Many scam victims are unsure where to report what happened to them, or whether reporting is worth the effort. The answer is straightforward: reporting matters. Even if an individual report does not lead to an immediate investigation, it contributes to a broader intelligence picture that helps authorities identify patterns, disrupt networks and prioritise resources.
Where to Report
The correct reporting body depends on your location and the type of fraud involved. Here are the main channels for several jurisdictions:
United Kingdom
Action Fraud is the national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. You can file a report online or by phone. In Scotland, report to Police Scotland directly. If you have lost money through a bank transfer, also contact your bank immediately — under the Contingent Reimbursement Model Code, many banks will reimburse victims of authorised push payment fraud.
United States
The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) handles reports of internet-facilitated crime. For investment fraud, report to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). For scams involving consumer products or services, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) accepts complaints through its online portal. If cryptocurrency was involved, IC3 is typically the most relevant channel.
Australia
ScamWatch, operated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), is the primary reporting channel. For cybercrime specifically, report to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) through ReportCyber.
European Union
Reporting channels vary by member state. Most countries have a national cybercrime unit or an online reporting portal. Europol's European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) coordinates cross-border investigations but does not take individual reports directly — file with your national authority first.
What Information to Include
The more detail you can provide, the more useful your report will be. Where possible, include:
- A chronological account of how the scam unfolded
- Dates and amounts of all financial transactions
- Bank account numbers, wallet addresses or payment references used
- Screenshots of conversations, emails and the scam platform
- Website URLs, domain names and any usernames or phone numbers associated with the scammer
- Any documents or identification the scammer provided
What Happens After You Report
After filing a report, you will typically receive a reference number. In many jurisdictions, reports are assessed and triaged rather than individually investigated. This does not mean your report was ignored — it means it has been added to a dataset that is used to identify large-scale operations and allocate investigative resources. Cases involving significant losses, multiple victims or connections to known criminal networks are more likely to be escalated.
Accompanying your report with a professional intelligence analysis can increase the likelihood of escalation. A structured report that has already traced the money trail, mapped the infrastructure and identified connections gives investigators a head start and demonstrates the case is worth pursuing.
If you need help compiling evidence before filing a report, contact CTL Analysis. We can produce an intelligence report that you submit alongside your complaint to give it the strongest possible foundation.