Active threat
Country hub
Scam alerts — United States
Americans reported $12.5 B in fraud losses to the FTC in 2024 — a record. The biggest hits: investment fraud ($5.7 B), imposter scams ($2.95 B), online shopping ($505 M). Below is the live GACS feed of US-targeted cases, the federal reporting channels, and the fastest path to recovery.
Last updated · sorted newest first
Go deeper on this topic
Weekly digests move fast — jump into the evergreen hubs and guides for the full playbook, red flags, and reporting steps.
What this is
This page indexes scams reported by or targeting US residents — surfaced from the live GACS blacklist and cross-referenced against FBI IC3 and FTC Sentinel categories. Every entry links to its full /scam/<slug> page and the official US reporting channel.
Red flags to watch for
- Caller claims to be from the IRS, Social Security, or 'Federal Investigation' — these agencies never call cold to demand payment
- Demand for payment in Apple, Google Play, Steam, or Target gift cards (US-favourite scammer cash-out)
- 'Coinbase / Robinhood / Chase fraud team' SMS with a link — none of those vendors text live links
- Tech-support pop-up showing a 1-800 'Microsoft' number — Microsoft never includes a phone number in error screens
- Romance contact from someone 'deployed overseas with the US military' who needs you to pay leave/customs fees
Live cases from the GACS feed
Loading current cases…
What to do if you've been targeted
- 1
File with IC3
Go to IC3.gov within 24 hours. Include every transaction hash, wallet, URL, phone number, and screenshot. Get the IC3 reference number for follow-up.
- 2
File with the FTC
ReportFraud.ftc.gov feeds the Sentinel network used by 2,800+ law-enforcement partners. Takes 10 minutes.
- 3
Notify your financial institution
Card / ACH chargebacks are fastest within 60 days. For wires, your bank can attempt a recall within ~24h. For crypto, contact the receiving exchange immediately.
- 4
Freeze your credit
Equifax, Experian, TransUnion — all free, online, takes 5 minutes. Stops identity-theft follow-ons that often piggyback on scams.
- 5
Activate Shield
Free GACS Shield monitors any handles, wallets, and domains you save against fresh US fraud reports.
FAQs
Where do I report a scam in the United States?
Internet crime: IC3.gov (FBI). Identity theft: IdentityTheft.gov. Consumer fraud: ReportFraud.ftc.gov. State AG offices accept regional complaints. For crypto, also notify the receiving exchange's compliance team within 48 hours.
Will the FBI actually investigate my report?
IC3 aggregates millions of reports and prioritises clusters and large losses. Individual cases under ~$100k rarely get direct investigation, but aggregated reports drive task-force operations and exchange-level address freezes.
Can I sue if my money went to a US-based actor?
Yes — small-claims court for losses under your state's cap (typically $5k–$25k), or civil suit for larger amounts. Document everything and consult a state-licensed attorney; many offer free initial consultations.
How do I report a scam to GACS?
Submit the wallet address, website, phone number, or social handle at gacs.app. Each report is cross-checked against CryptoScamDB, URLhaus, and on-chain analysis before publication. Activate your free GACS Shield to monitor follow-on activity tied to the same actor.
Is the GACS Shield really free?
Yes. Activating your free Shield gives you unlimited scans, saved history, weekly alerts, and a watchlist — no card, no trial. There is no paid scanner tier.
Related scam profiles & guides
Activate your free GACS Shield
Save scammer handles, wallets, and domains. Get alerted when the same actor surfaces in a new report. Unlimited scans, no card.
Get My Free Scam AlertsAuthoritative sources
Independent primary sources used to check and corroborate the guidance on this page.
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
Official US channel for reporting internet-enabled fraud and cybercrime.
- US Federal Trade Commission — ReportFraud
Consumer fraud reporting and published enforcement data.
- UK Action Fraud
UK national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime.
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
Canada's central repository for fraud reports and scam alerts.
