Guide Report a scam
How to Contact the FTC — and What It Can and Can't Do
The FTC's official phone numbers, address and report websites, what happens after you report, and how to spot someone pretending to be the FTC.
By New2h Help Editorial Team Reviewed by New2h Help Editorial Team
Published
Many people search for the Federal Trade Commission’s phone number when something has gone wrong. This page gives you the FTC’s official contact details — taken directly from ftc.gov and ReportFraud.ftc.gov — and explains what the FTC can and cannot do for you, so you know what to expect.
Please note: New2h Help is an independent publication, not the FTC. We cannot take reports or investigate cases.
The FTC’s official contact information
| What you need | Official contact |
|---|---|
| Report a scam, fraud or bad business practice | ReportFraud.ftc.gov (Spanish: ReporteFraude.ftc.gov) |
| Report by phone (Consumer Response Center) | 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) |
| Report identity theft and get a recovery plan | IdentityTheft.gov |
| Report unwanted calls or register for Do Not Call | DoNotCall.gov |
| Check whether a caller really works for the FTC | (202) 326-2000 |
| FTC headquarters | (202) 326-2222 |
| Mailing address | Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580 |
| You live outside the U.S. or want to report an international scam | econsumer.gov |
Languages: to report in a language other than English or Spanish, call 1-877-382-4357 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time, press 3 for a list of languages, then 0 for more languages.
What the FTC can do
- Collect your report and add it to its Consumer Sentinel database, which is available to more than 2,000 federal, state and local law enforcement partners.
- Investigate and bring cases against scams, fraud and bad business practices. The FTC says it brings hundreds of law enforcement cases each year.
- Return money through cases. When an FTC case gets money back, the agency tries to contact the people who lost money. Active refund programs are listed at ftc.gov/refunds. Real FTC refunds are sent by check, prepaid debit card or PayPal — and you never have to pay to get one.
- Share reported phone numbers with the public every business day, so phone companies can build call-blocking and call-labeling tools.
- Give you next steps. When you submit a report, the FTC offers steps to protect yourself or recover, and emails them to you if you include your email address.
What the FTC can’t do
According to ReportFraud.ftc.gov:
- The FTC can’t resolve reports on behalf of individuals or take action for one consumer.
- It can’t respond to each report individually or give updates on reports that have been filed.
- It can’t tell you whether someone misused your information or freeze your credit — IdentityTheft.gov explains how to check and freeze your credit yourself.
- It can’t accept forwarded emails or text messages or uploaded documents. Paste the text into the Comments field of your report instead, and keep your documents in case law enforcement asks for them.
That is why it is important to also contact your bank or payment company right away if you lost money — they may be able to stop or reverse the payment. See our first-hour checklist.
Beware of FTC impersonators
Scammers pretend to be the FTC because people trust it. Here is what the real FTC says it will never do:
- demand money, make threats, or promise you a prize;
- tell you to transfer your money, deposit cash in a cryptocurrency ATM, withdraw cash or buy gold to “protect” it;
- ask for your Social Security, bank account or credit card number;
- give out sweepstakes prizes.
Caller: This is Agent Morgan with the Federal Trade Commission, badge number 4471. Your bank accounts have been linked to an identity theft case.
Caller: To protect your savings, you need to withdraw your funds today and deposit them into a secure federal account. I will stay on the line with you. Do not tell the bank teller why — they may be involved.
The FTC says that, typically, it will not call you about a report. If it ever does, the caller will have the reference number you received when you filed. If anyone calls for any other reason claiming to be from the FTC, it is probably a scammer. To check, hang up and call the FTC yourself at (202) 326-2000.
For more about scammers posing as the FTC, IRS, Social Security and “federal agents,” see our guide to government impostor scams.
Which agency should I contact?
The FTC is the right place for most scams, but some go to specialized agencies too. Our agency-by-agency guide lists where to report each type of scam — including Social Security impostors, IRS impostors, Medicare fraud, online crimes and your state attorney general.
Red flags: how to spot this scam
- Someone calls saying they are from the FTC and asks for money, your bank or card number, or your Social Security number.
- An "FTC agent" says your money is at risk and tells you to move it, withdraw cash, buy gold or deposit cash in a crypto ATM to "protect" it.
- You are told you won a prize or sweepstakes "supervised by the FTC" and must pay a fee or taxes to collect it.
- Someone offers to get your FTC refund faster — for a fee.
What to do
- To report a scam, use ReportFraud.ftc.gov or call 1-877-382-4357 (1-877-FTC-HELP).
- For identity theft, go to IdentityTheft.gov; for unwanted calls, go to DoNotCall.gov.
- If someone claiming to be from the FTC contacts you, hang up and do not pay.
- To check whether a caller really works for the FTC, call the FTC at (202) 326-2000.
- Report FTC impersonators at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Send this to someone you love
A quick share can stop a scam before it starts.
Where to report it
Reporting helps investigators spot patterns and warn others — even if you did not lose money. Type these addresses yourself or use the links below; do not use links from a suspicious message.
-
Social Security Office of the Inspector General
Calls, letters or messages from people pretending to be Social Security.
-
Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA)
Phone calls from people pretending to be the IRS.
-
IRS — report fake IRS emails and messages
Emails and texts that pretend to come from the IRS or the Treasury.
-
HHS Office of Inspector General
Medicare and Medicaid fraud, including people asking for your Medicare number.
-
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Any scam, fraud or bad business practice — calls, texts, emails, websites and impostors.
You can also report to your state attorney general. If you sent money, call your bank or card company right away using the number on the back of your card.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Federal Trade Commission's phone number?
For consumers, the FTC's Consumer Response Center is 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC's headquarters number is (202) 326-2222, and (202) 326-2000 is the number to find a staff member or check whether a caller really works for the FTC.
Can I file an FTC complaint by phone?
Yes. If you can't use ReportFraud.ftc.gov, you can call the Consumer Response Center at 1-877-382-4357. For languages other than English and Spanish, call between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern and press 3 for a list of languages.
Will the FTC get my money back?
The FTC can't resolve individual reports or take action for one person. It uses reports to investigate and bring cases, and when a case returns money to people, the FTC will try to contact those who lost money. Recent refund programs are listed at ftc.gov/refunds.
Will the FTC call me after I file a report?
Typically, no. If the FTC ever calls about a report you filed, the caller will have the reference number you received when you submitted it. Anyone else calling and claiming to be from the FTC is probably a scammer.
What is the FTC's mailing address?
Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580. The FTC notes that email is not secure, so confidential material should be sent by postal mail.
Is this website the FTC?
No. New2h Help is an independent publication. We are not affiliated with the FTC or any government agency. Every FTC link and phone number on this page comes from the FTC's own official websites.
Sources
We rely on official government sources. Read how we check facts in our editorial policy.
- Federal Trade Commission: Contact the FTC (ftc.gov, accessed )
- ReportFraud.ftc.gov: Frequently Asked Questions (reportfraud.ftc.gov, accessed )
- FTC: How To Avoid a Government Impersonation Scam (consumer.ftc.gov, accessed )
- FTC: How To Spot, Avoid, and Report Tech Support Scams (consumer.ftc.gov, accessed )
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