How to Report Scam Numbers

Last Updated: December 4, 2022 References

When you get a phone call and the person on the other end makes you promises that seem too good to be true or threatens you with legal action if you don't pay them money, you are likely dealing with a scam. If you interact with someone like this, it's important to report the scammer to the right people, so that the scammer can be stopped. First of all, the phone scam should be reported to governmental agencies and law enforcement authorities so that others are not duped into falling for the scam. You should also report the call to any companies or agencies that the scammer mentioned in their call so that they can help try to stop them as well.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Reporting Scam Calls to the Authorities

1
Report the scam to your consumer protection agency. In the US, you should contact the Federal Trade Commission either by phone or through their online reporting system. If you suspect the scam involves calls from outside of your country, you report international scams to the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN).
- The website for consumer protection agency complaints is: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/Information?OrgCode=IRS#crnt&panel1-1.
- The website for reporting international scams to the ICPEN is: https://www.econsumer.gov.
Tip: It's important to report phone scams to your consumer protection agency in part because accurate reports help them track patterns of fraud.
2
Contact the agency that oversees phone communications. In the US, this is the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). You can report scam phone calls to the FCC through their online complaint form. By contacting the FCC, you are helping the agency to track down and disable numbers that are being used for illegal and fraudulent activities.^{[1]
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- The web address for the FCC online complaint form is: https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us/articles/115002234203-Unwanted-Calls-Phone-.
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3
File a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau if the scam is financial. Any scam call that attempts to get your financial information or is related to your mortgage, bank accounts, credit account, or loan risks your financial security. The complaint can be filed on their website.^{[2]
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USA.GOV
Official website for the United States federal government
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- It is the job of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to protect your interests when it comes to this kind of scam.
- Complaints can be filed at: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/.
4
Contact law-enforcement bureaus that deal with scams. Your local Attorney General’s office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are the law-enforcement agencies that deal with most scams. Call their general number or contact them online about scam calls that you have received.
- The website to contact the FBI at is https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us.
- Your Attorney General's contact information can be found by doing an online search that includes the name of your state and the words "attorney general contact information."

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Reporting Scam Calls to Specific Agencies and Companies

1
Email the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) if you have received scam calls impersonating them. There are a lot of phone scammers that say they are representatives of the IRS and that you need to pay the for back taxes or face arrest. If you get one of these calls, send the IRS an email at phishing@irs.gov with the subject line saying "IRS Phone Scam." The email should contain:^{[3]
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Internal Revenue Service
U.S. government agency in charge of managing the Federal Tax Code
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- The caller's telephone number
- The telephone number you were told to call
- A brief description of the call
- The exact date and time that you received the call
- Where you received the call (exact location and time zone)
2
Contact the Social Security Agency if you suspect identity theft. It is easiest to report this kind of problem to the Office of the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration. The website to report fraud is https://www.ssa.gov/fraudreport/oig/public_fraud_reporting/form.htm.^{[4]
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Trustworthy Source
USA.GOV
Official website for the United States federal government
Go to source}
- Calls that could signal potential identity theft include those that request your personal information, including your social security number or bank account numbers. The caller may say you owe medical bills or that you have debt that you don't have and that you need to supply information to clear it up.
- Scams that should be reported to the SSA include calls that state that they are representing the SSA and those that try to get your social security number from you.
3
Contact agencies and businesses that are named during the scam call. If the scammer names a specific company, it's a good idea to call the customer service number of that actual company to let them know that their name is being used fraudulently. This is also true for a governmental agency. For instance, if someone calls you and wants your personal information for the census bureau, call the census bureau and tell them that someone is impersonating them for personal gain.^{[5]
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Tip: The correct number to call depends on the specific company. However, you can typically find the customer service number by doing an online search for the company's name and the words "customer service."
4
Make a report to your telephone provider to get scam calls blocked. If you keep getting scam calls, it's a good idea to let the phone company know that the number is being used for illegal activity. Some providers can block the scammer's number and may be able to work with the FCC to stop the scam from continuing with other people.
- Call the general customer service number of your phone company and tell the operator that you are trying to report a number being used for a scam.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Identifying Scam Calls

1
Suspect a scam call if the person threatens you with legal action if you don't pay them. There are many scam callers that claim to be with the IRS, a law enforcement, or a financial institution and use fear to get your money. They claim that unless you pay them you will be in legal trouble. These calls are scams and you should hang up the phone if you get one.^{[6]
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2
Be suspicious of calls that claim you have won a prize or lottery. A classic phone scam is one that claims you won a prize and you just need to pay the shipping cost, taxes, or related fees to claim it. The scammer then asks for your financial information. If you get an unsolicited call like this, it is a scam and you should hang up the phone.^{[7]
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Warning: While it may be tempting to believe that you really have won a prize, remember that if you fall for a scam, it can cost you a lot more than you might have won.
3
Identify common things scammers say. There are a variety of standard lines that scammers use to lure you into giving them money or information. If you hear any of these lines, suspect a scam right away and hang up your phone:^{[8]
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Federal Trade Commission
Website with up-to-date information for consumers from the Federal Trade Commisson
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- "You've been selected for a special offer."
- "Buy our product and get a special bonus prize."
- "You've won a valuable prize."
- "You've just won money in a lottery."
- "We're looking for investors in a low risk, high return investment."
- "To get this great offer you need to make up your mind right away."
- "You trust me, don't you?"
- "There's no need to check our company out with anyone."
- "We just need to put the shipping and handling charges on your credit card."
4
Trust your instincts. Often scammers rely on making people feel guilty for suspecting a scam. However, if you get a call and something just doesn't feel right, hang up the phone. Overall, it's just always better to be safe than sorry.^{[9]
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Trustworthy Source
Federal Trade Commission
Website with up-to-date information for consumers from the Federal Trade Commisson
Go to source}
- If you are suspicious of a call from a company but you're scared that the caller might be telling the truth, simply tell them you are going hang up the phone and call the company yourself. If the caller is above board, they should have no problem with you doing this.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Blocking Scam Calls

1
Block individual numbers. If you keep getting unwanted calls on your smart phone from the same number, it's possible to block the caller in the future. Go into your call records in your phone and tap the button that says "block this caller" or whatever other similar phrase your phone app uses. After you hit that button, the blocked number won't be allowed to connect to your number.
- In many cases, scammers use a wide variety of numbers to run their scams, so this technique won't keep scammers at bay for long. However, it will make getting through slightly more difficult.
2
Block all unknown callers. If you are tired of getting calls from numbers you don't know, set your smart phone up so it sends unknown callers straight to your voicemail. If you have a landline, you can call your phone provider and ask them to block unknown callers. Many scam callers will not stay on the line to leave a message and you will not have your phone ringing all the time with annoying scam calls.
- The downside of this technique for blocking scam calls is that businesses you are dealing with will not be able to get a hold of you directly.
- If your phone number is a business line, you may not be able to do this. It is a better technique for a personal phone line.
3
Put your phone number on the federal Do Not Call Registry. This is a national registry for those that live in the US and who do not want unsolicited calls. You can join this list by calling (888) 382-1222 or by registering online at https://www.donotcall.gov.^{[10]
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Trustworthy Source
Federal Communications Commission
Independent U.S. government agency responsible for regulating radio, television, and satellite, and phone communications
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- There are a variety of organizations that are not required to follow the Do Not Call Registry. This includes organizations and businesses who have an established relationship with you, non-profit organizations, and those businesses or organizations that you have given contact permission to.
Tip: If you do get calls after you put your number on the list, you can file a complaint with the FTC at https://www.ftc.gov/complaint or 1-888-382-1222.
4
Install call-blocking software on your smart phone. If you get scam calls continually, it's probably worth your while to install an app that blocks unlisted and unnamed callers. These apps are available for most brands of smart phones and typically only have a small cost to purchase them.

Expert Q&A
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Question

How can I report a scammer that keeps calling me?

Scott Nelson, JD
Police Sergeant, Mountain View Police Department
Scott Nelson is a Police Sergeant with the Mountain View Police Department in California. He is also a practicing attorney for Goyette & Associates, Inc. where he represents public employees with a myriad of labor issues throughout the state. He has over 15 years of experience in law enforcement and specializes in digital forensics. Scott has received extensive training through the National Computer Forensics Institute and holds forensic certifications from Cellbrite, Blackbag, Axiom Forensics, and others. He earned a Master of Business Administration from the California State University Stanislaus and a Juris Doctorate from the Laurence Drivon School of Law.

Scott Nelson, JD

Police Sergeant, Mountain View Police Department

Expert Answer

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It really depends on where you live. The laws surrounding scam call reporting are constantly changing these days, so it can be kind of hard to figure out who you're supposed to talk to. Your best bet is to call your local police department and ask them. They'll direct you to the proper agency where you live.