How to report scam texts, phishing emails and fake websites

Reporting takes a minute and helps carriers, email providers and regulators block scams for everyone. Here is where to send each type.

Scam text messages (smishing)

• Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM). This works with major carriers in the US and in the UK. Your carrier may reply asking for the sender’s number.
• Report it in your messaging app. Both Google Messages and Apple Messages have “Report spam” options.
• US: file a report at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
• UK: forward to 7726 and report to Action Fraud for fraud losses.

Phishing emails

• Use your email app’s “Report phishing” option. This helps train filters.
• Forward the email as an attachment to reportphishing@apwg.org, the Anti-Phishing Working Group.
• If it impersonates a company, forward it to that company’s official abuse or phishing address, which is listed on their website.
• Then delete it.

Fake websites

• Google Safe Browsing: report phishing pages through Google’s “Report Phishing Page” form.
• The hosting provider or domain registrar: you can find them through a WHOIS lookup. Many have abuse contacts.
• FTC or your national consumer agency: they collect reports about fake stores and impersonation.

If you lost money

1. Contact your bank first.
2. Report to your national fraud centre. In the US that is the FBI’s IC3 at ic3.gov and the FTC. In the UK, Action Fraud.
3. File a police report if the amount is large, because banks and insurers may ask for it.
4. Keep screenshots of the message, the sender and the website.

What to include in a report

• A screenshot of the message, with the sender and time
• The full link, copied as text, never opened
• What you did, if anything, such as tapping or entering details
• Any amounts lost and how you paid

Why bother?

Reports feed the lists that carriers and browsers use to block scams. Even when you did nothing wrong and lost nothing, your report may protect the next person.

Check before you report

If you want a quick view of a suspicious link before you send it, paste it into LinkGuard. The verdict and reasons make a handy note to include in your report.