Where to send it, what each report actually does, and the order to do it in — so the next person doesn't get the same message.
Reporting a scam text takes about a minute, and it's worth doing even if you didn't fall for it. Your report goes to the people who can block the sender's next batch of messages or build a case against them. It won't get money back on its own — if you've already paid, start with the section at the bottom — but it's the part most people skip.
There are several places to report, and they do different things. Here's what each one is for.
| Where | What it does | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Forward to 7726 | Sends the text to your wireless carrier so it can spot and block similar messages | Every scam text |
| “Report junk” in your messaging app | Flags the message inside the app you use | Every scam text, if your app offers it |
| ReportFraud.ftc.gov | Sends a report to the Federal Trade Commission | Every scam text, and especially if you lost money |
| FCC complaint | Logs an unwanted-text complaint with the FCC | Repeated unwanted texts or robotexts |
| ic3.gov (FBI) | Goes to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center | You lost money, or the sender posed as police, a court or a government agency |
| The company being impersonated | Lets that company warn customers and take down fake sites | The text pretends to be a specific brand or agency |
Most scam texts borrow a real name — a delivery company, a bank, a toll agency, a court. Many of those organizations take reports directly. A few examples from their own pages:
The FCC. If you keep getting unwanted texts, the FCC takes complaints at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov or by phone at (888) 225-5322. (FCC)
The FBI. If the text claimed to be from the police, a court or a government agency, or if you lost money, file at ic3.gov. The FBI asks you to include the sender's contact details, any payment details and copies of the messages. (FBI IC3) Our jury duty scam guide covers one of the most common versions.
Your state attorney general. State consumer protection offices take scam complaints too. Pennsylvania's, for example, takes them online and at 1-800-441-2555 and asks you to include a copy of the message. (Pennsylvania Attorney General) Search for your own state's attorney general and make sure the site ends in .gov.
Reporting comes second here. First, protect your money and accounts. The FTC's advice: (FTC)
You don't need an app to report a text — 7726 and the FTC are free. Shieldr is for the step before: when you're not sure. Share the text to Shieldr and it answers safe, suspicious or scam with a one-sentence reason. If it looks like a scam, you can report it to 7726, block the sender or have Shieldr draft a reply from the same screen. Shieldr is a paid iPhone app, so if you'd rather use something free, our comparison of scam-checker apps lists free options.
Share the text, email or voicemail to Shieldr and get a plain-English verdict — safe, suspicious or scam — with the reasons it spotted. It's one more check before you tap anything, not a guarantee.
Get Shieldr on the App StoreAT&T says messages forwarded to 7726 are free and don't count toward your text plan. If you're on another carrier and unsure, check your carrier's support page.
No. 7726 is for reporting, not checking. Your carrier may reply to ask for the sender's number, but it won't give you a verdict on the message.
Not by itself. If you paid, contact your bank, card issuer or the payment company right away and ask them to reverse it, then report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and, if you lost money, at ic3.gov.