Ever Wonder What Happens After You Report a Scam? I Did, Too

When we write about fraud or identity theft at CNET, we normally advise victims to contact the Federal Trade Commission or the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center to share their experience. Even if you didn't lose money or give up any personal identifiable information -- like your Social Security number -- in a conversation with a cybercriminal, you should still report the scam. Only 38% of fraud reports received by the FTC in 2024 involved monetary losses. Fraud reports help the FTC and FBI inform and educate the public about popular scams and aid local and federal authorities in catching criminals. If you do fall victim to a scam, there are other steps you can take, including signing up for identity theft protection, freezing your credit reports or reaching out to your bank or credit card company to recover stolen funds. But don't forget to let the FTC and FBI know. Here's why. Why should you report fraud? When you report fraud, you're being a good samaritan -- and you may help ... Read full article.