Where to Report Investment Scams

Complete Guide to Federal, State & International Reporting Authorities

Federal Reporting Agencies
Report to Multiple Agencies: Different agencies have different jurisdictions and enforcement tools. Filing with multiple agencies increases the chance your report contributes to an active investigation and potential recovery. It only takes 15-30 minutes per report.
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
Website: ic3.gov

What they investigate: All internet-enabled financial crimes, including investment fraud, romance scams, business email compromise, cryptocurrency scams, and identity theft.

Why report here: IC3 is the primary federal intake for online financial crimes. Reports are analyzed and referred to appropriate FBI field offices and other agencies. Large-scale fraud operations are often prosecuted federally.

How to file:

  1. Visit ic3.gov and click "File a Complaint"
  2. Provide your contact information
  3. Describe the scam in detail: dates, amounts, how you paid
  4. Include all identifying information about scammers: names, emails, phone numbers, website URLs, wallet addresses, bank account numbers
  5. Upload supporting documents if possible
  6. Submit - you'll receive a complaint number for your records

What to include:

  • All communication records (screenshots of WhatsApp, email, etc.)
  • Payment receipts and transaction records
  • Website URLs and screenshots
  • Cryptocurrency wallet addresses
  • Bank account and routing numbers used
  • Photos and profiles of scammers
  • Timeline of events
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Website: reportfraud.ftc.gov

What they investigate: Consumer fraud of all types, including investment scams, imposter scams, tech support fraud, and deceptive business practices.

Why report here: FTC reports feed into the Consumer Sentinel database used by over 2,800 law enforcement agencies nationwide. Even if FTC doesn't directly pursue your case, your report helps others.

How to file:

  1. Visit reportfraud.ftc.gov
  2. Select the category that best describes your experience
  3. Answer questions about what happened
  4. Provide details about the company/person and how you paid
  5. Submit your report

Additional FTC resources:

  • Identity theft: identitytheft.gov - if scammers obtained your personal information
  • Do Not Call violations: donotcall.gov - if scam started with unsolicited call
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Website: sec.gov/tcr (Tips, Complaints, and Referrals)

What they investigate: Securities fraud - unregistered securities offerings, investment adviser fraud, Ponzi schemes, pump-and-dump schemes, and violations of securities laws.

Why report here: SEC has authority over securities markets and can bring civil enforcement actions, obtain asset freezes, and seek restitution for victims. Some large cases result in recovery funds for victims.

How to file:

  1. Visit sec.gov/tcr
  2. Click "Submit a Tip"
  3. Choose to submit online, by mail, or by fax
  4. Provide detailed information about the fraud
  5. Include documentation and evidence

SEC Whistleblower Program: If you have original information about securities fraud involving over $1 million in sanctions, you may be eligible for an award of 10-30% of sanctions collected. See sec.gov/whistleblower.

Check registration before investing:

  • Investment advisers: adviserinfo.sec.gov
  • Brokers: brokercheck.finra.org
  • Offerings: sec.gov/edgar
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
Website: cftc.gov/complaint

What they investigate: Fraud in commodity futures, options, forex (foreign exchange), and some cryptocurrency derivative products.

Why report here: Many WhatsApp investment scams involve forex or cryptocurrency trading. CFTC has specific jurisdiction over these markets and can pursue enforcement against fraudulent platforms and operators.

How to file:

  1. Visit cftc.gov/complaint
  2. Complete the online complaint form
  3. Describe the forex/crypto/futures fraud in detail
  4. Provide information about the platform and individuals involved
  5. Submit supporting documentation

CFTC RED List: Before investing, check cftc.gov/LearnAndProtect/AdvisoriesAndArticles/CFTCFraudAdvisories for alerts about known fraudulent foreign entities.

Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)
Website: fincen.gov

What they investigate: Money laundering, terrorist financing, and financial crimes. FinCEN is the U.S. financial intelligence unit.

Why report here: If you know about money laundering activity (how scammers move money), FinCEN may be interested. Generally more relevant for financial institutions than individual victims, but can be helpful for complex fraud schemes.

Cryptocurrency-Specific Reporting
Agency Role in Crypto Fraud
FBI IC3 Primary intake for all crypto fraud; can trace blockchain transactions
SEC Crypto offerings that are securities (most ICOs, many tokens)
CFTC Crypto derivatives, futures; some spot market manipulation
FTC Crypto scams as consumer fraud
FinCEN Crypto money laundering
Report the Exchange: If you sent cryptocurrency through a legitimate exchange (Coinbase, Kraken, Binance.US, etc.) to a scammer's wallet, also report to the exchange's fraud department. They may be able to flag the receiving wallet and assist law enforcement.
State Securities Regulators
State Regulators Are Important: While federal agencies handle large cases, state securities regulators often pursue smaller frauds that fall below federal thresholds. They may also be faster to respond and more accessible to individual victims.
Finding Your State Regulator

North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA):

Visit nasaa.org to find your state securities regulator. NASAA represents state and provincial securities regulators across North America.

Major State Regulators
State Agency Website
California Dept. of Financial Protection & Innovation dfpi.ca.gov
New York Attorney General Investor Protection Bureau ag.ny.gov
Texas State Securities Board ssb.texas.gov
Florida Office of Financial Regulation flofr.gov
Illinois Secretary of State Securities Department ilsos.gov/securities
Pennsylvania Dept. of Banking and Securities dobs.pa.gov
Ohio Division of Securities com.ohio.gov/divisions-and-programs/securities
Georgia Secretary of State Securities Division sos.ga.gov/securities
North Carolina Secretary of State Securities Division sosnc.gov/securities
Arizona Corporation Commission Securities Division azcc.gov
What State Regulators Can Do
  • Investigate fraud: State regulators can investigate investment fraud occurring in their state
  • Issue cease and desist orders: Stop ongoing fraudulent activity
  • Pursue civil enforcement: File lawsuits seeking penalties and restitution
  • Criminal referrals: Refer cases to state attorneys general for criminal prosecution
  • Investor education: Issue alerts about known scams
  • Coordinate with federal agencies: Share information with SEC, CFTC, FBI
State Attorney General

Your state Attorney General's office often has a consumer protection division that handles fraud complaints:

  • Find your AG: naag.org (National Association of Attorneys General)
  • Consumer complaint forms: Most AG websites have online complaint forms
  • Elder fraud units: Many AGs have specialized units for elder financial abuse
Local Law Enforcement

Consider filing a police report with your local police department:

  • Documentation: Police report creates official record useful for insurance, taxes, and civil litigation
  • Local victims: If other local victims exist, police may investigate
  • Identity theft: Important if scammers obtained your personal information
  • Coordination: Local police can coordinate with federal agencies on larger cases
Realistic Expectations: Local police often lack resources or expertise to investigate sophisticated online investment fraud. They may take your report but explain they cannot actively investigate. This is normal - the report is still valuable documentation for other purposes.
International Reporting
Cross-Border Fraud: Most online investment scams involve international criminal organizations operating from outside the United States. Reporting to international authorities may help, but recovery is extremely difficult when fraudsters are overseas.
INTERPOL

Website: interpol.int

INTERPOL coordinates international police cooperation. While individuals cannot file complaints directly with INTERPOL, reports to FBI IC3 are shared with INTERPOL when international coordination is needed.

INTERPOL's role:

  • Coordinates investigations across 195 member countries
  • Issues "Red Notices" for wanted individuals
  • Operates Financial Crimes unit focused on online fraud
  • Assists with asset recovery in cross-border cases
Reporting in Other Countries
Country Agency Website
United Kingdom Action Fraud actionfraud.police.uk
Canada Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca
Australia Scamwatch (ACCC) scamwatch.gov.au
European Union National Consumer Protection agencies ec.europa.eu/consumers
Singapore Singapore Police Force police.gov.sg/scamshield
Hong Kong Hong Kong Police Force police.gov.hk
When Scammers Are Overseas

Reality check: When scammers operate from countries with limited law enforcement cooperation (common locations include Cambodia, Myanmar, Nigeria, Russia), recovery through legal channels is extremely unlikely.

Countries known for fraud operations:

  • Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Philippines - major hubs for pig butchering scams
  • West Africa: Nigeria, Ghana - romance and advance fee scams
  • Eastern Europe: Ukraine, Russia - various online fraud schemes
  • India: Tech support scams, call center fraud
No Easy Recovery: Be extremely skeptical of anyone claiming they can recover funds from overseas scammers. "Recovery companies" that promise to retrieve your money for an upfront fee are almost always scams themselves, targeting fraud victims a second time.
Cryptocurrency Tracing

For cryptocurrency losses, blockchain analysis may help trace funds:

  • FBI and Secret Service: Have blockchain analysis capabilities
  • Private firms: Chainalysis, Elliptic, CipherTrace work with law enforcement
  • Exchange cooperation: Major exchanges will freeze assets if law enforcement requests

However, funds often move through mixers, decentralized exchanges, and uncooperative jurisdictions before law enforcement can act.

What Happens After You Report
The Investigation Process

Immediate (Days 1-30):

  • Your complaint is logged into agency databases
  • Automated analysis checks for patterns and connections to other complaints
  • If you paid via wire transfer, immediate bank recall may be attempted (call your bank directly - don't wait for agencies)
  • Your information is shared with relevant law enforcement databases

Short-term (Months 1-6):

  • Analysts review complaints for investigation potential
  • Similar complaints are grouped together
  • Preliminary research on identified platforms/individuals
  • Decisions made about which cases to actively investigate

Medium-term (Months 6-24):

  • Active investigations proceed (if your case is selected)
  • Subpoenas issued to platforms, banks, exchanges
  • Cooperation with international law enforcement if needed
  • Asset tracing and potential freezing

Long-term (Years 1-5+):

  • Indictments and arrests (for cases that reach this stage)
  • Criminal trials or plea agreements
  • Civil enforcement actions
  • Asset recovery and victim restitution (rare)
You May Never Hear Back: Most agencies do not provide individual updates on complaints. This doesn't mean your report is useless - it contributes to larger investigations and pattern recognition. But you should not expect personal follow-up.
Why Some Cases Are Prioritized

Agencies have limited resources and prioritize cases based on:

Factor Why It Matters
Total losses Cases involving millions in aggregate losses get priority
Number of victims More victims = higher priority and more evidence
Identifiable defendants Cases where scammers can be identified and located
Recoverable assets If assets can be seized, victims may recover something
Ongoing harm Active scams victimizing new people get urgent attention
Jurisdiction Domestic scammers easier to prosecute than overseas operations
Evidence quality Well-documented complaints with strong evidence are more actionable
What You Can Do While Waiting
  • Preserve all evidence: Don't delete communications, screenshots, or records
  • Document everything: Create timeline, save copies of all materials
  • Credit monitoring: If you provided personal information, monitor for identity theft
  • Consult attorney: Evaluate civil litigation options (see victim resources page)
  • Tax implications: Document losses for potential tax deduction (IRS Form 4684)
  • Warn others: Consider sharing your experience (anonymously if preferred) to help others
DOJ Victim Notification

In major fraud cases that result in federal prosecution, the Department of Justice maintains victim notification programs:

  • Victim notification: If charges are filed, victims may be notified and invited to submit impact statements
  • Restitution: Courts may order restitution as part of sentencing
  • Asset forfeiture: Seized assets may fund victim recovery (but this is rare and partial)

Visit justice.gov/usao and search for press releases about fraud cases to see examples of victim recovery efforts.

Realistic Expectations About Recovery
Harsh Reality: Most investment fraud victims do not recover their money. This section provides honest information about recovery prospects so you can make informed decisions about next steps.
Recovery Statistics

By payment method:

Payment Method Recovery Likelihood Notes
Cryptocurrency Near zero Irreversible; funds typically laundered within hours
Wire transfer (international) Very low Possible if reported within 24-48 hours; otherwise gone
Wire transfer (domestic) Low Recall possible if caught immediately; mule accounts drain fast
Zelle/Venmo/CashApp Very low Limited fraud protection; designed for trusted recipients
Credit card Moderate Dispute within 60 days; bank may accept chargeback
Debit card Low-Moderate Less protection than credit; dispute immediately
Check Low Difficult to stop once cashed
Gift cards Zero Instantly redeemed; untraceable
What Actually Happens in Most Cases

Individual complaints:

  • Filed, logged, and added to databases
  • May contribute to pattern recognition for larger investigation
  • Rarely result in direct investigation or recovery
  • No personal follow-up from agencies

Large-scale fraud operations (when caught):

  • Arrests may occur months or years later
  • Recovered assets often a small fraction of total stolen
  • Victims may receive pennies on the dollar through restitution
  • Criminal prosecution doesn't guarantee civil recovery
Why Recovery Is So Difficult
  • Speed: Funds move internationally within minutes; law enforcement moves in weeks
  • Cryptocurrency: Designed for irreversible, pseudonymous transactions
  • Jurisdiction: Scammers operate from countries with no cooperation agreements
  • Layering: Money passes through multiple accounts, wallets, and countries
  • Mixing: Cryptocurrency mixers obscure transaction trails
  • Mule networks: Domestic recipients are often unwitting victims themselves
  • Shell companies: Scammers use layers of fake business entities
Beware of Recovery Scams
Second Victimization: "Recovery companies" or "fund recovery specialists" who contact fraud victims are almost always scammers themselves. They target people who lost money, knowing they're desperate to recover funds.

Red flags for recovery scams:

  • They contact you (often claim to be from government or law firm)
  • Upfront fees required before recovery attempt
  • Guarantee they can recover your funds
  • Claim special access to law enforcement or foreign banks
  • Ask for more personal/financial information
  • Pressure you to act quickly

Legitimate recovery options:

  • Your own bank's fraud department (for recent wire transfers)
  • Credit card company (for chargebacks)
  • Licensed attorney (for civil litigation - they work on contingency, not upfront fees)
  • Law enforcement (free - never charges fees)
Why Report Anyway?

Even with low recovery prospects, reporting is important:

  • Pattern building: Your report helps identify criminal organizations
  • Protect others: Agencies issue alerts based on victim reports
  • Large cases: Some investigations result in significant recoveries when assets are found
  • Documentation: Reports support tax deductions and civil litigation
  • Statistics: Accurate fraud data helps allocate law enforcement resources
  • Closure: Taking action helps psychologically, even without recovery
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, absolutely. Reporting is not about shame - it's about stopping criminals from victimizing others. Law enforcement officials are not judgmental; they understand sophisticated scammers deceive intelligent people daily. Your report contributes to investigations that may prevent thousands of others from being victimized and could lead to asset seizures that help victims recover funds. Many victims don't report due to embarrassment, which allows scammers to continue operating.
The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov is the primary federal reporting mechanism for online financial crimes including investment fraud. To file: visit ic3.gov, click "File a Complaint," provide your personal information, describe the scam in detail (dates, amounts, how you paid, communication records), and submit. Include as much detail as possible - wallet addresses, bank accounts, names, websites, and phone numbers used by scammers. IC3 analyzes complaints and refers them to appropriate law enforcement agencies.
Be realistic: most victims do not recover funds. Cryptocurrency is nearly impossible to recover. Wire transfers can sometimes be recalled if reported within 24-48 hours. Credit card payments may be charged back if disputed quickly. However, reporting is still critical because: (1) law enforcement may seize assets in large investigations that fund victim restitution, (2) your report helps build cases against criminal networks, (3) some victims have received partial recovery through DOJ restitution programs, and (4) civil litigation against identifiable parties may be possible.
Report to FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov) for general consumer fraud and scams. Report to SEC (sec.gov/tcr) for securities fraud - stocks, bonds, investment advisers, unregistered offerings. Report to CFTC (cftc.gov/complaint) for commodity and forex fraud - foreign currency trading, futures, some cryptocurrency derivatives. You can (and should) report to multiple agencies - they share information and have different enforcement tools. When in doubt, file with all relevant agencies.
Investigations take months to years. Major fraud cases involving international criminal organizations may take 2-5 years before arrests or asset seizures are announced. You may never hear back directly about your specific complaint. This doesn't mean nothing is happening - your report is combined with others to build cases. Law enforcement prioritizes cases with: large aggregate losses, many victims, identifiable defendants, and recoverable assets. Individual complaints rarely result in direct investigation, but patterns across many complaints trigger action.
You can file a civil lawsuit, but practical challenges are significant. If the scammer is overseas and anonymous, you cannot serve them with legal papers or collect a judgment. If you can identify a domestic defendant (U.S.-based platform, money mule, facilitator), civil litigation may be viable. Some attorneys take fraud cases on contingency (no upfront fee; they take a percentage if you win). Before hiring a private attorney, ensure they have experience with investment fraud and realistic expectations. See our victim resources page for more on civil litigation options.
Almost certainly not. "Recovery companies" or "fund recovery specialists" who charge upfront fees are typically scammers who target fraud victims for a second round of victimization. Legitimate recovery happens through: (1) your bank's fraud department (no fee), (2) law enforcement agencies (no fee), (3) attorneys working on contingency (no upfront fee - they take a percentage only if recovery succeeds). Never pay upfront fees to anyone promising to recover fraud losses. If contacted by a recovery company, report them to FTC.
Yes, for documentation purposes. While local police often lack resources to investigate sophisticated online fraud, a police report creates an official record useful for: (1) insurance claims if applicable, (2) tax deduction documentation (IRS Form 4684), (3) credit monitoring and identity theft protection, (4) civil litigation. Some local police departments have cybercrime units that coordinate with federal agencies. At minimum, getting a police report number costs nothing and may help later.