Report a Phone Number

1. How to Report Spam and Scam Phone Calls

If you receive a suspicious phone call claiming that you owe money, have won a prize, or must provide personal information, be cautious. Scammers may pretend to represent banks, government agencies, delivery companies, or familiar businesses.

You can report suspected fraud through the Federal Trade Commission's ReportFraud service .

If you have not lost money and simply want to report an unwanted sales call or robocall, the FTC also provides a reporting option through DoNotCall.gov .

2. How to Report Unwanted Robocalls

Robocalls use automated systems to deliver recorded messages. Some are legitimate, but others may involve illegal sales calls or fraudulent schemes.

If you receive an unexpected recorded sales message, avoid pressing buttons or following instructions provided by the caller.

You can report unwanted robocalls to the FTC's Do Not Call reporting service or submit an appropriate complaint through the FCC Consumer Complaint Center .

3. How to Report Spam Text Messages

Unexpected text messages may contain suspicious links, fake delivery notifications, prize announcements, or requests for personal and financial information.

The FTC recommends these steps:

• Do not click suspicious links or attachments.
• Do not provide passwords or financial information.
• Use your messaging application's spam or junk reporting feature.
• Forward unwanted text messages to 7726 (SPAM), where supported by your carrier.
• Report suspected scams to the FTC.

Read the official FTC guide: How to Recognize and Report Spam Text Messages .

4. How to Report Caller ID Spoofing

Caller ID spoofing happens when a caller deliberately changes the number or identity displayed on the recipient's phone. A scammer may make a call appear to come from a local number or a familiar organization.

Remember that the number displayed on your phone may not belong to the person who actually placed the call.

If your own number is being spoofed, blocked, or incorrectly labeled as spam, you can find the relevant reporting option through the FCC Consumer Complaint Center .

5. How to Reduce Unwanted Phone Calls

Reporting unwanted calls is one way to help authorities understand calling patterns. You can also take practical steps to reduce the number of unwanted calls you receive.

• Use your phone's built-in call blocking features.
• Check whether your wireless carrier offers spam protection.
• Consider reputable call-filtering services.
• Avoid answering calls from suspicious or unfamiliar numbers.
• Never share verification codes or sensitive information with unexpected callers.
• Register eligible phone numbers with the National Do Not Call Registry.

For more information, read the FTC's guide: How to Block Unwanted Calls .

6. What Information Should You Keep Before Reporting?

Having useful details available can help when completing an official complaint. Depending on the type of incident, consider keeping the following:

• The phone number that appeared on caller ID.
• Your own phone number that received the call.
• The date, time, and time zone of the incident.
• Any callback number mentioned by the caller.
• The name of the company or organization the caller claimed to represent.
• A description of the message or conversation.
• Relevant screenshots or voicemail recordings, if safely and lawfully retained.

Caller ID information can be spoofed. If you suspect this happened, report the displayed number anyway and explain why you believe it may be fake.

7. What If You Have Lost Money to a Phone Scam?

If you sent money or shared financial information with a suspected scammer, contact your bank, card issuer, payment service, or other financial institution immediately using verified contact details.

Ask whether the transaction can be stopped, reversed, or otherwise addressed. Change compromised passwords and secure affected accounts.

You can also submit a fraud report through the Federal Trade Commission .

If you are in immediate danger, contact emergency services.