If you're in the United States, report a spam call through the channel that matches what happened:

A report can give regulators useful enforcement data, but it won't necessarily stop the calls, identify a spoofed caller, or recover money. Include specific facts and keep a record of what you submitted.

Choose the reporting route

Problem Where to start Include
Sales or telemarketing call DoNotCall.gov; the FTC's fraud service if the call was deceptive Company name, date, time, displayed number, and any prior permission or stop request
Robocall or prerecorded message FCC; FTC if it involved fraud Recording or voicemail, caller ID, script, and any request for money or personal information
Suspected scam or impersonation ReportFraud.ftc.gov Identity the caller used, payment instructions, links, callback numbers, and information you shared
Spam text Carrier or 7726; FCC and FTC when appropriate Full message, sender number, links, and the action the sender requested
Financial loss or account compromise Bank, card issuer, or payment service first Transaction details, affected account, and steps already taken

Caller ID can be spoofed. Report the number that appeared on your phone, but don't assume its owner placed the call. List the company name, identity, or callback number stated in the message separately from the displayed number.

Preserve evidence before deleting anything

You don't need a recording to file a useful complaint. A consistent call log and an unchanged voicemail may be enough to document the incident.

Save or write down:

Use your phone's screenshot or export tools before the call log changes. Keep the original voicemail and make a separate copy for notes. Redact passwords, Social Security numbers, full account numbers, and other sensitive information before uploading evidence.

Call-recording laws differ by state. Don't secretly record a new live call unless you understand the consent rules that apply to everyone on the call. Written notes and a voicemail you received can document the conversation without creating a new recording.

Register your number with the National Do Not Call Registry

The National Do Not Call Registry mainly addresses sales calls from legitimate telemarketers. It isn't a call-blocking service, and fraudulent callers may ignore it. You can report a scam or robocall even if your number isn't registered.

To register:

  1. Go to DoNotCall.gov.
  2. Register up to three phone numbers at a time online.
  3. Open the confirmation email for each number and click its link within 72 hours.
  4. Save the confirmation and registration date.

Allow 31 days for registration to take effect before using it as evidence that a later sales call ignored the Registry. Include the registered number and registration date in a complaint.

The Registry doesn't cover every type of unwanted contact. Political calls, charitable solicitations, surveys, calls from some companies with an existing business relationship, and calls made with permission can follow different rules. A scammer's call may still be unlawful even when the Do Not Call Registry isn't the relevant rule.

See the FTC's National Do Not Call Registry FAQs for registration details and limits.

Report scams and unwanted sales calls to the FTC

Use the FTC route that fits the call:

Describe what happened rather than relying on a legal label. For example, state that the caller claimed to represent a bank, asked for a verification code, and told you to move money. Include the number shown on caller ID even if you think it was fake.

The FTC analyzes reports for patterns and uses them to support investigations and enforcement. Filing a report doesn't guarantee that the agency will contact you, investigate that individual call, recover money, or provide an outcome. Don't include passwords, one-time codes, or unnecessary account information.

File an FCC complaint about robocalls, spoofing, and texts

The FCC Consumer Complaint Center accepts complaints about unwanted calls and texts, prerecorded messages, spoofed caller ID, and related phone-service problems.

To file:

  1. Open the FCC Consumer Complaint Center.
  2. Choose the phone or unwanted-calls-and-texts category that best matches the problem.
  3. Enter your phone number, date and time, displayed caller ID number, and the company or person identified in the message.
  4. Explain whether the call was live, automated, or prerecorded. Describe the request, claim, or threat in plain language.
  5. If the form offers an upload field, add relevant screenshots or voicemail information after removing sensitive data.
  6. Save the confirmation number or take a screenshot of the submitted complaint.

An FCC complaint isn't a lawsuit or an automatic investigation of the caller. The FCC says complaints about unwanted calls and texts can inform enforcement and policy work, but it doesn't resolve every individual complaint involving the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

The FCC's informal complaint process is separate from a general report. When the FCC serves an informal complaint on a provider, the provider generally has up to 30 days to respond in writing to you and the FCC. That step isn't guaranteed for every unwanted-call report, and it won't ensure that a provider can identify a spoofed caller or that the FCC will find a violation.

Read the FCC's filing complaint questions and answers and its explanation of how complaints are handled.

Ask your carrier to block or label the calls

Carrier tools can provide faster relief than a regulator's process. Through your carrier's official app, website, or customer-support channel, you can:

Blocking one number may not end the problem if the caller rotates numbers or spoofs local numbers. A carrier label is a warning, not proof that a particular caller violated the law.

For a spam text, forward the message to 7726 (SPAM) if your carrier supports the service. Don't click a link, reply to the sender, or call a number in the message. After forwarding it, report the text to the FCC or FTC when it involves fraud, impersonation, or a recurring campaign.

Check state complaint options

A state attorney general or consumer-protection office may enforce state telemarketing or consumer-fraud laws. Use your state's official website when:

Rules vary by state. For example, California Attorney General guidance notes federal limits on telemarketing calls to a home before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. Other states may have different registration, disclosure, or calling-time requirements. Don't apply a California or New York rule to a call received elsewhere without checking your state's law.

If you lost money or disclosed banking credentials, contact the bank, card issuer, or payment service immediately through an official number. A regulator complaint comes after those urgent account-protection steps, not instead of them. Report threats of immediate physical harm to local law enforcement.

Use a factual complaint template

Online forms work best when the description is short and chronological. Adapt this template:

I received a [live call, prerecorded call, or robocall] on [date] at [time and time zone] at [your phone number].

The number displayed was [caller-ID number]. The caller identified itself as [name or company] and used the callback number [number, if given].

The message said [brief quotation or accurate summary]. The caller asked me to [describe the requested payment, information, or action].

My number [has/has not] been registered with the National Do Not Call Registry since [date, if applicable]. I [did/did not] give this company permission to call me. [Describe any prior relationship or stop request if relevant.]

I have attached or retained [voicemail, screenshot, call log, text, or other evidence]. Please add this report to your records of unwanted calls.

For a carrier report, add a direct request:

Please block or label this number if possible, review the repeated calls, and tell me whether you need any additional details. The calls occurred on [list dates and times], and the numbers displayed were [list numbers].

Avoid stating that a company definitely committed a specific offense unless the facts clearly support that conclusion. A precise description helps an agency compare your report with other complaints.

Keep records after filing

Keep a simple record of:

The FTC may use your report without sending an individual status update. The FCC may refer the issue, use it for enforcement work, or serve it on a provider. If an FCC-served provider doesn't respond within the stated 30-day period, follow up through the complaint record and keep your original confirmation.

Continue adding new incidents to the same log instead of deleting older entries. If a known business keeps calling after you withdraw permission, or your records suggest that a possible private claim may matter, consider speaking with a licensed attorney in your state. A complaint to the FTC or FCC isn't a lawsuit, and a regulatory penalty isn't an automatic payment to the person who reported the call.

Reduce calls while the report is pending

Reporting and blocking work together:

Save the next voicemail or screenshot before blocking the number, then add its date, time, and displayed number to your existing log.