson...
Christi B
March 03, 2021
I have tried to forward scam emails to your site, but there is not a link to do so. If I had an email address to put in my contact list I could do that. However you only allow reports thru your website, with no instructions on how to report scam emails. So far I have not incurred a monetary loss or identity theft. I would like to report attempts at such theivery. I will not engage a scammer just to get the information you require.
FTC Staff
March 04, 2021

In reply to by Christi B

We've made it easier to report the attempted frauds and scams you spot. You can report things you spot, even if you don't lose money. The FTC and other law enforcement agencies use reports for investigations.

When you go to www.ReportFraud.ftc.gov, click on Report Now, then click the button for the kind of scam you spotted, for example "An impersonator." Then, you will see a group of buttons to click, naming different kinds of impersonators. After you select the kind of impersonator you spotted, you'll go on to the next page, and see a big open text box.

You can copy and past a suspicious email into the text box. 

Harold
March 04, 2021
I don't think a lot of people know that they can also report fraud, theft, and deceptive business practices against online sellers and marketplaces. Also if anyone is a member of a neighborhood/community off or online group the info should be circulated to them.
Cappy
March 04, 2021
It would be helpful if one could report and block spam text messages from email addresses. The online forms only allow reporting of phone numbers. I've read Verizon does it, but I know firsthand ATT does not. ATT only allows to block and report ones that come from phone numbers. Their call center Reps have denied it happens, claiming it's impossible to do, while I'm sitting there speaking with them, one of those emailed spam text messages on my phone. Apparently, my days are so empty, I'm calling them just to lie about it. I've read other cellphone providers also claim it doesn't happen. I know that's not true. From reading others' comments online, I know I'm not the only person it happens to. Guess the providers think it's a conspiracy, that we're all lying to them. Please get together with FCC and require all cell providers give people the ability to block emailed text messages. In fact, why not make it impossible to send emailed text messages, period? I've read the emailed text messages are only from gmail accounts. I can't say I've noticed that about them. All I know is, I'm irritated from receiving them, and frustrated I can't block them. Thank-you.
aacosta6@gmail.com
April 11, 2021
LexJ Manchetti, says he works on an oil rig, has an Italian accent. Daughter’s name is “ Alessia “. LinledIn says he’s in Canada. Do not let him fool you. He has scammed me out of a lot of money.
Rita
July 13, 2021
I do have a report nummer, but i don't have the ZIP CODE