How to File an FTC Complaint

Where to File an FTC Complaint

Start at {site}, the Federal Trade Commission’s official site. Look for the consumer complaint or report fraud section. The page should identify the FTC as the agency receiving the report and should explain how the information may be used.

A search for “ftc file complaint” or “ftc file a complaint” may show advertisements, private filing services, and unrelated complaint sites. Do not submit personal or financial information just because a page uses the FTC name or logo. Return to the official site and follow its complaint link.

You do not need a third party to prepare or transmit the report. If another site asks for payment, promotes a service, or claims it can guarantee action by the FTC, leave that page. Use only the official complaint system linked from the FTC site.

Choose the Right Complaint Category

The complaint system asks what happened. Choose the category that most closely matches the main problem. The questions that follow may change based on your choice.

• Fraud or scams: Use this for deceptive requests for money or information, impersonation, suspicious messages, and similar conduct.
• Identity theft: Choose the identity theft option when someone used, or may have used, your personal information without permission. The official identity theft process may also provide a recovery plan.
• Unwanted calls or messages: Select the option for unwanted telemarketing, robocalls, or text messages when that is the central issue.
• Business practices: Use the closest business-related category for misleading claims, billing concerns, subscriptions, or another consumer issue involving a company.

If several categories seem relevant, focus on the event that caused the loss or concern. You can describe connected events in the narrative field. Do not guess at facts merely to fit a category. If the form offers “other” or a similar choice, use it when none of the listed subjects accurately describes the issue.

Information to Gather Before Filing

Collect the details you already have before opening the form. Missing information usually should not stop you from reporting, but accurate details make the report more useful.

• The date the incident began and the dates of later contacts or transactions.
• The company, organization, website, account name, or person involved.
• How contact occurred, such as email, text message, social media, postal mail, online advertisement, or phone call.
• The amount involved, payment date, payment method, transaction identifier, and the name shown on a statement or receipt.
• Email addresses, usernames, caller information, message text, and other identifiers shown in the communication.
• A short timeline explaining what was offered or claimed, what you did, and what happened next.
• Supporting records, including receipts, statements, screenshots, emails, letters, and notes from conversations.

Keep original records in a safe place. The form may ask you to type information rather than attach every document. Avoid including sensitive information unless the official form specifically requests it and it is necessary for that question.

How to Submit the Complaint

1. Open the official FTC complaint system from the consumer section of {site}.
2. Select the category and any subcategory that best matches what happened.
3. Read the instructions and privacy information displayed with the form.
4. Enter the incident details. Depending on the category, the form may ask about the contact method, the company or person involved, a transaction, a payment method, or the information that was requested or exposed.
5. Describe the event in date order. Use short, factual sentences and identify what the other party said or did. Separate facts from anything you only suspect.
6. Add your contact information if the form asks for it and you choose to provide it. Required and optional fields should be identified on the form.
7. Review names, dates, amounts, and identifiers before submitting. Correct typing errors and remove unrelated sensitive details.
8. Submit the report once. Save or record any confirmation information shown afterward.

If the page stops responding, avoid repeatedly pressing the submit button. Check whether a confirmation appeared. If not, reopen the official system and try again when the connection is stable. Do not send a second report solely because an immediate personal response did not arrive.

What Happens After Submission

After submission, the system may display a confirmation, report number, reference number, or instructions related to the category you selected. Save the page or write down the reference information before closing the browser. If the system offers additional official steps, read them carefully and keep them with your records.

The FTC generally collects consumer reports and uses report information to identify patterns, support investigations, and assist law-enforcement work. Filing a complaint does not mean the FTC will act as your representative, recover funds, settle a billing dispute, or provide an individual outcome. A report can still be useful even when the agency does not contact the person who filed it.

Keep copies of the report details and supporting records. A confirmation shows that information was submitted; it is not a decision about the complaint or a promise that a particular action will follow.

Get Help With Filing

If you cannot complete the online form, return to the FTC’s official consumer help area. Look for options labeled contact, help, accessibility, languages, or report assistance. Use only contact details displayed by the FTC in its verified contact area.

Language options may appear on the complaint page or in the site’s language menu. Accessibility information may explain how to use the form with assistive technology or how to request another way to communicate. The available method can depend on the type of complaint and the help needed.

Before contacting assistance, note the page or question where you became stuck, the complaint category, and any error message shown. Do not send passwords, complete financial account numbers, or unrelated identity documents in a general help request. Ask the official representative what information is required and how it should be provided securely.