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Checking employers and job offers

How to report a job scam in the US

US routes for reporting a job scam: the FTC's ReportFraud.ftc.gov, the FBI's IC3 for internet crime, IdentityTheft.gov for stolen identity, and your bank.

By LuceriaPublished

Which route for which situation

US reporting routes for job scams
SituationWhere to report
Any job scam, whether or not you lost moneyReportFraud.ftc.gov
A scam carried out online, especially with financial lossThe FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
Your Social Security number or ID documents were sharedIdentityTheft.gov
You paid by bank transfer, card, app or wireYour bank, card issuer, payment app or wire company, immediately
An immigration-related job or visa scamThe FTC or your state consumer protection office, as USCIS advises

Trying to get money back

The FTC's guidance on what to do if you were scammed says to contact the company you used to send the money straight away, tell them it was a scam and ask them to reverse the payment. That applies to banks and credit unions, payment apps and wire transfer companies, and to card issuers if a card was used without authorisation or you were tricked into paying.

What to collect before reporting

Evidence to keep

  • The job advert and where it was posted.
  • All texts, emails and chat messages, with phone numbers and usernames.
  • Any cheque or payment you received, and records of money you sent.
  • Copies or a list of the documents and details you shared.
  • Dates and times of each contact.
A report summary you can adapt
On [date] I received a text about a remote [job title] role. After a short chat I was 'hired' and sent a check for [amount], with instructions to buy equipment from [supplier] using [method]. I sent [amount] on [date]. The check was later returned by my bank. I shared my name, address and [other details]. I have screenshots of all messages.

Protect yourself after reporting

  • If you shared your Social Security number, follow the recovery steps at IdentityTheft.gov.
  • Change any passwords you shared or reused.
  • Watch bank statements and credit reports for unfamiliar activity.
  • Report the advert or profile to the job site or social network where you found it.
  • Be wary of anyone who contacts you offering to recover your money for a fee.

Common questions

Should I report to both the FTC and IC3?

You can. The FTC collects reports about scams of all kinds, and IC3 is the FBI's route for internet-enabled crime. Reporting to both is common when a scam happened online and involved a loss.

Will reporting get my money back?

Reports help investigators and warn others, but they are not a refund route. Contact your bank or payment provider directly to ask about reversing a payment.

Sources

Put it into practice

See how Luceria helps with this
Fake cheque and equipment scamsTask scams explainedIf you shared details with a job scammerMore on checking employers and job offers

Drafted with AI assistance and checked against Luceria’s editorial standards. Examples are illustrative, not real people’s results. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.