For U.S. consumers, the best complaint route depends on what the caller did. A recorded sales call belongs with the National Do Not Call Registry and, when appropriate, the FCC. A scam or impersonation attempt belongs with the FTC. The FCC also takes reports about unwanted calls, texts, and spoofing. If a known business appears to have broken state law, your state attorney general or consumer protection office may offer another route.

The Do Not Call Registry is separate from a complaint. Registering can help establish when most telemarketing protections apply, but it won't stop every scam call or prerecorded message.

Choose the right complaint route

More than one route can fit the same call. For example, a spoofed sales scam can be reported to both the FTC and FCC. Neither agency promises to stop the caller, investigate an individual complaint, respond to you, or pay you.

Is every robocall illegal?

No. A robocall delivers a recorded message, but that fact alone doesn't establish a violation. The call's purpose, your consent, the type of number called, the caller's identity, possible exemptions, and state law may all affect the analysis.

The FTC's robocall guidance explains that some robocalls are legal, while many unsolicited sales calls are not. The Do Not Call Registry mainly covers most telemarketing calls. It isn't a universal ban on automated calls.

Caller ID doesn't prove who called. If the display showed a bank, government agency, or local business, report the number that appeared and say that the identity may have been spoofed. Telemarketers and scammers can change caller ID information easily.

Save evidence before filing

Record the details while they're still clear. A short report built on facts is more useful than a long one based on guesses.

• When it happened: Note the date, time, time zone, and whether similar calls arrived in a pattern.
• Numbers involved: Keep the number that received the call, the displayed caller ID, and any callback number in the message.
• What was said: Write down the message as closely as you can, including the claimed company or agency, the offer, the demand, and any request for money or information.
• Your relationship with the caller: Say whether you gave the business your number, requested information, bought something from it, or previously told it to stop calling.
• Phone records: Save screenshots of the call log, voicemail, and text messages. Keep the original voicemail or audio file without editing it.
• Loss or disclosure: Note money sent, account information shared, or other harm. Don't upload passwords, full account numbers, Social Security numbers, or unnecessary identity documents.

Separate what you know from what you suspect. "The caller claimed to be from my bank" is more accurate than naming the bank as the confirmed source when you can't verify the caller.

Recording an answered call can raise consent issues under state law. Check the rules where the participants are located before making or sharing a recording. Written notes, a voicemail, call history, and screenshots may be enough for an initial complaint.

How to file a robocall complaint

1. End the call without interacting with the recording

If you answer and hear a recording, hang up. Don't press a number to reach an agent or to be removed from a list, and don't call back using information in the message. The FTC warns that responding can lead to more robocalls.

A caller who claims to represent a bank or government agency should be verified through the organization's official website, your card, or a statement. Use contact information from those sources, not the callback details provided during the call.

2. Register your number with the Do Not Call Registry

Register each U.S. phone number through the National Do Not Call Registry. The FTC sends a confirmation email with a link. You must click that link within 72 hours for each number to complete the registration.

Businesses generally have 31 days to update their telemarketing lists after a number is registered. Keep the confirmation date so you can describe when a later sales call occurred.

That waiting period doesn't apply to every report. You can report a scam, impersonation attempt, or threatening call as soon as it happens.

3. Send fraud and sales information to the FTC

ReportFraud.gov is the appropriate FTC route when a caller tries to obtain money, account credentials, payment details, or other personal information, or when the caller impersonates a government agency, company, or person you know.

For an unwanted sales call, the Do Not Call website also provides a reporting route. Include:

• the date and time;
• the displayed number and any callback number;
• the organization the caller claimed to represent;
• the product, service, or story used;
• whether you gave permission or had a recent relationship with the company; and
• what happened after you answered.

The FTC analyzes reports for calling patterns and says it releases reported phone numbers to the public each business day. This is an enforcement report, not a private dispute process. Don't expect an individual investigation, refund, or guaranteed reply.

4. Report unwanted calls, texts, and spoofing to the FCC

The FCC Consumer Complaint Center accepts reports about unwanted calls, texts, and caller-ID spoofing.

The FCC's unwanted calls and texts instructions direct consumers to select "unwanted calls/texts" as the Phone Issue and then "all other unwanted calls/messages" as the sub-issue. If your own telephone number is being spoofed, choose the option for "my own number is being spoofed."

Describe the call in plain language. Attach supporting material if the form asks for it, and avoid sending unnecessary sensitive information. The FCC says it doesn't resolve individual unwanted-call complaints. Your report can still help identify patterns and inform enforcement or policy decisions, but it isn't a request for compensation and has no guaranteed response deadline.

5. Check your state's complaint process

State attorneys general and consumer protection agencies may enforce state telemarketing laws or collect complaints about local businesses. Find your state's official attorney general website and follow its current instructions rather than relying on a form from another state.

State rules aren't interchangeable. For example, the Washington Attorney General's robocall guidance discusses Washington limits on call times and caller identification. Washington guidance says telemarketers generally shouldn't call before 8:00 am or after 8:00 pm at the recipient's location, and legitimate telemarketers must identify themselves and whom they represent within the first 30 seconds. Those requirements are not nationwide rules.

The California Attorney General's complaint instructions, for example, ask for information such as the company's name or telephone number and the date of the call. Give your own state office the same basic evidence, plus anything its form specifically requests.

6. Secure accounts if you shared information

If you sent money or disclosed a password, payment number, or account credential, treat the incident as possible fraud, not just a nuisance call. Contact the bank, card issuer, or service provider through an official channel. Change exposed passwords and report the incident to the FTC.

Don't use the caller's number or a link from the message to make contact.

7. Block the caller after preserving the record

Blocking comes after reporting and evidence preservation. Use your phone's blocking feature, your carrier's call-screening tools, or a trusted screening app.

A block may reduce interruptions, but it won't replace a complaint. It also may not stop a scammer who switches to another spoofed number.

What the Do Not Call Registry covers - and what it doesn't

The Registry is an opt-out list for most telemarketing calls, not a universal robocall filter.

• It doesn't cover every automated or prerecorded call.
• Some exemptions apply.
• The FTC says a company may call for up to 18 months after you last did business with it, subject to other applicable limits.
• Scammers may ignore the Registry.
• Registration isn't the same as filing a complaint; you still need to report a call if you want an agency to receive its details.

If you previously told a company not to call, keep proof of that request. Include the request and its date in your complaint instead of relying only on your Registry status.

Mistakes that can weaken a complaint

• Treating caller ID as proof: Report the displayed number, but say that it may have been spoofed.
• Calling back or pressing prompts: This can expose you to more calls or another scam.
• Writing only "spam": Give the date, time, number, message, claimed organization, and consent history.
• Uploading sensitive information: Redact passwords, full payment numbers, and identity documents unless an official form specifically requires them.
• Recording without checking state rules: When you're unsure, rely on written notes, voicemail, and call history.
• Expecting a fine or payout: A regulator may pursue penalties or other action, but a complaint doesn't create an automatic payment to the person who filed it.
• Confusing a complaint with a private lawsuit: A regulatory report and a possible private claim have different requirements and deadlines.

If you're considering a private legal claim, preserve your call log, voicemails, consent records, and opt-out requests. A qualified lawyer or legal-aid organization in your state can explain whether that option fits your circumstances.

Follow up without creating duplicate noise

Keep confirmation emails, reference numbers, and copies of everything you submit in one folder. Maintain a simple log for later calls, including new dates, numbers, scripts, and claimed organizations.

The FTC uses reports to identify trends. The FCC uses unwanted-call complaints to inform policy and potential enforcement. Neither route guarantees that an agency will contact you, and state offices may use their own case numbers and timelines.

Report distinct calls with accurate information, especially when the same script, callback number, business name, or claimed agency appears repeatedly. For follow-up, visit the official agency website rather than responding to someone who promises to close a complaint or recover money.

Common questions

Can I report a robocall before my number has been on the Registry for 31 days?

Yes. Report a scam or unwanted call as soon as it happens. The 31-day period concerns most telemarketers' list updates; it isn't a universal waiting period for FTC or FCC complaints.

Should I report a spoofed number?

Yes. Include the number shown on your phone, any number given in the message, and a note that you believe the caller ID was spoofed. If your own number appeared, select the FCC option for a spoofed personal number.

Will filing with the FCC or FTC stop the calls?

Not necessarily. Complaints help the agencies identify patterns and support enforcement, but they don't promise an immediate block or individual resolution. Save the evidence, then use your carrier's or phone's blocking tools.

Do I receive money from a robocall fine?

No automatic payment follows a complaint. Any regulatory penalty is separate from a private claim for losses or damages. Keep your evidence and focus the report on facts you can support.

If another call comes in, don't call back: save the time, displayed number, voicemail, and message first, then send those details through the complaint route that matches the conduct.