Where to Report a Money Scam: FTC, IC3, CFPB or SEC?

If you think you have been scammed, the hardest part is often figuring out who to tell. There is no single door: the right report depends on how the money moved and what kind of company or person was involved. This guide sorts the main federal reporting channels using each agency's own published pages. ClearValue is a publisher and broker, not a lender, and nothing here is legal advice.

Step one: the company that moved the money

The Federal Trade Commission's guide to what to do if you were scammed is organized by how you paid. In short, it says to contact the payer-side company right away and ask for a reversal or refund:

• Credit card: contact your card issuer using the number on the back of the card or your online account. The FTC says federal law protects you from unauthorized use of your credit card.
• Debit card: report to your bank or credit union right away. The FTC says federal law protects you from unauthorized use of your debit card.
• Bank transfer or Zelle: contact your bank or credit union and request a reversal and refund.
• Payment apps (Venmo, Cash App, PayPal): report to the app and request a reversal and refund.
• Wire transfer (Western Union, MoneyGram): report to the wire company, explain what happened and request a refund.
• Gift cards: contact the issuer, and keep the card and receipt.
• Cryptocurrency: contact the exchange or ATM operator. The FTC notes that cryptocurrency payments do not have the same legal protections as credit and debit cards.
• Cash sent by U.S. Mail: the FTC lists the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455 for package interception, and says a fee applies.

Speed matters in the FTC's guidance, but no agency page we reviewed promises a refund. Outcomes depend on the payment method, the company's policies and the facts.

The FTC: the general-purpose report

For most scams, the FTC's page points to ReportFraud.ftc.gov. It is the all-purpose place to log a scam, including crypto scams after you have contacted the exchange. The USAGov where to report a scam tool is an interactive questionnaire that asks where the scam occurred and its category, then suggests the best agency or organization.

IC3: scams that happened online

The FBI operates the Internet Crime Complaint Center, which describes itself as "the central hub for reporting cyber-enabled crime." Complaints are filed at complaint.ic3.gov. One line on its home page is worth reading carefully: IC3 says it does not work with any non-law enforcement entity to recuperate lost funds. That means a "recovery service" that claims a special IC3 relationship deserves suspicion. See our guide to AI investment scams for common patterns.

The CFPB: problems with financial companies

The CFPB complaint page says it accepts complaints about checking and savings accounts, credit cards, credit reports, debt collection, money transfers, mortgages, payday loans, personal loans, prepaid cards, student loans and vehicle loans or leases. The CFPB sends your complaint to the company, which, per the CFPB, generally responds within 15 days. In some cases the company may say its response is in progress and give a final answer within 60 days. You can reach the CFPB at (855) 411-2372, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday, excluding federal holidays.

One caveat from the same page: for inaccurate credit report information, you are required by law to first dispute it directly with the credit or consumer reporting agency. Our walkthrough of the CFPB complaint process for credit report disputes covers the order of steps. A CFPB complaint is about a company's handling of a product, so it is a poor fit for a stranger who simply took your money.

The SEC: investments and investment professionals

The SEC's tip and complaint page says you can report possible securities law violations "like fraud, Ponzi schemes, insider trading, market manipulation, or other wrongdoing," as well as problems with your investment account or financial professional. It lists several forms, including a Tips, Complaints & Referrals form and an Investor Complaint form. The page does not describe a process for getting money back. Before you invest at all, you can check a professional with FINRA BrokerCheck.

A quick routing cheat sheet

1. Money left through a card, bank, app, wire or exchange: contact that company first.
2. Any scam: report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
3. It happened online or by cyber means: consider IC3.
4. A bank, card, lender, collector or credit bureau handled something wrongly: the CFPB.
5. Securities fraud or a bad investment professional: the SEC.

Filing with more than one agency is normal. Keep screenshots, receipts, account numbers, names and dates in one folder.

A standard for scam advice

Be wary of anyone who offers to "recover" your money for an upfront fee, or who claims to be an agency employee contacting you first. Use the web addresses printed on agency pages, not links in messages. We hold our own posts to the same sourcing standard: every figure and procedure above comes from an agency's own page, retrieved October 6, 2026, and pages can change.

The takeaway

Start with the company that moved your money, then report to the FTC. Add IC3 for online crimes, the CFPB for problems with financial companies and the SEC for investment fraud. Reports create a record; none of the pages we reviewed guarantees a refund.