If a recorded sales pitch reaches you without the written permission the seller needed, file it at ReportFraud.gov. Unwanted calls, texts, and caller-ID spoofing belong at the FCC Consumer Complaint Center. The same call can go to both agencies when it looks like fraud and a phone-network problem.

A report adds data for pattern analysis and possible enforcement. It usually does not open a personal case, stop every later call, or produce a refund. This page is for U.S. consumers. State telemarketing laws, and rules for calls placed from outside the country, can differ.

Where to report a robocall

Situation Best first report What the report does
A recorded sales pitch, telemarketing violation, or suspected fraud FTC ReportFraud.gov Adds information to the FTC's consumer-protection and telemarketing data
An unwanted call or text, especially one involving spoofing FCC Consumer Complaint Center Helps the FCC identify patterns and support policy or enforcement work
Your own phone number is being copied on caller ID FCC complaint center Uses the FCC's specific "my own number is being spoofed" complaint route
A local or identifiable business keeps calling FTC, FCC, and possibly your state attorney general Creates federal and state records when more than one law or rule may apply

FTC and FCC duties overlap, so filing with both is reasonable when you're unsure which rule applies. Use only official agency websites, not a link that arrived in a text or email.

Are all robocalls illegal?

No. A robocall generally uses an artificial or prerecorded voice. Whether that call is lawful still depends on the message, the number called, who placed it, consent, and other facts.

A recorded sales call is generally unlawful when the seller never obtained the required prior written permission. The FTC also says a company generally can't make agreement to receive robocalls a condition of buying its product or service. Other calls may be allowed under different rules, including some political calls, calls from charitable organizations, purely informational messages, calls from certain debt collectors, and calls covered by a specific consent or legal exception.

Those categories aren't automatically lawful. Each can carry separate limits on timing, consent, identification, or the type of number called.

Caller ID doesn't prove who made the call. Scammers can spoof a nearby number, a government number, or someone else's phone. Write down the number exactly as it appeared. Don't call it back to investigate.

What to collect before filing

You don't need to identify the caller first. Details like these make a complaint more useful:

Keep the original voicemail or message. Don't edit it. A screenshot can help, but it shouldn't replace the recording or call-log entry while you still have it.

State consent laws can restrict recording a live conversation. Save voicemails and other records you already have, and check the rules where you and the other participant are located before secretly recording a call.

Never give a robocaller your Social Security number, account password, one-time code, or payment information. If you already shared financial details, contact your bank or card issuer through the number on its official website or statement.

How to file an FTC robocall complaint

Use ReportFraud.gov for a scam, unwanted telemarketing, or a suspected Do Not Call violation.

Enter the contact information the form asks for and pick the category that best matches the call. Describe what the message said, whether it was prerecorded, and what the caller wanted you to do. Add the displayed caller ID, callback number, date, time, and business name if you have them. Say whether you had a relationship with the business or gave permission to receive marketing calls. Submit the report and keep any confirmation or copy.

The FTC analyzes reports and trends to identify illegal callers from calling patterns. It also takes reported phone numbers and releases them to the public each business day. Researchers, phone companies, and regulators can use that public data to spot repeat activity.

An FTC report is not a request for the agency to recover money for you. Staff may combine your information with other reports. They normally won't give you a personal investigation timeline or say whether a specific caller was prosecuted.

How to file an FCC unwanted-call complaint

The FCC form is the better fit for unwanted calls and texts, spoofing, and other telephone-service issues.

Open the FCC complaint instructions for unwanted calls and texts. Choose Phone as the issue, then unwanted calls/texts, then all other unwanted calls/messages for a typical robocall. If someone is using your own number on caller ID, choose my own number is being spoofed instead. Enter the date, time, displayed number, callback number, message details, and anything else the form requests. Save the confirmation or reference information if the system provides it.

The FCC states that it does not resolve individual unwanted-call or text complaints. Complaints still inform policy decisions and possible enforcement against callers, providers, or other participants in the calling system.

If the form accepts supporting files, attach relevant evidence. Otherwise keep the voicemail, screenshots, and call log in case an agency or attorney later asks for them. Don't upload extra sensitive personal information.

Should you report the same call to both agencies?

Often, yes.

Use the FTC when the core problem is a deceptive sales pitch, a fake company, a fraud attempt, or a telemarketer calling a number protected by Do Not Call rules. Use the FCC when the core problem is spoofing, unwanted calls or texts, or a suspected violation involving telephone technology.

A call that falsely claims to be from your bank and asks for a payment can go to the FTC. If it also uses a spoofed local number, report it to the FCC as well. Repeat the same facts on both forms rather than changing details between complaints.

What the National Do Not Call Registry does

Register your number for free at the National Do Not Call Registry. You can also register by calling 1-888-382-1222.

Registration isn't a call-blocking service. It tells covered telemarketers not to make sales calls to your number. Telemarketers generally have up to 31 days to update their lists after you register.

It also doesn't stop every type of call. Exceptions or separate rules can apply to political calls, charitable solicitations, surveys, some calls from businesses with an established relationship, and calls for which you gave permission. Fraudsters may ignore the registry completely.

If a sales telemarketer calls after that 31-day period and no exception appears to apply, include your registration status and the call details in an FTC report. If you recognize the business, you can also tell it not to call you again and keep a record of that request. Don't call back a suspected scammer just to make the request.

What to do while the call is happening

Hang up. Don't press a number to "remove" yourself from a list, confirm personal information, or dial the displayed number. Those steps can lead to more calls or connect you with another scammer.

If the message claims to be from a government agency, bank, delivery company, or utility, verify it independently. Use a bill, card, statement, or official website. Don't trust the caller ID or a callback number in the recording.

For spam texts, don't click links or reply with personal information. Report the text through the FCC complaint center and, when available, your phone carrier's spam-reporting tools.

Blocking and labeling future calls

After you've saved evidence, use your phone's blocking feature, your carrier's call-filtering service, or a reputable call-blocking app. Call-labeling tools may show warnings such as "spam" or "scam likely" without automatically blocking the call.

Blocking is a prevention tool, not proof that a call was illegal. A scammer can change numbers or spoof a different one, so blocking a single caller ID may not end the campaign. The FTC's guide to blocking unwanted calls covers options for cellphones, internet-based home phones, and traditional landlines.

What happens after you complain?

There is no reliable personal "success rate." Your complaint may be combined with thousands of other reports, used to identify a calling pattern, or become evidence in an enforcement case. It may also receive no visible follow-up.

Neither an FCC nor an FTC complaint guarantees that the caller will be identified, that the calls will stop immediately, that you'll get a case update, or that money will be recovered. Keep a dated log if the calls continue. New calls with different displayed numbers can still be part of the same campaign, so record the message and pattern rather than treating each number as a separate mystery.

Can a robocall support a TCPA claim?

Possibly. Reporting a call and pursuing compensation are separate processes, and this is not legal advice.

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act and related FCC rules restrict certain autodialed or prerecorded calls and texts. Whether a private claim exists can depend on the type of phone, whether the call was marketing, the caller's identity, the technology used, consent, Do Not Call status, and whether an exception applies. State law may add other protections.

Some qualifying TCPA violations can be pursued in private court, where statutory damages may be available. That is not an automatic payment for filing an FCC or FTC complaint, and not every robocall qualifies. A court may also find that the caller had consent, that an exception applied, or that the evidence did not establish who made the call.

If you're considering a private claim, preserve call logs, voicemails, screenshots, bills, consent records, and stop-calling requests. Write down every number and message in the campaign. Don't assume the displayed caller ID identifies the legally responsible company. Check deadlines promptly; an agency report generally doesn't pause a court filing deadline. Consider advice from a licensed attorney or legal-aid organization in the relevant state.

A class action is a separate court proceeding. Filing a complaint with an agency doesn't enroll you in one.

For background on the federal rules, see the FDIC's overview of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. It's a regulatory overview, not a determination that your individual call violated the law.

Other escalation options

If an identifiable business keeps calling after you asked it to stop, you can submit a separate complaint to your state attorney general's consumer-protection office. Search for the official state government website and follow its filing instructions. State laws, deadlines, and remedies vary.

Use the FCC and FTC reports even if you also contact your state. A state complaint doesn't replace federal reporting, and a federal report doesn't replace urgent action with your bank if money or account access is at risk.

Frequently asked questions

Will reporting a robocall stop the calls?

Not necessarily. Agencies use reports to spot patterns. Blocking and labeling tools are more direct ways to cut down what actually rings through, and scammers can still change or spoof numbers.

Is a robocall from a government-sounding number automatically legitimate?

No. Caller ID can be forged. Hang up and contact the agency through independently verified information. Don't send money or account credentials because a recorded message demands immediate action.

Should I file an FCC or FTC complaint first?

File with the FTC for fraud, deceptive telemarketing, or a Do Not Call issue. File with the FCC for unwanted calls or texts and spoofing. If the call involves both, submit it to both agencies.

Can I get money simply by filing a complaint?

No. Agency complaints are not compensation applications. A qualifying TCPA or state-law claim may require a separate legal action, and eligibility depends on the facts and evidence.

How do I report a spoofed robocall?

Include the displayed caller ID, any callback number, the message, date, time, and the fact that you suspect spoofing. In the FCC form, choose the specific option for your own number being spoofed if your number is the one being copied.

If the next call is already on your phone, hang up, save the voicemail or call log, and file at ReportFraud.gov and the FCC complaint center while the details are still in front of you.