How To Report a Scam Number

How To Report a Scam Number: A Must-Read Guide in 2023

If you wonder how to report a scam number, your query is addressed in this article. Being taken advantage of phone scams is no fun, and it can be difficult to understand how to report them. Whether it involves a direct call to you, a number you know, or a more complex system of telephone fraud, it can be impossible to keep yourself safe at all times.

In the age of modern cellphones, people are more often victimized by phone fraud involving scam numbers. If you have been called by a scam number, you can report the information to help others in the same situation.

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We'll show you how to report the fraudsters below, as this article is part of a series that also educates the reader on:

• How to stop scam calls
• How to block Scam Likely calls
• *How to report phone scams
• How to report a scam website
• How to report scam emails.

Let's dive in.

Take Advantage of Online Sites That Protect You


Econsumer.gov is one very important site you can use if you’ve been the victim of a scam number. It combines a public reporting system with a law enforcement database to track trends and numbers in scam numbers being used. The reporting site is available in eight languages to help people from around the work track scam numbers.

This database can then be used by law enforcement officials worldwide to help understand the trends and numbers behind scam numbers. If you are experiencing problems with a phone scammer, check the site out right away for help.

What else?

Alternatively, the Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker maintains its own exhaustive database of scam numbers and scams involving telephone technology. It is an in-depth database and thus requires quite a bit of information if you’d like to fill out the forms and submit your data—but in the end, it is a valuable service to everyone who could be a victim of a scam number or telephone scam.

However, below you will find details about how to report a scam number exactly.

Report a Scam Number Below

The following links can help you report scam numbers and telephone fraud wherever you may be. This should be your first step when you encounter a scam number. Just click the relevant link to learn more:

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Report a scam number in the U.S. HERE

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Report a scam number in Canada HERE
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*NEW: Report a scam number in the U.K. HERE

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Report a scam number in Australia HERE


Alternative: The FTC Crime Complaint Center

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) handles cybercrime such as telephone fraud, scam numbers, computer support scams, scam websites, and scam emails (did you ever receive the Netflix cancellation scam email?). If you have fallen prey to a scam number, you need to report the crime immediately. The first best step is to contact local authorities if you’ve lost money or material possessions.

Following that, you’ll want to contact local authorities and your regional reporting center. Finally, you can escalate to higher-level reporting with the FTC or national reporting services.

In the United States, the national reporting service is the Crime Complain Center. If you feel the scam number that targeted you deals with deceptive or unfair business practices, you can take your report to the FTC.

You can also call them at 1-877-FTC-HELP, or through snail mail at Federal Trade Commission, CRC-240, Washington, D.C. 20580, United States.


How to Report Phone Scams at the Local Level

If you are the victim of a scam on a local level, it can be difficult to know just where to turn. The first option should be your stare consumer protection office. Report your scam numbers to this office as soon as you can.

If there was a theft of money or property involved in the number scam, you should go to your local police as well. If you want to escalate your fight against the scam number, you may also consider contacting your State Attorney General’s Office. They’ll be able to guide you through the process of responding to and reporting a local scam.

How to Report Scams on a Higher Scale

Sometimes you might get involved in scams at a larger scale, even if the fraud comes via phone calls. Solving them and getting any remedy may take a different approach.

It is important to remember that it may be difficult to recover your material possessions or lost money when dealing with scam numbers on a federal level. However, you can help by contributing to larger databases that can help other people avoid the same problems you are having.
The bottom line is that you should not expect to have your scam “solved” by a federal agency.

In the United States, the first place to report a major federal crime is the FBI's tips bureau, which can be contacted at (202) 324-3000. As a word of caution, you should always be careful about who you are contacting when reaching a government or federal office.

One key strategy of scammers can be to impersonate government officials or spoof government numbers or website addresses to steal more information from you.

What kind of phone scams is the most common? Besides the typical phishing scams, Social security scams, or even some job scams, there are a few types of phone fraud that are prevalent these days. Let's see.

Coronavirus Scams

The Coronavirus pandemic has created the largest pool of scams in history. Be cautious of anyone who calls you asking for money or financial help regarding this Coronavirus ‘season’.

Contact trace research does not involve any financial transactions or gain, just collecting some anonymous health information. If you are experiencing a scam related to the current COVID-19 emergency, you can contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud for help.

The FTC offers help on its custom-built Coronavirus site. If you came across a scam number related to COVID-19, you could contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud as well.

Phone Scams During Emergencies

During emergencies, scammers are at their peak activity. Whether it’s a national or international emergency such a hurricane hit or a local or personal emergency like a house flood or death in the family. Scam callers are ready to find you at your weakest and take advantage.

One contact you should make is the National Center for Disaster Fraud. You can email them at [email protected], or call them at 866-720-5721.

Phone Scams Related to Medical Issues

We talked about COVID-19 earlier, and this paragraph is somehow related. Criminals take advantage of sick people, need medical assistance, or are in financial trouble because of their medical issues. Don’t let yourself be taken advantage of in a health-related scam. How can you take your complaint a step further?

You can also report a scam number or any health-related fraud to the Department of Health and Human Services. You can also call them at 1-800-HHS-TIPS.

IRS and Tax Scams Over the Phone

Since all of us are connected to the tax-collecting system, scammers have always used the related organizations (IRS, CRA, HMRC, and ATO) and tax fraud as a way to scam unwitting victims. The use of scam numbers in pursuit of this goal is very common.

If someone has targeted you through a scam number to take advantage of your tax situation or debt, call your authorities right away. If you are the victim of state-level tax fraud, contact your state department of revenue for more help. State or province taxes operate differently than federal taxes collected by the IRS, CRA, HMRC, or ATO.

For example, the Internal Revenue Service or state tax collectors have a policy not to request debt payment or payment of back taxes over the phone. They will not threaten to garnish wages, take your Social Security, or exhibit any threatening language or behaviors at all.

Official IRS correspondence almost always comes in the mail, so be cautious if you’re ever called by someone from the IRS or a state-level tax department.

Report Scam Numbers to Make a Difference for Everyone

With the resources provided to you here, you can effectively report the scam number or telephone fraud that affects you or someone you know. Reporting is the first step in protecting yourself in the future and helping others who may be in the same situation as you.

We hope that you have learned how to report a scam number with the resources we have provided effectively and promptly.

If it's too late, here is what to do if you have been scammed over the phone.