How to File an FTC Complaint: What It Does (and Doesn't Do) for You

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) receives millions of consumer complaints every year. Filing an FTC complaint is free, easy, and helps the agency pursue enforcement against companies that defraud consumers. However, it’s important to understand what the FTC can and cannot do for you personally—and when to file with other agencies instead.

What Does the FTC Actually Do?

The FTC is law enforcement, not a dispute resolution service. When you file a complaint:

What it does:

• Enters your complaint into the Consumer Sentinel database
• Uses complaint data to identify patterns (100+ similar complaints = enforcement priority)
• Investigates large-scale fraudsters
• Sues companies for defrauding thousands of consumers
• Files charges against criminal perpetrators
• Negotiates settlements and refunds

What it doesn’t do:

• Investigate individual complaints (unless part of a pattern)
• Refund your money directly
• Mediate between you and a business
• Guarantee action in your specific case
• Resolve your dispute with a merchant

Bottom line: Filing an FTC complaint helps the FTC go after bad actors, but doesn’t directly recover your money. You’ll need to pursue recovery separately (see below).

When to File with the FTC

File an FTC complaint if:

1. You’ve been defrauded — By a seller, contractor, debt collector, lender, etc.
2. You’re reporting a scam — Fake websites, job scams, romance scams, etc.
3. You’ve experienced unwanted contact — Robocalls, telemarketing, spam
4. You suspect identity theft — Unauthorized accounts or misuse of your information
5. You’ve been victims of discrimination — Illegal lending, employment, housing discrimination

Don’t file with the FTC if:

• You simply want a refund (try chargeback or small claims court)
• You have a contract dispute (go to small claims court)
• You want dispute resolution (file with CFPB or state AG instead)

How to File an FTC Complaint

Step 1: Go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov

1. Open your browser and go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov (or IdentityTheft.gov for identity theft)
2. You’ll see options for:
   • Scams and fraud
   • Identity theft
   • Unwanted calls and texts
   • Other issues

Step 2: Select Your Complaint Type

Choose the category that best fits:

• Other Scams (general fraud)
• Online Imposter Scams (fake websites, spoofed emails)
• Email and Messaging (phishing, malware, etc.)
• Robocalls and Telemarketing
• Debt Collection (FDCPA violations)
• Credit Reporting (credit bureau errors)
• Identity Theft
• Other consumer issues

Step 3: Provide Detailed Information

Fill in as much information as you can:

1. Your contact information

   • Name, address, phone, email
   • This helps the FTC follow up if needed

2. What happened

   • Describe the fraud/issue clearly
   • When it occurred (date)
   • Where it occurred (website, phone, store)

3. Who’s involved

   • Company name
   • Website URL (if applicable)
   • Contact person or phone number
   • Physical address

4. What you lost

   • How much money (if applicable)
   • What product/service you paid for
   • Whether money was recovered

5. How you paid

   • Credit card, debit card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, etc.
   • This helps determine recovery options

6. Evidence

   • Attach screenshots of the website, emails, text messages
   • Upload receipts, contracts, or correspondence
   • The more documentation, the better

Step 4: Review and Submit

1. Review all information for accuracy
2. Make sure you’ve attached evidence
3. Submit the complaint
4. You’ll receive a confirmation number

Keep the confirmation number — It’s your reference for the complaint.

What Happens After You File

Immediate (Days 1-7)

• Your complaint is entered into the Consumer Sentinel database
• The FTC reviews it for categorization
• If it involves identity theft, you’ll be directed to create an identity theft report

Short-term (Weeks/Months)

• The FTC analyzes complaints for patterns
• If similar complaints appear, the FTC flags the company for potential investigation
• The company typically doesn’t know about individual complaints

Long-term (Months/Years)

If many people complain:

• The FTC may open an investigation
• Agents may request company records
• The FTC may file a lawsuit

If the FTC sues:

• The company may be forced to:
  • Refund victims (if restitution is ordered)
  • Stop deceptive practices
  • Pay civil penalties
  • Provide corrective advertising

Example: The FTC received 10,000+ complaints about a fake tech support scam. The agency sued and won a $163 million judgment. Victims were refunded.

When to File with Other Agencies

Your FTC complaint is important, but it’s not your only option:

File with CFPB Instead If…

You have a complaint about:

• Banks and credit card companies
• Credit reporting agencies
• Mortgage lenders
• Student loan servicers
• Payday lenders
• Debt collection (also FTC-appropriate)

Go to: cfpb.gov/complaint

File with Your State Attorney General If…

You want:

• Direct investigation by state law enforcement
• Potential restitution through state action
• Protection from a local or regional scammer

Go to: Search “[Your State] + Attorney General + Consumer Complaint”

File with Better Business Bureau (BBB) If…

You want:

• Dispute resolution with the business
• A record on the company’s BBB profile
• Direct communication with the company

Go to: bbb.org (find your local BBB)

File a Chargeback If…

You were charged for something you didn’t receive or didn’t authorize.

Go to: Call your credit card issuer

File in Small Claims Court If…

You want to recover a specific amount of money from a company.

Process: Contact your local small claims court

Sample FTC Complaint

Complaint Type: Online Imposter Scam

What happened: I visited a website that appeared to be the official Apple Store (apple.com). I noticed the URL looked slightly off but proceeded to order an iPhone 15 Pro for $499. I entered my credit card information and received a confirmation email from “apple.com-support@[suspicious-domain].com.”

After 2 weeks, I never received the phone. I contacted the email address and received no response. I tried to return to the website and found it had disappeared.

Company name: “Apple Store” (counterfeit)

Website: apple-store-official.com (since offline)

Amount lost: $499

How I paid: Visa credit card ending in 4242

Evidence attached:

• Screenshot of the fake website
• Screenshot of the confirmation email
• Screenshot of my credit card statement
• Emails with the fake support address

What You Should Do Separately

Filing an FTC complaint is good, but you should also:

1. Dispute the charge — If you paid by credit card, file a chargeback
2. Report to police — File a police report for identity theft or fraud
3. Contact your bank — Notify your bank of suspicious activity
4. Place a fraud alert — With credit bureaus if identity theft is involved
5. Freeze your credit — To prevent new fraudulent accounts
6. Sue in small claims — If you want to recover money quickly

Common Reasons Complaints May Not Lead to Action

The FTC receives millions of complaints. They prioritize:

1. Patterns — Many complaints about the same company/scam
2. Large losses — Significant financial harm
3. Vulnerable populations — Elderly, low-income consumers
4. Criminal activity — Identity theft, money laundering, etc.
5. Major companies — Large firms with resources to change behavior

Individual complaints, while important, may not result in visible action.

Complaint Statistics

• FTC receives: 4+ million complaints annually
• Top complaint type: Identity theft
• Top scam category: Online shopping fraud
• Action rate: FTC takes enforcement action in a small percentage of cases (though each case often affects thousands of victims)

Important Reminders

1. File truthfully — False complaints are illegal
2. Attach evidence — Documentation strengthens your complaint
3. Be detailed — The more information, the better
4. Keep records — Save confirmation numbers and copies
5. File sooner than later — Don’t wait; evidence may disappear
6. File multiple times if needed — You can file additional complaints as new issues arise

Your FTC Complaint Rights

You have the right to:

1. File complaints confidentially (identity can be protected)
2. File multiple complaints (one per incident)
3. File for others (family members, elderly relatives)
4. Request investigation (though not guaranteed)
5. Know your complaint was filed (you’ll receive confirmation)

Resources

• File a complaint: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
• Report identity theft: IdentityTheft.gov
• FTC main site: ftc.gov
• CFPB complaints: cfpb.gov/complaint
• Your state AG: Search “[Your State] Attorney General”
• Consumer Sentinel Database: Accessible to law enforcement only (you can’t access it)

Related Guides

• Consumer Rights Guide: The Complete Protection Guide — the hub for all consumer protection topics
• How to Spot a Fake Debt Collector Scam
• Contractor Fraud: Your Rights and How to Fight Back
• Online Purchase Scam Rights: What to Do When You’re Defrauded

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always verify current rules or consult a licensed attorney for advice specific to your situation. Last reviewed: March 2026.