You have one shot at getting the details right.
I learned this during 17 years inside bank fraud investigations, and I learned it again watching scam victims file reports from the outside. The difference between a report that helps and a report that disappears into a database almost always comes down to one thing: whether the right details were captured before they were lost.
The FTC received over 3 million fraud reports in 2025, with reported losses reaching $15.9 billion — the highest on record. Imposter scams alone generated more than 1 million reports and $3.5 billion in losses. Your report is one data point in that flood. If it's incomplete, vague, or missing the transaction details investigators actually need, it won't help you — and it won't help the next victim either.
This guide is about capturing the details that matter, in the order that matters, so that when you file with the FTC, the IC3, your bank, or the police, your report has substance.
“A report creates a record; it does not guarantee a refund — but a detailed report creates a record that works.”
— Rebecca Harlow
Key Takeaways
The two most important categories of information for an IC3 report are transaction information and scammer contact information. Extensive narrative about how you felt is less useful than precise details about what was sent, to whom, and when.
The FTC's reporting process asks for the business or person involved, what was promised, the dates and amounts, how payment was made, and the communication method used. Having these written down before you start makes the process faster and more accurate.
IdentityTheft.gov generates a personalized recovery plan and an FTC Identity Theft Report — a legally recognized document you can use to dispute fraudulent accounts and work with institutions.
For online fraud, the IC3 is the right channel. For consumer financial products, the CFPB accepts complaints and forwards them to the company, generally with a 15-day response window.
Your police report number has value even if local police cannot investigate directly. Many banks and insurers require it before processing certain claims.
The Information You Need Before You File Anything
I want you to gather everything before you open a reporting form. The IC3 form, in particular, cannot be saved mid-way — if you close the browser or lose your session, you lose what you typed. The FTC form is more forgiving, but a prepared information set makes the process faster and reduces the chance of error.
Here is the complete list. Gather what you can. If a field doesn't apply to your situation, move on.
Scammer Contact Information
This is the first thing investigators look for because it's how they connect your case to broader patterns.
Phone numbers the scammer used (the number they called from, the number they asked you to call back, any numbers they provided later)
Email addresses — all of them, including reply-to addresses and any addresses used in phishing attempts
Websites or URLs — the fake bank page, the investment platform, the shopping site
Usernames or profile names on social media, dating apps, or messaging platforms
Physical addresses if the scammer provided a mailing address for payments or correspondence
The IC3 requires the complainant's name, address, telephone, and email, and asks for the perpetrator's name, phone number, and web address, or as much information as possible.
Transaction Information
This is the second category the IC3 flags as critical.
For each payment, record:
Date and time of the transaction
Amount in U.S. dollars
Payment method — credit card, debit card, wire transfer, ACH, Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, gift card, cryptocurrency
Recipient information — the payee name, the last four digits of the receiving account, the cryptocurrency wallet address
Transaction confirmation number or reference ID
Total loss across all transactions
For cryptocurrency, include the wallet addresses, amount and type of cryptocurrency, date and time, and transaction ID (hash). The IC3 asks for transaction information including account information, transaction date and amount, who received the money, and total loss to the complainant.
Communication Records
The IC3 asks victims to retain original records — emails, letters, checks, receipts, and shipping documents — and to provide information about how the criminals contacted them and what information was used.
Gather:
Screenshots of all conversations — texts, emails, chat logs, social media messages
Email headers if the scammer used email (these show the true sending address)
Call logs showing the scammer's number and the time of calls
Any documents the scammer sent — fake invoices, contracts, investment statements
Your Own Timeline
The FTC's reporting guide tells consumers to gather the business or person involved, what was promised, the dates and amounts, how payment was made, and the communication method used, then write a short timeline.
Your timeline should include:
First contact (date, time, method)
Each subsequent contact (what was said, what promises or pressure were used)
Each payment (date, amount, method)
Discovery (when you realized it was a scam)
Actions taken since discovery (who you called, what was filed, reference numbers)
How to Report to the FTC
The FTC is the primary federal agency for consumer fraud reports. Its reporting system also feeds the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure database available to law enforcement.
Online
Go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov and click “Report Now”. The site will ask questions about the type of scam, how you were contacted, how you paid, and what happened. Answer each question with the details you gathered.
You will receive a report number at the end. Save it. It is your reference for any follow-up.
By Phone
Call 1-877-382-4357 (1-877-FTC-HELP). The FTC's phone line can take reports in multiple languages. This option is available if you prefer to speak to a person or have difficulty with the online form.
What the FTC Does With Your Report
The FTC does not recover individual losses. It collects reports to build cases against scammers, identify patterns, and warn the public. Your report contributes to that database, and the report number becomes a reference you can use with your bank, the police, and other institutions.
How to Report to the FBI's IC3
If the scam happened online — through email, a website, social media, or an online payment platform — the IC3 is the right channel.
Before You Open the Form
The IC3 form cannot be saved mid-way. The guidance recommends typing your story into a separate document first so you have a copy if there are issues with the form.
Filing
Go to ic3.gov and click “File a Complaint.” Provide:
Your name, address, telephone, and email
The perpetrator's name, phone number, and web address, or as much information as possible
Details explaining how, why, and when the crime happened
Any other relevant information
For phone numbers, enter just the numbers as “1234567890” with no dashes.
What the IC3 Does With Your Report
The IC3 reviews complaints and refers them to the appropriate federal, state, local, or international law enforcement agency. It does not investigate cases directly. The IC3 has no social media presence, never initiates contact by phone, email, or chat app, and never asks for payment to recover lost funds.
How to Report to IdentityTheft.gov
If your personal information was exposed — Social Security number, date of birth, account numbers — IdentityTheft.gov is the next step.
Go to IdentityTheft.gov and report what happened. The system will create a personalized recovery plan with step-by-step instructions tailored to your situation. You will receive an FTC Identity Theft Report, which is a legally recognized document you can use to:
Dispute fraudulent accounts with credit bureaus
Ask businesses to close accounts opened in your name
File a police report
Work with debt collectors
If you create an account on IdentityTheft.gov, the system will walk you through each recovery step, update your plan as needed, and pre-fill forms and letters for you.
How to Report to the CFPB
If your complaint involves a financial institution — a bank, credit union, credit card issuer, payment app, or debt collector — the CFPB accepts complaints and forwards them to the company.
Go to consumerfinance.gov/complaint. You will need to create an account, describe your issue, and attach supporting documents. Once submitted, complaints are sent to the company, which typically responds within 15–60 days.
The CFPB is not a fraud-reporting agency in the same way the FTC is. It is a consumer complaint channel for financial products and services. If your bank mishandled your fraud dispute, this is the escalation path.
How to File a Police Report
File with your local police department. Many banks and insurance companies require a police report number before processing certain fraud claims. The report number itself has value, even if local police cannot investigate directly.
Bring:
Your FTC Identity Theft Report (if you filed one)
Photo ID
Financial statements showing the fraudulent transactions
Your written timeline
Ask for the report number and keep it with your other documentation.
The Common Mistakes That Lose Important Details
I have seen these mistakes in hundreds of dispute files. Avoid them.
Waiting too long. Details fade. The exact time of a call, the specific wording of a text, the name the scammer used — these become fuzzy within days. File within 24 to 72 hours if possible.
Writing an emotional narrative instead of a factual one. The IC3's guidance notes that extensive narrative about the scam itself is less useful than transaction information and contact details. Write facts. Save the emotional processing for a friend or counselor.
Leaving out the payment details. “I sent money” is not a payment detail. “I sent $4,800 via Zelle to the phone number (555) 123-4567 at 2:42 PM on June 3” is a payment detail.
Forgetting to include the scammer's contact information. Phone numbers, email addresses, usernames, websites — these are how investigators connect cases.
Not saving the confirmation number. The IC3 form generates a submission ID. The FTC generates a report number. Print or screenshot these immediately. Once you close the form window, you cannot reopen it.
Including credentials in the narrative. Do not put passwords, one-time codes, full SSNs, or complete account numbers in your report narrative. Last four digits only.
What Happens After You Report
FTC: Your report goes into the Consumer Sentinel Network, accessible to law enforcement nationwide. You receive a report number and a recovery plan. The FTC may use your report to build cases against companies or scam operations.
IC3: Your complaint is reviewed and referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency. If your case meets certain criteria — particularly large wire transfers or cryptocurrency losses — the IC3 may coordinate with your bank to attempt a fund freeze.
IdentityTheft.gov: You receive a personalized recovery plan, an FTC Identity Theft Report, and pre-filled letters and forms. The system tracks your progress and adapts as your situation changes.
CFPB: Your complaint is forwarded to the company. The company must respond, generally within 15 days. You can track the status online.
Police: You receive a report number. If local police have a financial crimes unit, they may investigate. If not, the report number still serves as documentation for banks and insurers.
No comments yet.