Not sure it's a scam? Not sure who to tell?

Reporting Compass is a directory of official channels. Each entry tells you who should report, what happens after you file, and how long a response usually takes.

Financial & Cyber Crime

FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

Acknowledgment in ~5 business days

Best for: Internet-enabled fraud, wire fraud, business email compromise, ransomware, and identity theft.
Who should report here: Individuals, families, and small businesses who lost money or were targeted online.
What happens next: Reports are triaged, reviewed for patterns, and shared with law enforcement nationwide.
Portal: complaint.ic3.gov/ ↗

FBI Tips (General)

Response varies by field office

Best for: Suspected federal crimes including complex financial schemes.
Who should report here: Witnesses or helpers who saw suspicious activity but weren't defrauded themselves.
What happens next: Tips reach the appropriate field office for review and possible investigation.
Portal: tips.fbi.gov/ ↗

Consumer & Identity Fraud

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Acknowledgment in ~1–2 weeks

Best for: Scams, identity theft, imposter fraud, romance scams, and deceptive business practices.
Who should report here: Consumers hit by scams or identity theft; even one report helps build cases.
What happens next: Your report enters a nationwide fraud database used by police and prosecutors.
Portal: reportfraud.ftc.gov/ ↗

Securities & Investment Fraud

SEC Office of the Whistleblower

Evaluation typically 60+ days

Best for: Securities fraud, Ponzi schemes, insider trading, and false corporate disclosures.
Who should report here: Industry insiders or investors with specific, documented knowledge of misconduct.
What happens next: Qualified tips may lead to an investigation and monetary awards of 10–30%.
Portal: www.sec.gov/submit-tip-or-complaint ↗

Tax & Large-Scale Financial Crime

IRS Whistleblower Office

Multi-year review cycles

Best for: Tax evasion, large-scale money laundering, and abusive tax schemes.
Who should report here: Whistleblowers with evidence of tax fraud above IRS thresholds (Form 211).
What happens next: Claims are assessed; awards generally run 15–30% of collected proceeds.
Portal: wo.for.irs.gov/s/form211 ↗

Commodities & Derivatives

Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)

Acknowledgment in ~2–4 weeks

Best for: Fraud involving futures, options, swaps, and crypto derivatives.
Who should report here: Traders and investors defrauded through commodity or digital-asset schemes.
What happens next: Complaints feed CFTC investigations and whistleblower referrals.
Portal: www.cftc.gov/Complaint ↗

Healthcare Fraud

HHS Office of Inspector General

Confidential; no status update

Best for: Medicare/Medicaid fraud, false billing, and kickbacks in healthcare.
Who should report here: Patients, providers, and billing staff who spotted improper claims.
What happens next: Reports are routed to state and federal investigators of the specific program.
Portal: oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud/ ↗

Mail & Shipping Fraud

U.S. Postal Inspection Service

Acknowledgment in ~1–2 weeks

Best for: Mail fraud, check fraud sent through the mail, and related schemes.
Who should report here: Anyone who received or sent fraudulent material through the postal system.
What happens next: Complaints are screened and forwarded to the nearest Postal Inspection office.
Portal: www.uspis.gov/report ↗

State & Local

Your State Attorney General

Response varies by state

Best for: Consumer protection and state-level fraud ranging from scams to unfair practices.
Who should report here: Residents of a state harmed by businesses or individuals operating locally.
What happens next: Complaints drive consumer-protection enforcement and can trigger referrals.
Portal: www.naag.org/find-my-ag/ ↗

Local Law Enforcement

Immediate for emergency calls

Best for: Immediate threats, active crimes, or cases with clear local jurisdiction.
Who should report here: Anyone in imminent danger or facing a crime with a local footprint.
What happens next: Local police create a report and may hand the case to dedicated fraud units.
Portal: Contact your local department directly.

Always do this first: if you have lost money or your identity was used, file with the agency that matches the scheme AND alert your bank or card issuer immediately. These links go directly to official U.S. government websites. Never use third-party “recovery” services that contact you first — they are almost always scams.