Country Guides
What to do if you were scammed in your country — with verified official reporting channels and emergency actions. Available worldwide.
Last reviewed: September 2026 · Channel details sourced from official government websites.
United States
Currency: USD · Emergency: 911
1. Contact your bank immediately
Call the official number on your card or in your banking app to freeze it, stop transfers, and dispute charges.
2. Secure your accounts
Change exposed passwords and enable 2FA. Treat any shared OTP as compromised.
3. Report to the authority
Use the official channels below to report the scam and any financial loss.
4. Protect your identity
Place fraud alerts and monitor accounts for the next 30 days.
Step-by-Step Official Reporting Guide (United States)
- 1
Go to reportfraud.ftc.gov and click 'Report Fraud Now' to start the FTC complaint wizard.
- 2
Select the scam category that matches your situation (e.g., imposter scams, online shopping, investment fraud).
- 3
Provide details: what happened, when, the amount lost, and any scammer contact info (phone, email, website).
- 4
For internet-enabled crime, also file a complaint at ic3.gov (FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center) with the same details.
- 5
If your identity was stolen, visit identitytheft.gov and follow the guided recovery plan to place fraud alerts and close accounts.
- 6
Save your complaint reference numbers as evidence — you may need them for your bank and future follow-ups.
Immediate Financial Checklist
- Call your bank or card issuer immediately using the number printed on the back of your card.
- Request to freeze or cancel the affected card and dispute all fraudulent charges.
- Ask the bank to attempt a transfer recall if you sent money recently — timing matters.
- Change passwords for any compromised accounts and enable two-factor authentication (2FA).
- Place a one-year fraud alert with any one of the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) — it applies to all three.
- Monitor bank and card statements daily for the next 30 days for unauthorized charges.
What NOT to Do — Recovery Scam Warning
- Never pay an upfront fee to anyone claiming they can recover your stolen funds — this is a recovery scam.
- Do not trust 'hackers' or 'recovery agents' who contact you on social media or messaging apps.
- Do not share additional OTPs, passwords, or banking details with anyone offering to help.
Official reporting & emergency channels
Verified official sources. Never trust anyone offering guaranteed recovery. See our trusted sources for the full list.
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
Report internet-enabled crime (online scams, wire fraud, phishing).
FTC — Report Fraud
Report scams, fraud, and bad business practices.
IdentityTheft.gov
Recovery plan if personal/financial info was exposed.
Your bank or card issuer
Call immediately to freeze card, dispute charges, and stop transfers.
SEC / FINRA
Report unregistered or fraudulent investment offers.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Complaints about banks, lenders, debt collectors.
Get a full, personalized action plan for United States
Answer a few questions and we'll build your prioritized steps — in your language.
Get my action plan