Scams

Scam, identity theft, and fraud reports

Pick the right first stop for identity theft, fake sellers, online crime, crypto or investment trouble, tax scams, benefit fraud, DMV or toll texts, and Social Security impersonators.

Official link Last reviewed June 30, 2026

Why it matters

A scam report only helps if it lands in the right place. Identity theft usually starts with IdentityTheft.gov. A general scam report often starts with the FTC. Online crime can point to IC3. Crypto and financial-service trouble can point to DFPI or CFPB. Tax, EDD, DMV, toll, and Social Security scams each have their own official source. The goal is simple: stop the loss, save the proof, then report through the right lane.

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Find the right public office for everyday paperwork.

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Select the scam or fraud type.

First moves

1
If someone is in danger, a crime is happening right now, or someone is threatening you, use 911 or your local law enforcement first.
2
Stop sending money, gift cards, crypto, codes, account numbers, passwords, or photos of IDs until you have checked the official source yourself.
3
Write down what happened, when it happened, who contacted you, the phone number, email, website, account name, wallet address, payment method, and dollar amount.
4
Save screenshots, messages, receipts, tracking numbers, usernames, bank records, card records, app records, letters, notices, and call notes.
5
If a bank, card, payment app, phone company, email account, tax account, EDD account, DMV account, or Social Security account may be involved, contact that official provider or agency from a known good website.
6
For identity theft, start with IdentityTheft.gov and California DOJ identity-theft materials.
7
For a general scam, fake seller, fake prize, gift-card request, romance scam, rental scam, or business impersonator, start with the FTC report.
8
For online crime, cyber extortion, business email compromise, or a scam that happened through the internet, check IC3.
9
For crypto, investment, lending, or financial-service trouble, check DFPI and CFPB.
10
For tax, EDD, DMV, toll, or Social Security impersonation, use that agency's official scam or fraud page.

Watch for

1
A fraud report, police report, bank dispute, credit freeze, agency complaint, and court case are different things.
2
A real-looking logo, caller ID, text thread, urgent deadline, QR code, or government-sounding name is not proof.
3
Do not use links inside a suspicious message. Type the official website yourself or use a saved official source.
4
Gift cards, wire transfers, crypto, payment apps, and cash can be hard to recover once sent.
5
Identity theft can need more than one step: recovery plan, credit reports, fraud alerts or freezes, account cleanup, and agency reports.
6
Crypto and investment scams can move through websites, apps, social media, fake exchanges, wallet addresses, and recovery-scam follow-ups.
7
Tax, EDD, DMV, toll, and Social Security scams often use fear. Check the official agency page before responding.
8
Deadlines with banks, cards, benefits, insurance, taxes, court papers, or account locks can keep moving while a report is pending.

Directory paths

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ShelfStart hereFind the right public office for everyday paperwork.DirectoryPaperwork & MoneyReturn to the full tools shelf.Nearby toolLocal office routerA practical map for deciding whether to start with a city, county, state agency, court, utility, or special district.Nearby toolContractor, mechanic, and complaint helpFind the safer first stop for contractor trouble, auto repair problems, licensed professional complaints, insurance claims, scams, refund disputes, business-name checks, or small claims questions.A-ZFind another California pathUse the directory index when the task has a different name.