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A WealthyKids.org Consumer Protection Resource | Sarah Associates | Anaheim, CA

⚡ Quick Reference — Where to Report Right Now

Report cyber scams immediately to federal authorities using official online reporting tools.

• Internet Crimes — File a complaint with the FBI through the Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov for online fraud, hacking, or financial theft.
• General Fraud and Scams — Submit details to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov to help law enforcement track and stop bad business practices.
• Immediate Financial Loss — Contact your bank or credit card company right away to freeze accounts or dispute fraudulent charges.
• Local Crimes — Notify your local police department to create an official record of the crime. Provide as many details as possible.

If you can identify what type of scam occurred — such as crypto fraud, identity theft, phishing, charity fraud, or fake check scams — include that detail in your report. The more specific you are, the more useful your report is to investigators.

Official Sources:
ic3.gov — FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
reportfraud.ftc.gov — Federal Trade Commission
occ.gov — Office of the Comptroller of the Currency — Online and Digital Scams

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If you have been a victim of cyber crime — whether it was identity theft, a charity scam, online fraud, a fake check, a PayPal reversal scam, or any other form of internet crime — reporting it matters. Not just for you. For every person who might be targeted next.

Many victims never report because they feel embarrassed, don’t know where to go, or believe nothing will be done. But every report creates a paper trail. Every report helps investigators connect the dots. Every report has the potential to stop a scammer from hurting someone else.

You are not at fault. You are a witness. And your report is evidence.

🚨 Step 1 — Report to the FTC First

The Federal Trade Commission is the primary agency for consumer fraud and cyber crime reports in the United States. Their reporting tool also generates a personalized recovery plan for identity theft victims.

• 📌 Report fraud: reportfraud.ftc.gov
• 📌 Identity theft recovery: identitytheft.gov
• 📌 Phone: 1-877-382-4357

Report here for: online scams, phishing, fake charity fraud, identity theft, imposter scams, fake checks, gift card scams, and any other consumer fraud.

🖥️ Step 2 — Report to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center

The FBI’s IC3 is the national hub for internet crime complaints. They work with federal, state, and local law enforcement to investigate cyber crime. Every complaint is reviewed.

• 📌 File a complaint: ic3.gov

Report here for: online fraud, hacking, ransomware, business email compromise, romance scams, investment fraud, and any crime that involves the internet.

💳 Step 3 — Report to Your Bank or Payment Platform

If money was taken from your account or sent through a payment platform, report it immediately to that platform. Time matters — the sooner you report the better your chance of recovering funds.

• 📌 PayPal: paypal.com/disputes — Report unauthorized transactions and dispute reversals
• 📌 Venmo: venmo.com/contact-us
• 📌 Cash App: In the app → Profile → Support → Report a Payment Issue
• 📌 Zelle: Contact your bank directly — Zelle transactions are handled through your bank
• 📌 Your bank or credit card: Call the number on the back of your card immediately

🏛️ Step 4 — Report to Your State Attorney General

Every state has a consumer protection division in the Attorney General’s office. State-level reporting is especially important for charity fraud, nonprofit scams, and local business fraud.

• 📌 California residents: oag.ca.gov
• 📌 All other states: Search “[your state] attorney general consumer complaint” to find your state’s reporting page
• 📌 Charity fraud specifically: Search “[your state] attorney general charity fraud” — most states have a dedicated charitable trust division

📬 Step 5 — Report Mail Fraud to the US Postal Inspection Service

If the scam involved anything sent through the mail — a fake check, a fraudulent solicitation, a scam package — report it to the US Postal Inspection Service. Mail fraud is a federal crime.

• 📌 File a complaint: postalinspectors.uspis.gov
• 📌 Phone: 1-877-876-2455

🏦 Step 6 — Report Fake Charity Fraud

Charity scams are a specific and devastating form of fraud that target generous people during their most vulnerable moments. Here is where to report them:

• 📌 FTC: reportfraud.ftc.gov
• 📌 FBI IC3: ic3.gov
• 📌 Your state Attorney General’s charitable trust division
• 📌 BBB Scam Tracker: bbb.org/scamtracker — warns other consumers in real time
• 📌 Charity Navigator: charitynavigator.org — report suspicious organizations

📱 Step 7 — Report the Scam on Social Media

If the scam happened on or through social media, report it on the platform where it occurred. This gets the fake account or page removed and protects other users.

• 📌 Facebook/Instagram: Click the three dots on the post or profile → Report
• 📌 TikTok: Long press the content → Report
• 📌 X (Twitter): Click the three dots → Report
• 📌 YouTube: Click the three dots under the video → Report
• 📌 GoFundMe: Click the flag icon on the campaign page → Report

📋 Before You Report — Document Everything

The more information you provide the stronger your report. Before filing take a few minutes to gather:

• Screenshots of all messages, emails, websites, and social media profiles involved
• Records of any money sent — amounts, dates, payment methods, transaction IDs
• Names, phone numbers, email addresses, and usernames used by the scammer
• Any checks, envelopes, or physical mail received — keep the originals
• A written timeline of what happened and when

Save everything. Even if it feels minor. Evidence you think is unimportant may be exactly what investigators need.

💬 A Note from WealthyKids.org

We know how it feels to be targeted. We know the shame, the confusion, and the anger. We know how hard it is to talk about — and how tempting it is to stay quiet.

But silence protects scammers. Reporting protects communities.

If you have been a victim of cyber crime or nonprofit fraud and need guidance on next steps, reach out to us directly. We will help connect you with the right resources.

📧 info@wealthykids.org

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👉 Cyber Safety and Charity Scams — Full Guide

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— Shaana Dionne | President & Founder | WealthyKids.org | Sarah Associates | Anaheim, CA