Where to report a scam online
Primary English-speaking markets
United States
The IC3 is the main federal channel; the FTC handles consumer protection and identity-theft recovery. Neither replaces contacting your bank directly if money has already been sent.
IC3 — FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
The federal government's central intake for internet crime complaints, including romance scams. Received 859,532 complaints and $16.6B in reported losses in 2024.
Online complaint form. Caution: scammers impersonate IC3 itself — always type www.ic3.gov directly, never follow a link claiming to be IC3.
Verified 2026-09-12 · official source
FTC — Federal Trade Commission
Consumer-protection agency; reports feed the Consumer Sentinel database used by law enforcement nationwide.
Online form. A Spanish-language version is available at ftc.gov/es.
Verified 2026-09-12 · official source
United Kingdom
Action Fraud no longer exists — it was replaced by Report Fraud on 4 December 2025. Any older source still citing Action Fraud is outdated.
Report Fraud — City of London Police
The UK's national fraud and cybercrime reporting service, replacing Action Fraud. Covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Tel. 0300 123 2040 · 24/7
Report online or by phone. The old actionfraud.police.uk address now redirects automatically.
Verified 2026-09-12 · official source
Scotland — Police Scotland
Scotland is not yet covered by Report Fraud (integration expected later in 2026).
Tel. 101 · non-emergency
Report via Police Scotland's non-emergency line.
Verified 2026-09-12
APP fraud reimbursement (Payment Systems Regulator, in force since 7 October 2024) is capped at £85,000 per claim, with the cost split 50/50 between the sending and receiving banks — it directly affects what a victim can recover.
Canada
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC)
National fraud reporting body, co-run by the RCMP, the Ontario Provincial Police and the Competition Bureau.
antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca
Tel. 1-888-495-8501
Report online or by phone; does not replace a police report for a criminal case.
Verified 2026-09-12 · official source
Identity theft — Service Canada
For a compromised Social Insurance Number (SIN).
Tel. 1-866-274-2267
Phone report.
Verified 2026-09-12 · official source
Formal complaint — local police
File with your local police service; in Quebec, the Sûreté du Québec or a municipal force depending on jurisdiction.
In person or online depending on the local force. Reporting to the CAFC in parallel is recommended.
Verified 2026-09-12
Australia
Scamwatch — ACCC
The National Anti-Scam Centre's public reporting tool. Reports are intelligence, not a police complaint, and do not recover funds.
Online report form.
Verified 2026-09-12 · official source
ReportCyber — Australian Cyber Security Centre
National police-backed cybercrime reporting initiative; reports are triaged and forwarded to the relevant state or territory police.
www.cyber.gov.au/report-and-recover/recover-from/scams
Tel. 1300 292 371 · 1300 CYBER1, 24/7
Online report; hotline for urgent cases.
Verified 2026-09-12 · official source
Identity theft — IDCARE
Australia's national identity and cyber support service.
Contact via IDCARE's website for a case plan.
Verified 2026-09-12
Living in Europe as an English speaker
Belgium
Belgium's federal channels serve English speakers reasonably well, since the core action — forwarding a suspicious message — does not depend on language.
Safeonweb — Centre for Cybersecurity Belgium
Report a suspicious message, website or profile by forwarding it.
Email [email protected]
Forward the suspicious email or link. This step works regardless of language — you are simply sending the suspicious content.
Verified 2026-09-12 · official source
Cardstop — bank card blocking
National 24/7 line to block a bank card in case of fraud or theft.
Tel. 070 344 344
Call immediately if bank fraud is suspected.
Verified 2026-09-12 · official source
Formal complaint — local police
File with your local police zone. English-speaking officers are not guaranteed at every station, particularly outside Brussels.
In person at your local police station, with evidence gathered beforehand.
Verified 2026-09-12
France
France's official scam channels — THESEE and PHAROS — are French-language only, with no confirmed English version. There is no English-language official route, so for a non-French speaker the realistic path is to file in person at a police station, ideally with someone who can translate.
THESEE — official complaint platform (French only)
The national platform for filing an online complaint about internet scams. No English interface is available.
www.masecurite.interieur.gouv.fr/fr/demarches-en-ligne/thesee-arnaques-internet-plainte-en-ligne
French only. If you don't read French, file in person at a police station instead, ideally with someone who can translate.
Verified 2026-09-12 · official source
Formal complaint — police or gendarmerie
In-person complaint. Some larger urban stations have English-speaking staff, but this is not guaranteed.
Bring evidence and, if possible, someone who can translate.
Verified 2026-09-12
European Consumer Centre France (ECC France) — commercial disputes, NOT scams
For a cross-border CONSUMER dispute within the EU — a defective purchase or an undelivered order — NOT for a scam. The European Consumer Centres Network explicitly excludes fraud, which requires police and judicial action. Listed only to prevent a wrong turn.
Verified 2026-09-12 · official source
Netherlands
The Fraud Helpline has a dedicated number for calls from abroad and gives advice in English by phone, but it has no investigative power. The formal police report (aangifte) is Dutch-language only online.
Fraudehelpdesk (Fraud Helpline)
National fraud advice and reporting hub. Logs reports, gives advice and refers victims to the right authority. Not a criminal complaint and has no investigative power.
Tel. +31 88 786 7372 · dedicated number for calls from outside the Netherlands
Phone or web form (forms are Dutch-language; the phone line handles calls from abroad).
Verified 2026-09-12 · official source
Formal complaint (aangifte) — Politie
The actual criminal report. Filing it matters more than in most countries, since it is often a precondition for bank reimbursement.
www.politie.nl/en/information/i-live-in-the-netherlands-and-i-want-to-report-a-crime.html
Tel. 0900-8844 · from within the Netherlands only
Online forms exist in Dutch only. If you don't read Dutch and have no one to help you fill in the form, go to a police station in person.
Verified 2026-09-12 · official source
Victim support — Slachtofferhulp Nederland
Free victim-support service.
Tel. 0900-0101
Contacts you after you file a report; can also be reached directly.
Verified 2026-09-12 · official source