Quick Reference: Where to Report
| Report To | For | URL / Method |
|---|---|---|
| Your Carrier | Any spam text | Forward to 7726 |
| FTC | Fraud, phishing, impersonation scams | reportfraud.ftc.gov |
| FCC | Illegal texts, spam after opt-out, carrier violations | consumercomplaints.fcc.gov |
| FBI / IC3 | Financial fraud, identity theft, federal agency impersonation | ic3.gov |
| Impersonated company | Brand impersonation | Company's official fraud/abuse contact |
You received a suspicious text. Maybe it's a fake bank alert, a bogus package delivery notice, or a phishing message pretending to be the IRS. Whatever it was, you're here because you want to do something about it.
This guide tells you exactly what to do — in order, right now.
Immediate Steps: Do This Before Anything Else
Before filing any report, take these three actions:
- Do not click any links. Even a link that appears broken can load tracking pixels or redirect you to a malicious site.
- Do not reply. Replying confirms your number is active — that alone makes you more valuable to scammers.
- Screenshot the message. You'll need the sender's number, the message text, and the timestamp for every report you file.
Then:
Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM). This works on every major U.S. carrier — AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and most MVNOs. When you forward a text to 7726, your carrier's anti-spam systems receive the content and sender number, and your carrier may prompt you for additional details. This is the fastest, lowest-friction report you can make.
Look up the sender number using Who Sent That Text Message before you file reports. Knowing the carrier, line type (mobile vs. VoIP), and any CNAM data helps you provide better information to reporting agencies — and helps you understand whether the number was likely spoofed.
If the scam text asked you to click a link and you did, or if you provided personal or financial information, you have additional steps. In that case, skip to the FBI/IC3 section below, then return here.
Report to the FTC
The Federal Trade Commission maintains the largest consumer fraud reporting database in the United States. Reports filed here feed directly into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure database shared with law enforcement agencies at the federal, state, and local level — including the FTC itself, the FBI, the Secret Service, and state attorneys general.
Where to report: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
What to include:
- The sender's phone number (from your screenshot)
- The full text of the message
- The date and time you received it
- What action the message asked you to take (click a link, call a number, provide information)
- Whether you interacted with it and what happened
What the FTC does with your report: The FTC does not investigate individual scam texts. Instead, your report is used to identify patterns, build cases against large-scale fraud operations, and share intelligence with other agencies. Enforcement actions — including the fines and injunctions the FTC regularly announces — are built from aggregated consumer reports like yours.
Should you expect a response? No. The FTC will not contact you about your individual report. This is normal and expected — you're contributing to a database, not filing a personal complaint.
Report to the FCC
The Federal Communications Commission has authority over the telecommunications industry. Where the FTC focuses on fraud broadly, the FCC focuses specifically on illegal communications — including illegal robocalls, spam texts, and violations of carrier regulations.
Where to report: consumercomplaints.fcc.gov
FTC vs. FCC — when to use which:
- Report to the FTC when you've been the target of fraud (fake offers, phishing, impersonation scams)
- Report to the FCC when you're experiencing illegal communications (texts after you've opted out, texts from numbers spoofing legitimate companies, unwanted marketing texts)
- You can and should report to both — they use different authorities and the reports don't duplicate each other
What the FCC can do: The FCC can issue fines against carriers that fail to implement anti-spam measures, take action against companies that violate text messaging regulations, and issue rules requiring carriers to block certain traffic patterns. FCC enforcement actions have resulted in multimillion-dollar fines against illegal texting operations.
Report to Your Carrier
Your carrier has more direct ability to block the sender than any government agency. When you report spam to your carrier, they can block that number network-wide — protecting other customers — and can feed the data into their anti-spam filtering systems.
The Universal Method: Forward to 7726
Forward any spam text to 7726. This short code spells "SPAM" on a phone keypad and is the standard reporting number across all major U.S. carriers. After you forward the message, your carrier may send an automated reply asking for the original sender's phone number — reply with just the 10-digit number.
Carrier-Specific Reporting Options
AT&T
- Forward to 7726 (primary method)
- Online: AT&T Fraud Reporting
- Fraud Reporting Line: 1-800-234-5679
Verizon
- Forward to 7726 (primary method)
- My Verizon app: Account → Contact Us → Report Spam
- Online: Verizon Spam Center
T-Mobile
- Forward to 7726 (primary method)
- T-Mobile Scam Shield app (free for all T-Mobile customers): includes one-tap reporting
- Online: T-Mobile Fraud Reporting
What carriers do with reports: Reports aggregate into pattern detection systems. When a large volume of customers report the same number, carriers can block it at the network level — meaning the number can no longer send texts to carrier subscribers. This is one of the most effective interventions available.
Report to the FBI / IC3
The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) handles cybercrime and fraud that involves financial loss or identity theft. Not every scam text rises to the IC3 level — but many do.
File an IC3 report if:
- You clicked a link and provided financial information (bank account, credit card, routing number)
- You were tricked into sending money (wire transfer, gift cards, cryptocurrency)
- You believe your identity has been stolen as a result of the scam
- The scam involved impersonation of a federal agency (IRS, Social Security Administration, Medicare)
Where to report: ic3.gov
What to include in your IC3 report:
- Your contact information
- All details about the scam (dates, messages, what was requested)
- Financial transaction details if applicable (amounts, dates, method of payment)
- Any usernames, email addresses, or other contact information the scammer provided
Should you also file a local police report? If you experienced financial loss, yes. A police report creates a record and may be required by your bank or insurance provider when disputing fraudulent charges. Bring your IC3 complaint number to the local report — it establishes that federal authorities are aware of the fraud.
Report to the Impersonated Company
If the scam text impersonated a specific company — a bank, retailer, government agency, or delivery service — that company wants to know about it. Companies have fraud and abuse teams that actively pursue bad actors impersonating their brand.
Why this matters:
- Companies can send cease-and-desist letters to identified bad actors
- Banks and retailers can update fraud detection to flag messages using their stolen brand
- Government agencies (like the Social Security Administration) maintain active anti-impersonation programs
How to find the right contact:
Most major companies have a dedicated abuse or phishing reporting address:
- Banks: Look for "report phishing" on the official website, or forward to phishing@[bank].com
- Amazon: stop-spoofing@amazon.com
- PayPal: phishing@paypal.com
- The IRS: phishing@irs.gov
- USPS: spam@uspis.gov
For companies without a public abuse address, use the official Contact Us page. Do not use contact information from the scam text itself — that leads back to the scammers.
What Happens After You Report
Set your expectations now: you will probably not receive a personal response to any of these reports, and the sender will likely not be immediately blocked or arrested. That is the normal outcome.
Here's what actually happens:
Pattern detection. Every report you file adds data to a larger picture. The FTC, FCC, and IC3 all use aggregated reports to identify which phone numbers, networks, and fraud patterns are most active. A scam operation running tens of thousands of texts a day generates many reports — and those reports build the case.
Enforcement actions. Major FTC and FCC enforcement actions against illegal texting operations are routinely traced back to consumer complaints. The FCC has issued fines exceeding $100 million against illegal robocall and text message operations. The FTC has obtained injunctions against large-scale fraud rings. These actions take months or years to develop.
Carrier-level blocking. Reports to carriers via 7726 can result in relatively fast action — sometimes within hours for high-volume spam campaigns. Carriers share blocked number lists with each other through industry consortiums.
Your contribution matters, even without feedback. The absence of a confirmation email is not a sign that your report was ignored. It's a sign that these systems are automated and aggregated by design.
How to Protect Yourself Going Forward
Reporting is reactive. These steps reduce the number of scam texts you receive in the first place:
Enable spam filtering on your phone.
- iPhone: Settings → Messages → Filter Unknown Senders
- Android (Messages app): Spam protection is enabled by default; verify at Settings → Spam protection
Use your carrier's spam tools.
- T-Mobile Scam Shield (free)
- AT&T ActiveArmor (basic tier free)
- Verizon Call Filter (basic tier free)
Be careful where you share your number. Scammers often source numbers from data breaches, online forms, and directory aggregators. Limit how freely you provide your phone number to websites and apps.
Check unknown numbers before responding. Before calling back a missed call or responding to an unfamiliar text, use Who Sent That Text Message to identify the carrier, line type, and any available caller name data. If the number shows as a VoIP line with no CNAM data, exercise extra caution — these characteristics are common in scam campaigns. See our guide to understanding how carrier lookups work for more detail.
Know your legal rights. If you're receiving persistent unwanted texts after opting out, you may have rights under the TCPA. Read our article on your rights under TCPA to understand what actions you can take, including filing individual complaints or participating in class action suits.
If you've been a victim of financial fraud, review your credit reports immediately through AnnualCreditReport.com and consider a credit freeze with all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) — it's free and reversible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I report a scam text message?
Report scam text messages to three places: forward the text to 7726 (SPAM) to notify your carrier, file a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov for the FTC, and file a complaint at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov for the FCC. If the scam involved financial loss or identity theft, also file a report with the FBI at ic3.gov.
Does reporting spam texts actually do anything?
Yes. Carrier reports via 7726 can result in network-wide number blocking within hours for high-volume spam campaigns. FTC and FCC reports feed into law enforcement databases used to build cases against large-scale fraud operations. The FCC has issued fines exceeding $100 million against illegal texting operations based on aggregated consumer reports.
What is 7726 and why should I forward spam texts to it?
7726 spells "SPAM" on a phone keypad. It is the industry-standard number for reporting spam texts in the United States, supported by all major carriers including AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. When you forward a spam text to 7726, your carrier receives the message content and sender information for use in spam detection and blocking.
Will the FTC investigate my individual scam text complaint?
No. The FTC uses consumer reports to identify patterns and build cases against large-scale fraud operations — your report contributes to that database. Individual reports rarely trigger individual investigations, but they are an essential part of how enforcement actions are built.
Should I report to the FTC or FCC — or both?
Both, when applicable. The FTC handles fraud broadly; the FCC handles violations of telecommunications regulations specifically. If you received a scam text attempting to steal money or information, report to the FTC. If you received illegal marketing texts or texts that violate opt-out requirements, report to the FCC. Many situations warrant both.
I replied to the scam text. What should I do now?
Stop replying immediately. If you provided any personal or financial information, file a report with the FBI at ic3.gov and review your financial accounts and credit reports. If you only replied with something like "Who is this?" without providing information, the main risk is confirming your number is active — which may increase future spam but doesn't constitute a security incident.
How long does it take for a reported number to get blocked?
There is no guaranteed timeline. Carrier blocking via 7726 can happen in hours for high-volume campaigns. Government enforcement actions take months to years. Reporting is most effective as a collective, ongoing activity.
This guide was produced by Who Sent That Text Message, a VeriRoute Intel service. For information on identifying suspicious texts before deciding whether to report them, see our guide on how to identify spoofed text messages. To look up an unknown sender right now, use the Who Sent That Text Message lookup tool.