Report it — and what to collect first

Collect these before you report

Tick them off as you go — 0 of 8 so far. Don't delete or block anyone until you've taken screenshots.

• The name, handle, or profile they usedCopy the exact spelling, and the link to the profile if there is one.
• Every phone number involvedThe number that called you, any number they told you to ring, and the one that texted.
• Email addresses and website linksCopy them as text — don't click anything you're unsure about.
• Where the money was sentBank name, sort code/routing and account number, crypto wallet address, gift card numbers, or the payment-app username.
• Amounts, dates, and timesEach payment separately. Your bank statement is the easiest source.
• Screenshots of the messagesTake them before you block anyone — blocking can hide the conversation.
• Receipts and confirmation emailsGift-card till receipts matter especially. Keep the physical cards too.
• A short account of what happenedPlain sentences, in order: how they got in touch, what they said, what you did.

Where to report, in order

1. First, and today

   Your bank or card company

   Say the words "I have been defrauded." Ask them to attempt a recall and to put a fraud marker on the account. Speed decides whether money can be stopped.

2. Same day

   The gift-card company, if you bought gift cards

   Apple, Google Play, Amazon, Steam, Target and others have fraud lines. If the funds haven't been drained yet, they can sometimes be frozen. Have the receipt and card numbers ready.

3. Same day

   The platform it happened on

   Report the profile on the dating app, marketplace, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, or wherever it started. It gets the account taken down before it reaches someone else.

4. United States

   FTC — ReportFraud.ftc.gov

   The main national scam report. For online crime and money loss, also file with the FBI's IC3. Suspicious texts can be forwarded free to 7726.

   Open the official site

5. United States

   FBI IC3 — ic3.gov

   Use this for anything involving money sent online, crypto, or romance scams. Include the wallet addresses and account numbers.

   Open the official site

6. United Kingdom

   Action Fraud — actionfraud.police.uk

   The national reporting centre (or Police Scotland on 101). Report scam texts free to 7726 and forward scam emails to report@phishing.gov.uk.

   Open the official site

7. Canada

   Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre

   antifraudcentre.ca, or 1-888-495-8501. Also report to your local police for a file number.

   Open the official site

8. Australia

   Scamwatch / ReportCyber

   scamwatch.gov.au for the scam itself, cyber.gov.au to report the crime.

   Open the official site

9. Anywhere

   Local police

   Ask for a crime or incident reference number. Banks, insurers, and some platforms need one before they'll act further.

10. If someone is at risk

    Adult protective services / safeguarding

    If an older person is being pressured, isolated, or has money taken by someone close to them, this is the route. In the US, the Eldercare Locator is 1-800-677-1116.