Where to report a scam or online fraud — by country
If you have lost money to a scam, speed matters: contact your bank first to try to freeze the transfer, then report to the official body below. These are the free national fraud, cybercrime and banking-complaint channels across the countries we cover.
Report within hours, not days. Fast-payment recall and reimbursement schemes — like the UK's mandatory APP-scam reimbursement and India's 1930 golden-hour freeze — only work if the money can still be traced. Banking ombudsmen almost always require that you complain to the bank in writing first and keep the reference number.
| Country | Official body | Call | Online |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | FTC — ReportFraud & IdentityTheft.govReport scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov (with a recovery plan); internet crime goes to the FBI at IC3.gov.Legal basis: FTC Act, Section 5 | — | reportfraud.ftc.gov |
| United Arab Emirates | SanadakIndependent ombudsman under the Central Bank for unresolved complaints against banks, finance companies and insurers — unauthorised transactions, disputed charges, and fraud refunds. Complain to the institution first.Legal basis: Central Bank & financial-institutions law (Decretal Federal Law 14/2018) | — | sanadak.gov.ae/en |
| Saudi Arabia | SAMA — Consumer ProtectionComplaints against banks, finance companies and insurers — unauthorised transactions, fraud refunds, disputed fees. Complain to the institution first, then escalate to SAMA.Legal basis: Saudi Central Bank Law (Royal Decree M/36) | — | www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/ConsumerProtection/Pages/home.aspx |
| Qatar | Qatar Central BankBanking and insurance regulator; consumer-complaints channel for disputes with banks and finance companies, including fraud and unauthorised transactions.Legal basis: Qatar Central Bank Law (Law 13/2012) | — | www.qcb.gov.qa |
| Bahrain | Central Bank of BahrainConsumer Protection module; complaints against banks and finance companies — fraud, unauthorised transactions and disputed fees. Complain to the bank first.Legal basis: Central Bank of Bahrain & Financial Institutions Law (Decree-Law 64/2006) | — | www.cbb.gov.bh |
| Kuwait | Central Bank of KuwaitConsumer-protection unit; complaints against banks and finance companies — fraud, unauthorised transactions and disputed fees. Complain to the bank first.Legal basis: Central Bank of Kuwait Law (Law 32/1968) | — | www.cbk.gov.kw |
| Oman | Central Bank of Oman — Consumer ProtectionFree escalation channel for unresolved bank disputes and fraud-refund claims. You must complain to your bank in writing first, then submit the CBO Customer Complaint Form with proof of that prior contact.Legal basis: Banking Law (Royal Decree 114/2000) | — | cbo.gov.om/Pages/ConsumerProtection.aspx |
| India | National Cyber Crime Reporting PortalReport online financial fraud, blackmail and cybercrime; dial 1930 within the first hours of a fraud to freeze the money trail. Women and children have a dedicated reporting track.Legal basis: Information Technology Act 2000 and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 | 1930 | cybercrime.gov.in |
| Pakistan | Banking MohtasibFree redress for disputes with banks — fraud, unauthorised transactions, ATM/online-banking issues — after you complain to the bank first.Legal basis: Banking Companies Ordinance 1962 (Banking Mohtasib provisions) | — | www.bankingmohtasib.gov.pk |
| Bangladesh | Bangladesh Bank — Customer Services (FICSD)Financial Integrity & Customer Services Department — complaints against banks and mobile-money services (bKash, Nagad), including fraud and unauthorised transactions.Legal basis: Bank Company Act 1991 | — | www.bb.org.bd/en/index.php/about/deptdtl/58 |
| Indonesia | OJK — Kontak 157Consumer-protection channel (Kontak 157) for complaints against banks, fintech, and illegal online loans, and to check whether an investment or lender is licensed.Legal basis: Financial Services Authority Law (Law 21/2011) | 157 | kontak157.ojk.go.id |
| United Kingdom | Financial Ombudsman ServiceFree dispute resolution for complaints about banks, insurers and credit — including APP (authorised push payment) scam reimbursement. Binding on the firm if you accept the decision.Legal basis: Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 | 0800 023 4567 | www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk |
| Ireland | Financial Services & Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO)Free, independent redress for complaints against banks, insurers and pension providers — including fraud and mis-selling — after the firm's own process.Legal basis: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Act 2017 | — | www.fspo.ie |
| France | 17Cyber — CybermalveillanceAssistance for victims of online fraud, account hacking, blackmail and cyber-harassment, with guidance on reporting and next steps.Legal basis: Code pénal | — | 17cyber.gouv.fr |
| Germany | BaFinComplaints against banks, insurers and investment firms — fraud, unauthorised transactions, mis-selling. The private-bank Ombudsman (bankenombudsmann.de) offers free arbitration.Legal basis: Kreditwesengesetz (KWG) | — | www.bafin.de |
| Singapore | Singapore Police Force — ScamShieldReport scams and cybercrime; the Anti-Scam Centre can freeze mule accounts fast. Call the ScamShield Helpline 1799 or use the ScamShield app.Legal basis: Penal Code and the Computer Misuse Act | 1799 | www.police.gov.sg |
| Denmark | Det finansielle ankenævnFree/low-cost decisions on disputes with banks and finance companies — unauthorised transactions, fraud refunds, disputed fees.Legal basis: Consumer-complaint framework under Danish financial law | — | www.fanke.dk |
| Iceland | Fjármálaeftirlitið — complaints committeeThe complaints committee gives free decisions on disputes with banks and finance companies — unauthorised transactions, fraud refunds, disputed fees.Legal basis: Act on Financial Undertakings | — | www.fjarmalaeftirlitid.is/eftirlit/urskurdarnefnd |
| Canada | Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC)National centre for reporting fraud and identity theft; the FBI-equivalent RCMP and your local police investigate.Legal basis: Criminal Code of Canada | 1-888-495-8501 | antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca |
| Australia | Scamwatch / ReportCyberReport scams to the National Anti-Scam Centre (Scamwatch) and cybercrime to ReportCyber (ACSC); bank and insurance disputes go to AFCA.Legal basis: Australian Consumer Law and the Criminal Code | — | www.scamwatch.gov.au |
| New Zealand | NetsafeNew Zealand's independent online-safety service — free help and reporting for scams, fraud, hacking and online abuse; serious fraud and cybercrime are also reported to the Police.Legal basis: Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015 | — | www.netsafe.org.nz |
| Mexico | CONDUSEFFree defence in disputes with banks, insurers and fintechs — unauthorised charges, fraud, mis-selling — and a registry (SIPRES) to check a firm is authorised.Legal basis: Ley de Protección y Defensa al Usuario de Servicios Financieros | — | www.condusef.gob.mx |
Each entry links to the official body and shows the date we last verified it. This is legal information, not advice, and we don't take payment to list anyone. See the full country directories for every channel, not just the headline one.