Scam library · Government impostor · Investment & crypto · Seniors
Fake FTC or IC3 fraud-report website scam
After you've been scammed, reporting it is the right thing to do. Criminals know that, so they set up fake versions of the places you'd report to. The FTC warned in November 2026 that scammers copy its website, logo and design, and pose as FTC 'agents' with fake badges. The FBI has warned that scammers also impersonate its Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
The goal is the same: collect your personal and financial details, or convince you that your lost money has been 'recovered' and you just need to pay a fee to get it back.
What the message looks like
From: FBI IC3 Recovery Unit
Hello, I am Agent Daniel Reyes with the IC3 Asset Recovery Division. Your complaint has been reviewed and $18,400 of your lost funds has been located.
To release the funds, please verify your identity and bank account at ic3-claims-portal[.]com and pay the processing fee.
This case will close in 48 hours if you do not respond.
How this scam works
Some fake sites show up in search results or sponsored ads when you search for how to report a scam. The FBI described one spoofed IC3 site that looked like the real one but only had a short form asking for your name, phone number, email, type of scam and how much you lost. After you submit, it gives you a reference number and says someone will be in touch.
Then someone does get in touch, by phone, email, Facebook Messenger or Telegram, posing as an FBI or FTC agent. They may say they've found your money, send a link to 'update your report', or ask for a fee, taxes or your bank details to release the funds. The FBI also warned about AI-generated videos of a senior FBI leader pointing people to a fake IC3 site.
These scams often target people who have already lost money, so the hope of getting it back makes the offer hard to ignore.
Red flags
- A report website that doesn't end in .gov.
- A sponsored search result or social media ad for a place to report fraud.
- Anyone who contacts you on social media, Telegram or by phone saying they're with IC3 or the FTC.
- A claim that your lost money has been found, plus a fee, tax or 'verification' payment to release it.
- A request to move or 'protect' your money, or pay with gift cards, crypto or cash.
How to tell it’s fake
- Type the address yourself: reportfraud.ftc.gov for the FTC and www.ic3.gov for the FBI. Both end in .gov. Skip sponsored search results.
- The FBI says IC3 has no social media presence, never contacts people directly by phone, email, social media or chat, and never asks for payment to recover funds.
- The FTC says a real FTC employee will never tell you to protect your money by transferring it or handing someone cash.
- If a 'recovery' offer sounds real, stop and ask a family member or scam expert for a second opinion before you share anything.
What to do if you clicked, paid or shared info
Don’t panic, and don’t blame yourself. These scams are built by professionals. Act quickly, one step at a time.
If you clicked a link or called back
- If you filled out a form on a site that wasn't .gov, file your report again on the real site and mention the fake site.
- Report fake profiles or ads claiming to be IC3 or the FTC to the platform where you saw them.
If you paid
- If you paid a recovery fee, stop all contact and call your bank or payment provider at the number on your card. Report the payment at ic3.gov and ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
If you shared personal info, a password or a code
- If you gave bank details or your Social Security number, tell your bank, visit IdentityTheft.gov, and consider a credit freeze.
- Expect more contact. Anyone who says they can get your money back for a fee is part of the scam.
Where to report and get help (U.S.)
If a message seems legit and you’re still not sure, get a second opinion before you act. Reporting helps stop scammers, even if money can’t be recovered. If you are in danger, call 911.
- Your bank or card issuer
Call the number on the back of your card or on your statement, not one from the message. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment and to watch the account. - Federal Trade Commission (FTC) · ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Report the scam and get a step-by-step recovery plan. - FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) · ic3.gov
Report scams that happened online, especially if money was lost. Include phone numbers, websites and payment details. - AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline · aarp.org helpline
Free, for anyone of any age: trained volunteers help you sort out next steps. 877-908-3360, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern. - IdentityTheft.gov · IdentityTheft.gov
If you shared your Social Security number or someone opened accounts in your name.
How Gmork Scam Guard would warn you
Scam Guard runs in Chrome and Edge on your computer. When you open a link to a reporting site, it checks whether the page is really ftc.gov or ic3.gov and warns you about look-alike government sites and fake recovery pages. It can't hear phone calls or see messages on your phone. If someone says they recovered your money, get a scam expert's second opinion first.
Scam Guard can miss things, so the checks above still matter. See what it warns about and what it keeps private.
Usar no Chrome
Adicionar ao Edge
Adicionar ao Firefox
Adicionar ao OperaQuestions people ask
- Where do I report a scam?
- Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the FBI at www.ic3.gov. Type the addresses yourself.
- Will the FBI or FTC get my money back?
- They don't charge fees to recover money and won't contact you on social media offering to. Anyone who does is a scammer.
- Someone called me about my IC3 report. Is it real?
- IC3 itself doesn't call people. If more information is needed, the FBI says you'd be contacted by employees from a local field office or other law enforcement. Verify by calling your local FBI field office at a number you look up yourself.
- I already reported on a fake site. What now?
- Report again on the real .gov site, and watch for follow-up contact offering recovery.