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Reporting resource

Reporting Online Fraud to the FTC

Prepare a report about an online scam, impersonation attempt or deceptive offer, even if you did not pay.

Response steps

  1. Write a timeline of how contact began, what was promised and what happened.
  2. Open the FTC’s ReportFraud portal directly. Choose the closest category and describe the incident, amounts and payment method if applicable.
  3. Save any confirmation, report number and follow-up instructions.

Records to keep

  • Dates and amounts
  • Business name, URLs, emails and phone numbers
  • Receipts and communication records

External resources

JDL is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, IC3, any bank, card issuer, payment network, or government agency.

Informational Notice

JDL provides general educational information about fraud reporting, payment disputes and consumer response options. The information on this website is not a guarantee of recovery or a particular outcome. Government agencies, banks, card issuers and payment providers make their own decisions regarding investigations, disputes and recovery requests.

Nothing on this website creates an attorney-client relationship unless an engagement has been expressly agreed to in writing.