Reporting Financial Fraud to the Police
What to bring when reporting fraud, what usually happens next, and national reporting services in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, India, the EU, Ghana and elsewhere.
Reporting fraud can feel pointless, especially when the money seems gone. But reports matter: they create the reference your bank may need, help police connect cases, and sometimes lead to arrests and recovered funds.
What to bring
- A short written timeline of what happened.
- Transaction IDs, amounts, dates and recipient accounts or numbers.
- Screenshots of messages, websites and profiles.
- Phone numbers, email addresses and wallet addresses used by the scammer.
- Any reference numbers from your bank. See evidence to keep.
Where to report
| Where | Service |
|---|---|
| United States | FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI at ic3.gov. |
| United Kingdom | England, Wales and Northern Ireland: Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040. Scotland: Police Scotland on 101. |
| Canada | Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, 1-888-495-8501. |
| Australia | Scamwatch, and ReportCyber for cybercrime losses. |
| India | Helpline 1930 and cybercrime.gov.in. |
| European Union | National services listed on Europol's "Report cybercrime online" page. |
| Ghana | Cyber Security Authority on 292 or report@csa.gov.gh; police 18555 or 191. |
| Elsewhere | Your national police cybercrime or fraud unit. |
Call your bank or provider first to try to stop the money moving. See stopping a transfer.
Related: how to report a scam and what happens after reporting. For more, see what to do if money is taken.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth reporting if the amount was small?
Yes. Reports help police link cases, identify patterns and sometimes recover money. Your bank may also ask for a reference.
What will happen after I report?
You usually receive a reference number. Many reports are used for intelligence; some lead to investigations. Follow-up varies by country.
Should I report to the police and my bank?
Yes, both. Call the bank first to try to stop money moving, then report to the police or national service.
Sources
- ReportFraud.ftc.gov, US Federal Trade Commission
- Internet Crime Complaint Center, FBI
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Government of Canada
- Report a scam, Scamwatch, Australian Government
- National Cybercrime Reporting Portal, Government of India
- Report cybercrime online, Europol
