How do I report scams?
FAQ.
Answered by Robin Catmur-Smith, Managing Director of the International Student Resource Center
Last updated: July, 2026
How do I report scams?
Don't keep it to yourself. Reporting protects you and others. Depending on the scam, contact your international office, campus or local police, your campus IT/cybersecurity team, your bank, the credit bureaus, the FTC, and the FBI's IC3.
Where to report
Your international office — confirms if something's suspicious and guides next steps.
Campus police — can file an official report (many are available 24/7).
Local police — a report helps you dispute fraudulent charges later.
Campus cybersecurity/IT — for email, text, or fake-website scams.
Your bank or credit card company — to freeze or monitor your account if you shared financial info.
Credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) — place a fraud alert if you shared your SSN; you're entitled to one free credit report per year.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) — file a report on their website.
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) — for internet crime.
State attorney general’s office — many have consumer-protection hotlines or forms.
There are no penalties for reporting something that turns out to be legitimate — when in doubt, report it.
