File a Complaint With the FTC

Where to File an FTC Complaint

Use the Federal Trade Commission’s official fraud-reporting system to report a scam, fraud, or an unfair or deceptive business practice. Open {site} and choose the consumer option for reporting fraud, scams, or bad business practices.

To recognize the legitimate government service, start from the verified FTC link shown on this page. Look for clear Federal Trade Commission identification and a government-site banner. Do not use a form sent by an unexpected caller, text, email, or social media message. The FTC will not demand payment, threaten you, or promise a prize.

People searching for where to file a complaint with the FTC may see other government forms. Use the general fraud-reporting channel for most consumer scams and bad business practices. Identity theft has a separate official FTC reporting and recovery service. Complaints about conduct within FTC programs or operations belong to the FTC’s inspector general, not the consumer fraud form.

Information to Gather Before Filing

You can file a complaint with the FTC even if some details are missing. Gather what you have, but do not delay simply because you cannot identify the person or company.

• The company, organization, website, app, or person involved, including any names or usernames used.
• A short account of what happened, in date order, and what the seller or caller claimed.
• Transaction dates, amounts charged or sent, order details, account references, and a description of what you expected to receive.
• How payment was requested or made, such as a payment card, bank transfer, payment app, wire transfer, cash, cryptocurrency, or gift card.
• How the person contacted you, including caller information, email details, social media profiles, message headers, or mailing information.
• Copies or screenshots of receipts, invoices, advertisements, messages, contracts, and confirmation notices.
• Your contact information, if you decide to provide it.

Keep original records. Upload or enter only what the official process requests, and never send a scammer more information to obtain proof.

How to Submit the Complaint Online

1. Open {site} on your phone, tablet, or computer and select the option to report fraud or a bad business practice.
2. Choose the category that most closely matches what happened. If none seems exact, select the nearest available choice and explain the details in your own words.
3. Answer the questions shown for that type of report. The questions may change according to your earlier answers, so read each screen before continuing.
4. Enter the facts you know. Be specific about dates, contact methods, payment methods, and losses, but do not guess at missing details.
5. Use the narrative area, when presented, to give a brief timeline. State what was promised, what you did, and what happened afterward.
6. Review the report for incorrect dates, amounts, names, and typing errors. Submit it only when the information reflects your experience.
7. Save the report number and any next-step information displayed after submission.

This is how to file a complaint with the FTC without relying on a third-party service. If you search “how do I file a complaint with the FTC,” remember that FTC complaint filing is free and does not require anyone to act as an intermediary.

Other Ways to Contact the FTC

If you cannot complete the online form, call the FTC Consumer Response Center using the verified number in the contact block above this article. Tell the representative that you want to submit a complaint to the FTC about fraud, a scam, or a bad business practice. Have the same notes and records ready before calling.

People who are deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, or have a speech disability can use their preferred telecommunications relay service to reach the Consumer Response Center. If the barrier is an accessibility problem with the FTC’s digital content, use the FTC accessibility contact identified on its official accessibility page.

For help in Spanish, use the Spanish-language reporting option offered through the FTC’s official consumer reporting system or ask about language assistance when calling. Do not mail sensitive originals or visit an office unless current, official FTC instructions specifically direct you to do so.

What Happens After You File

After an online report is submitted, the system provides a report number and tailored information about possible next steps. If you supplied an email address, the FTC may also send that information by email. Save the report number, submission date, a copy of your narrative, and any confirmation you receive.

A report helps the FTC identify patterns, build enforcement cases, and share relevant complaint information with authorized law-enforcement partners. Filing does not guarantee that the FTC will investigate your individual report, resolve a private dispute, recover money, provide a lawyer, or give you personal updates.

If you later discover more records, keep them with your complaint notes. Do not assume that a message claiming to discuss your report is genuine merely because it mentions the FTC. Verify unexpected contact through the official contact information before sharing anything.

If You Shared Money or Personal Information

Submitting the report is important, but it does not stop a payment or secure an exposed account. If money was sent, immediately contact the bank, card issuer, payment service, wire-transfer provider, cryptocurrency platform, or gift-card issuer involved. Use contact information from your statement, card, official app, or verified account materials. Ask whether the transaction can be stopped, reversed, or marked as fraud.

If you disclosed passwords, change the affected password and any reused passwords. Turn on multifactor authentication where available. If you gave remote access to a device, disconnect it from the internet, remove the access software, run trusted security checks, and review important accounts from a device you trust.

If someone obtained your Social Security number or used your identity, use the FTC’s official identity-theft reporting and recovery service to create a recovery plan. Review credit reports and consider a fraud alert or security freeze through the official credit bureaus. If there is immediate danger or a threat of violence, contact local emergency services.

Whether you search “file complaint with FTC,” “file a complaint with FTC,” or “how to file a complaint with the FTC,” use the verified federal channel. A prompt, factual report is the safest way to file a complaint with the FTC.