What actually happens after I report a scam to the FTC?
Your report is added to the FTC's Consumer Sentinel Network, shared with over 3,000 law enforcement partners, and used to identify scam trends — individual recovery is not guaranteed but reporting is still valuable.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
The Federal Trade Commission does not investigate individual complaints or guarantee that you will get your money back. What the FTC does is aggregate scam reports into a database called Consumer Sentinel, which is accessible to over 3,000 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. When many people report the same scam, the FTC uses that data to build enforcement cases against scammers, fine companies, and ban individuals from operating.
Filing at ReportFraud.ftc.gov takes about 10 minutes. You enter details about the scam, the amount lost, the method of payment, and how you were contacted. The system automatically suggests next steps tailored to your situation — for identity theft, it creates an Identity Theft Report and recovery plan at IdentityTheft.gov. For other fraud types, it may suggest specific agencies to contact.
The FTC also shares data with partner agencies including the FBI, USPS Inspection Service, FCC, and state attorneys general. High-volume scam reports can trigger FTC lawsuits and injunctions against fraudulent companies — these sometimes result in refund programs for victims, though individual payments from these programs are typically small.
Report even if the loss seems too small to matter. The FTC prioritizes cases based on volume and impact — your report combined with thousands of others can move a scam to the top of the enforcement list. Also report to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3.gov) for internet-based fraud and to your state attorney general for local companies.
Common red flags
- You have already lost money or provided personal information to a scammer
- You received a suspicious call, text, email, or mailing that felt fraudulent
- An offer seemed too good to be true and you want to flag it before more people are harmed
What to do now
- File at ReportFraud.ftc.gov — it takes about 10 minutes
- For identity theft, use IdentityTheft.gov for a full recovery plan
- Also report to the FBI's IC3 at ic3.gov for internet-based fraud
- Report to your state attorney general for local or regional scams
- Keep your FTC confirmation number for your records
- Visit /report-a-scam for a full directory of reporting agencies
Frequently asked questions
Will the FTC contact me about my report?
The FTC generally does not follow up with individual reporters or provide case updates. If you are contacted by someone claiming to be from the FTC about your report, it may be a follow-on scam — the FTC does not call individual consumers about fraud reports.
Is the FTC report the same as a police report?
No. An FTC report is a federal consumer complaint database entry. A police report is an official criminal complaint filed with local law enforcement. Both are useful and serve different purposes. Many banks and credit bureaus require a police report number for fraud investigations.