You got scammed. Maybe it was a fake hotel booking, an overcharged taxi, a phishing site that stole your card details, or a tour that never showed up. The money's gone, and the anger is setting in. Here's the thing most travelers don't realize: reporting actually works. Agencies aggregate complaints, identify patterns, shut down operations, and sometimes recover funds. But you have to report to the right place.
This guide tells you exactly where to file in every major country, what information to include, and how to maximize your chance of getting money back.
Before You Report: Gather Your Evidence
No matter which country you're reporting to, collect everything first:
- Screenshots of websites, messages, emails, and booking confirmations
- Transaction records — bank statements, credit card charges, PayPal receipts
- Communication logs — emails, chat transcripts, phone call records (dates, times, numbers)
- Photos and videos — of the scam location, the scammer, license plates, business fronts
- URLs of fake websites (before they get taken down)
- Names and descriptions of people involved
- Dates, times, and locations of every interaction
Save everything to cloud storage so you have backups.
United States
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- Website: reportfraud.ftc.gov
- What to report: Online scams, fake bookings, phishing, deceptive business practices
- What happens: The FTC doesn't resolve individual complaints but uses reports to build cases against scam operations
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- Website: ic3.gov
- What to report: Internet-based fraud, hacking, identity theft
- Best for: Online booking scams, WiFi attacks, phishing, fake websites
Your Credit Card Company
- Call the number on the back of your card
- Request a chargeback for fraudulent charges
- Timeline: You typically have 60 days from the statement date
- This is often your best shot at getting money back
State Attorney General
- Each state has a consumer protection division. Search "[your state] attorney general consumer complaint"
- Useful for scams involving US-based companies
United Kingdom
Action Fraud
- Website: actionfraud.police.uk
- Phone: 0300 123 2040
- What to report: All types of fraud and cybercrime
- What happens: Reports go to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, which identifies patterns and refers cases to police
Citizens Advice
- Website: citizensadvice.org.uk
- Best for: Getting practical advice on next steps and understanding your rights
Your Bank
- UK banks have the Contingent Reimbursement Model — if you were tricked into making a bank transfer, you may be eligible for reimbursement
European Union
Your National Police
- File a police report in the country where the scam occurred. This is often required for insurance claims and chargebacks.
- Many EU countries have online reporting portals
European Consumer Centre (ECC-Net)
- Website: ec.europa.eu/consumers/ecc
- Best for: Cross-border disputes within the EU. Free mediation service.
Key National Agencies
- France: Signal Spam (signal-spam.fr) + DGCCRF consumer protection
- Germany: Verbraucherzentrale (consumer advice centers in each state)
- Spain: Policía Nacional online reporting portal
- Italy: Polizia Postale for online fraud
- Netherlands: Fraudehelpdesk.nl
Australia
Scamwatch
- Website: scamwatch.gov.au
- Run by: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)
- What to report: All types of scams targeting Australians
- Also report to: ReportCyber (cyber.gov.au) for online crimes
IDCARE
- Website: idcare.org
- Best for: Identity theft — free case management service
Canada
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
- Website: antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca
- Phone: 1-888-495-8501
- What to report: All fraud types including travel scams
When the Scam Happened Abroad
If you were scammed while physically in another country:
- File a police report locally — Even if you don't speak the language, go to the tourist police (many tourist areas have dedicated tourist police stations). Get a written report with a case number.
- Report to your home country's agency — FTC, Action Fraud, Scamwatch, etc.
- Contact your embassy or consulate — They can help with police reports and connect you with local resources
- Report to your bank/credit card — Start the chargeback process immediately
Maximizing Your Chargeback Success
Credit card chargebacks are often your most effective recovery tool:
- Act fast — Call within days, not weeks
- Use the right reason code — "Services not rendered" or "unauthorized transaction"
- Provide evidence — Screenshots, booking confirmations, proof the service was fake
- Follow up in writing — Don't rely on phone calls alone
- Escalate if denied — Ask for a supervisor, file a CFPB complaint if your bank won't cooperate
Reporting Online Scam Websites
To get fake websites taken down:
- Google Safe Browsing: safebrowsing.google.com/safebrowsing/report_phish
- Domain registrar: Look up the domain on WHOIS and report abuse to the registrar
- Hosting provider: Identify via WHOIS and submit an abuse report
- PhishTank: phishtank.org — community-driven phishing site database
FAQ
Q: Is it worth reporting if I only lost a small amount? A: Yes. Agencies need volume to build cases. Your $50 complaint combined with hundreds of others creates the evidence needed to shut down an operation. It takes five minutes.
Q: Will I get my money back? A: Through a credit card chargeback, often yes. Through government agencies, rarely directly — but they do shut down operations that would victimize others.
Q: What if I don't speak the local language? A: Tourist police in major destinations usually have English-speaking staff. Your embassy can help translate. At minimum, file a report in your home country.
Q: How long does the process take? A: Credit card chargebacks: 30-90 days. Government investigations: months to years. File and move on — don't wait for resolution before continuing your trip.
For more on protecting yourself before scams happen, see our 25 travel scam red flags guide and AI-powered scam detection tips.
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