Money is gone, or a stranger has your details. Now you need to know who takes the report. The answer depends on what kind of fraud it was, and the sources give a clear map.

Close-up of hands holding a phone beside a laptop and notepad, suggesting someone organizing how to report a suspected scam.
Choosing the right agency starts with knowing what kind of fraud you faced.

Start by sorting the problem

First, decide whether this is a scam or a dispute with a real business. A scam relies on deception to get money or personal details. A late shipment or bad service from a legitimate company is a different matter. USAGov sends those cases to its complaints section instead.

Next, think about how the contact happened. It could have been a phone call, text, letter, social media message, website, an in-person meeting, or a newer technology such as AI tools. USAGov's reporting tool asks where the scam took place, the category, and a few more details. It then points to the best agency. USAGov says it takes about one to two minutes.

Safety comes before paperwork. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local police. Crimes against children go to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Match the report to the right agency

The Department of Justice Criminal Division lists where to send each type of fraud. The sources do not say how fast any of these offices respond, so treat the list as a routing guide only.

  • Consumer fraud and identity theft: the Federal Trade Commission, at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338).
  • Internet fraud and internet lottery or sweepstakes fraud: the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
  • General fraud and other criminal matters: the FBI at (202) 324-3000 or tips.fbi.gov.
  • Mail fraud and mail lottery schemes: the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at postalinspectors.uspis.gov or 1-800-372-8347.
  • Securities fraud: the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov or 1-800-SEC-0330.
  • State and local fraud: your local police department.

IC3 describes itself as the central hub for cyber-enabled crime. It says to file even if you are unsure your case qualifies, because it is the main intake form for many kinds of complaints. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also runs a fraud and scams hub on how to prevent, recognize and report scams. It takes complaints through its Submit a Complaint page, and its phone line is (855) 411-2372.

When the victim is vulnerable or money left an account

Older adults are frequent targets. An AARP survey cited in a Business Insider article on AI scams targeting older Americans found that 4 in 10 older Americans have lost money to fraud. Experts quoted there say AI voice cloning and scans of social accounts for personal details make scams more convincing.

If the victim is an older person or a person with a disability, the CFPB says you can also contact your local adult protective services agency. That is in addition to any report to the agencies above.

If someone took money from your checking account without your approval, the CFPB hub has a pointer on how to get your money back. The sources do not go into detail on recovery, and they do not cover reporting to banks, card issuers or credit bureaus. Ask your own bank what it requires. One more limit: the Justice Department says its prosecutors cannot give legal advice to citizens. For that, it refers people to their local bar association at www.findlegalhelp.org.

Avoid impostors and recovery traps

A second wave of fraud often follows the first. People who already lost money get approached by fake recovery services. IC3 says it will never contact you directly for information or money. It also says it does not work with non-law enforcement entities, such as law firms or crypto services, to recover lost funds.

So a message from someone claiming to be IC3 and asking for payment is a scam. So is any offer to recover stolen money through a law firm or crypto service that says it works with the agency. The CFPB also warns that scammers are impersonating the CFPB.

IC3 says it will never directly contact you for information or money.

If a message claims to come from an agency, do not use the phone number or link inside it. Type the official web address yourself, or use the numbers published on the agency's own site.

What to have ready

The sources do not say what information to gather before filing, or what happens after you submit. As general common sense, not a sourced requirement, it helps to jot down the date, how the scammer contacted you, any names, websites or phone numbers they used, and how much money moved and how. Notes like these make a form easier to fill out. Do not expect a promised outcome. The sources give no timelines for responses or results.