How to report a scam website
8 steps that actually get scam sites taken down — usually within 24-72 hours. All free, all anonymous if you want.
The 8-step reporting checklist
- 1
Capture evidence before the site disappears
Screenshot the URL bar (full URL visible), the scam content, any wallet or payment instructions. Save the page with archive.org's 'Save Page Now' — scammers delete sites once reported.
- 2
Report to GACS
Submit at /report. We add it to the public scam database within minutes — warning every visitor and every browser extension user from the next click onward.
- 3
Report to Google Safe Browsing
Use safebrowsing.google.com/safebrowsing/report_phish. Google adds the URL to the warning list Chrome, Firefox, and Safari read. Effective within hours.
- 4
Report to Cloudflare (if applicable)
Many scam sites hide behind Cloudflare. Use abuse.cloudflare.com — pick 'Phishing & Other Fraud'. Cloudflare passes the report to the host and may interstitial the site.
- 5
Report to the domain registrar
Look up the registrar at whois.com. Email abuse@<registrar>. Namecheap, GoDaddy, and Tucows act quickly on documented phishing.
- 6
Report to APWG and PhishTank
Submit at apwg.org/reportphishing and phishtank.com. These feeds are read by Microsoft SmartScreen, browsers, and security vendors globally.
- 7
File with law enforcement if money was lost
US: ic3.gov · UK: actionfraud.police.uk · EU: report at your national cybercrime unit. Include all evidence from step 1.
- 8
Warn your network
Share the GACS scam page on X, WhatsApp groups, Reddit. The fastest way to neutralize a scam is to deny it victims.
Related reading
FAQ
How long does it take to get a scam site taken down?
Google Safe Browsing warnings often appear in 6-24 hours. Full registrar takedown usually takes 24-72 hours for clear phishing, longer for fake stores. Reporting to GACS warns users immediately.
Can I report a scam website anonymously?
Yes. GACS, Google Safe Browsing, APWG, and PhishTank all accept anonymous reports. Law enforcement (IC3, Action Fraud) require contact info for follow-up but you don't need to be the victim.
What if the scam site is on Cloudflare?
Cloudflare doesn't host content — they proxy it. Report to abuse.cloudflare.com AND to the underlying host (Cloudflare's response will disclose it). Both matter.
Should I report a scam I didn't fall for?
Absolutely. Most reports come from people who spotted the scam — not victims. Every report shortens the site's lifespan and protects the next person.
Report a scam in 30 seconds.
Add it to the public scam database — protect the next person.
Report a scamCite this page / Press kit
Journalists, researchers and educators are welcome to cite this page. Use the permalink below or copy a ready-made citation.
https://gacs.app/how-to-report-a-scam-website- APA
GACS. (2026). How to Report a Scam Website (Free, 2026 Guide). GACS — Global Anti-Crypto-Scam. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://gacs.app/how-to-report-a-scam-website
- MLA
"How to Report a Scam Website (Free, 2026 Guide)." GACS — Global Anti-Crypto-Scam, GACS, 2026, https://gacs.app/how-to-report-a-scam-website. Accessed June 7, 2026.
- Chicago
GACS. "How to Report a Scam Website (Free, 2026 Guide)." GACS — Global Anti-Crypto-Scam. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://gacs.app/how-to-report-a-scam-website.
- BibTeX
@misc{gacs_how_to_report_a_scam_website, author = {GACS}, title = {How to Report a Scam Website (Free, 2026 Guide)}, howpublished = {GACS — Global Anti-Crypto-Scam}, year = {2026}, note = {Accessed: June 7, 2026}, url = {https://gacs.app/how-to-report-a-scam-website} }
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