Regulation Bodies and Institutions

How Do I Report a Scam in Australia?

Unfortunately, Australians live in the country that is the second most targeted for fraud. The Australian government is taking steps to combat fraudulent activity, primarily by educating its citizens and forming special units to deal with fraud.

Scamwatch 

This is an organization under the wing of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). Its main objective is to detect and analyze fraudulent activity in order to raise awareness and take steps to stop it.

You simply can report fraud on the Scamwatch portal.

Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC)

ACSC is the government agency to which you should file a complaint. Its mission is to make the online space safer for Australian citizens. This includes combating various types of Internet fraud and identity theft, as it specializes exclusively in online fraud.

You can leave your report on the following page –www.cyber.gov.au/acsc/report.

It is good to remember that a website provides a lot of useful content that you can use to learn about the topics that interest you.

Australian Security & Investments Commission (ASIC)

Whoever has had a problem with a Ponzi scheme or similar type of fraud can use the ASIC page for filing complaints. Once there simply click on the button ‘report misconduct now’. 

What is unique about the organization is that it emphasizes that it does not deal with complaints about consumer goods and services, but refers people to the Regional Consumer Affairs Bureau. For this reason, they offer a helpful list of sites. 

Anti-Scam Agencies for the Individual States of Australia 

So far, we have provided you with useful links that relate to the entire Australian Federation. However, it is important to know that individual Australian states have their own methods of combating fraud. For this reason, we provide you with a list of websites organized by state. Here you can report a crime to the local authorities and fraud prevention organizations.

Western Australia

www.scamnet.wa.gov.au

Northern Territory 

consumeraffairs.nt.gov.au/for-consumers/scams

Queensland

www.qld.gov.au/law/your-rights/consumer-rights-complaints-and-scams/scams-fraud/report-a-scam

New South Wales 

Please note that the site doesn’t provide an online report, but you might find useful contacts. 

portal.police.nsw.gov.au/s/fraud-definition

Victoria

www.consumer.vic.gov.au/contact-us/report-an-issue/report-a-scam 

Tasmania 

The Tasmanian police portal simply points the visitors to the ASCS, but you may find useful contacts and information. 

www.consumer.vic.gov.au/contact-us/report-an-issue/report-a-scam 

South Australia 

The official anti-scam unit site of South Australia is highly informative but it will simply direct you to Scamwatcher and ASCS. 

www.police.sa.gov.au/your-safety/scams-and-cybercrime 

Crime Stoppers 

People who want to report a crime but wish to remain anonymous may use the services of the Crime Stoppers portal. 

How Do I Report a Scam in New Zealand? 

So far, we have provided you with useful links that relate to the entire Australian Federation. However, it is important to know that individual Australian states have their own methods of combating fraud. For this reason, we provide you with a list of websites organized by separate states. Here you can report a crime to the local authorities and fraud prevention organizations.

Department of Internal Affairs 

The website contains a page with instructions on how to deal with phishing emails and unsolicited texts. It includes an address to forward the problematic emails to and the phone number for fraudulent text messages. Since phishing is one of the most common types of fraud, the portal contains a page where you can report spam. 

Identity Theft 

In the unfortunate event that you have been a victim of identity theft or have reason to believe that you may become one, you can access the following page at the link below. Here you will find helpful tips and instructions on what steps you should take.. link. Here are helpful tips on what steps you should take.

Netsafe 

The main goal of the non-profit, independent agency Netsafe is just that: to ensure the safety of Internet content for the people of New Zealand. On its portal, citizens can report all kinds of web problems, from misinformation to cyberbullying to fraud

Cert NZ

Is the main organization that deals with cyber issues and breaches. You can use the report services on CERT NZ site if you have encountered fraud that involved hacking or cyber incidents. 

Internet NZ 

In case your scam or money trap uses .nz as its domain, you can report it to the Internet NZ agency. They are the main body for internet distribution for New Zealand and they also keep in check every site and content with the .nz in their address. 

New Zealand Police 

As a rule of thumb, no scam report procedure is complete without notifying the police regarding any fraudulent activity. For this reason, we present you with an informative page from the New Zealand Police website. 

Scamwatch New Zealand 

Consumer Protection is a specialized government body that helps New Zealanders find information regarding purchases of products and services. The portal offers a page specially designated for scams – Scamwatch.

Financial Market Authority 

As the FMA is the main financial regulator in New Zealand, it is also responsible for investigating fraud related to investment opportunities. This means that if you have been a victim of a Ponzi scheme or a fraudulent organization offering ROI, you can report it to the FMA. The FMA is the authority that warns against investment fraud. So you can check their website to see if you might be dealing with a shady organization.report it to FMA. The FMA is the authority that warns against investment fraud. So you can check their website to see if you might be dealing with a shady organization.

Serious Fraud Office 

As the name of the agency suggests this is the lead law enforcement body that is responsible for large-scale fraud and white-collar crime. This entails that targets of certain types of scams like big Ponzi Schemes, can file a complaint with the Serious Fraud Office. 

Additional Helpful Portals for New Zealand

We provide you with the link to the Citizens Advice Bureau for the page with anti-scam information. You can also navigate this site for other instructive information on various issues and services. 

Another notable site that we would like to offer is IDCARE which you can access here www.idcare.org/. It’s important to note that this site covers Australia and New Zealand, and it helps on the issues of identity and cyber security.  

How Do I Report a Scam in India? 

Reportedly, India is the Mecca of fraudulent call centers and has to contend with an endemic number of fraudulent organizations. These scams usually target the English-speaking world, and rightly so, there is a public outcry from countries like the US, Australia and the UK. Unfortunately, what many people do not consider is that Indian citizens are also frequent victims of scams from their own country.

Reportedly, India is the Mecca of fraudulent call centers and has to contend with an endemic number of fraudulent organizations. These scams usually target the English-speaking world, and rightly so, there is a public outcry from countries like the US, Australia and the UK. Unfortunately, what many people do not consider is that Indian citizens are also frequent victims of scams from their own country.

Cyber Cell

The majority of cities in India have a cyber cell department as part of their local police. You can file a complaint in person or by calling them. We present you with a list of Cyber Cell contacts. Of course, there is a great probability of a language barrier, as the officers might not speak English, or any other language except Hindi. 

National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal 

For people who are interested in filing their complaints online, they visit the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. Mind you, in order to file a report you need to register. What’s more, you might be unable to log onto the page unless you are on an Indian server. 

Indian Computer Emergency Response Team 

This is a special unit under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India. This department fights security incidents, but it can also provide a way to crack down on scammers who hack into computers. Their website provides contacts and forms for complaints, and you can visit them at www.cert-in.org.in/.

Serious Fraud Investigation Office 

The SFIO is an organization under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs that performs a wide range of investigative functions, including the prosecution of fraud and white-collar crime. To file a complaint with this government agency, you may use one of the contacts listed on the following page sfio.gov.in/en/contact-us/.sfio.gov.in/en/contact-us/. 

PLEASE NOTE: The contacts offered benefit citizens of India, or if you happen to be on Indian territory. Worse, there are countless anecdotal reports and comments about how ineffective the Indian justice system is. If you have the time and willingness to file a complaint with the Indian authorities, we advise you to do so. The chance is slim, but there is still a chance that your report will make a difference

How Do I Report a Scam in Nigeria?

It seems that Nigeria is the cradle of modern fraud and that it all started with the Nigerian Prince’s emails. Unfortunately, organized fraud is rampant throughout impoverished Africa, and not just in Nigeria. But the fact is that one of the leading organized crime groups, the Black Ax, originated in this country

There are many efforts by local police and even international cooperation to put a stop to the fraudulent organizations. Nevertheless, the fraud boom in Nigeria is difficult to control due to the desolate economic situation, corruption, lack of jurisdiction and many other factors

Several agencies are fighting fraudulent organizations and we will inform you on how to get in touch with them. However, please keep in mind that your call for help may be lost in the cacophony of problems. Sometimes law enforcement catches a scammer, but often it’s just a small dent in the whole criminal machinery

Whatever the case, we recommend that all victims of fraud provide relevant information to the appropriate authorities, because that might make a difference, while silence will get you nowhere.

Police Special Fraud Unit 

The PSFU is an important part of the Criminal Investigation Department, the most elite division of the Nigeria Police Force. The Special Fraud Unit is dedicated to combating fraudulent organizations and individuals that plague Nigeria, and to this end, collaborates with intercontinental and overseas agencies.

If you want to file a complaint you can fill in the form on the PSFU site. The page also contains an email for reports complaining about sensitive information or that are connected to serious fraud. 

The site also provides the PSFU confidential form. While here you can also check the email for more complicated cases, as well as several helpline contacts. 

The PSFU is an important part of the Criminal Investigation Department, the most elite division of the Nigeria Police Force. The Special Fraud Unit is dedicated to combating fraudulent organizations and individuals that plague Nigeria, and to this end, collaborates with intercontinental and overseas agencies.

If you want to file a complaint you can fill in the form on the PSFU site. The page also contains an email for reports complaining about sensitive information or that are connected to serious fraud. 

Economic and Financial Crime Commissions 

Supported by the presidency and legislation system, this specialized body was formed in the early 2000s with the specific goal of battling financial fraud which includes various types of scams and money laundering. You can contact this institution using the following contacts: 

+234 (9) 904 4751

+234 809 332 2644

[email protected]

[email protected]

Scamwatch Nigeria 

Although Scamwatch Nigeria is registered as a nongovernmental organization, the organization is partially funded and closely associated with various government agencies that combat fraudulent organizations. These include the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command, the Nigerian Communications Commission, and the Nigerian Police Force, among others.

On Scamwatch Nigeria site, you can find a plethora of useful information, and you can find online forms to report fraud with an easy click. 

How Do I Report a Scam in Ghana?

Unfortunately, West Africa is known for its extensive fraudulent activities. Nigeria, according to many reports, is the number one fraud center on the continent, with Ghana following closely behind. Many scams and criminal organizations cross borders and work together between these two countries. Learn how to report fraud in Ghana here.

Ghana Police Service 

Like many countries in the region, Ghana’s boys in blue are working hard to combat fraud. There are many instances of successful international cooperation that have resulted in arrests, but unfortunately that is just a drop in the bucket compared to the size of the underground fraud world. Nevertheless, your report could lead to positive action.

The Ghana’s police site will provide you with the right information on how to contact them and perhaps leave a report. 

Cyber Security Authority 

This agency is under the Ministry of Communications and Digitalization, and its main objective is to create a crime-free and secure cyberspace in Ghana. Of course, this means eliminating all criminal activities. You can submit your report on the following page www.csa.gov.gh/report, and also you can find relevant contacts. 

How Do I Report a Scam in South Africa?

Communities in South Africa are under constant fraudulent attack, from small-scale scams like phishing or credit card skimming to large-scale Ponzi schemes. Like many countries on the continent, South Africa is struggling with a significant increase in frauds of both domestic and international origin

The government and various agencies are doing their best to curb this criminal trend. It all starts with conscientious Internet users who report the fraud

South African Police Service (SAPS) 

Law enforcement agencies provide their citizens with several ways to report a crime, which includes all types of fraud. Regardless of location, a person in South Africa can contact the police by dialing the emergency number 10111

If a person wants to report a crime or share information anonymously, they can use the services of Crime Stop-Tip Off South Africa and dial 08600 10111

In the event that you wish to contact a local police station with a specific jurisdiction, we offer a list of police contacts.  

MySAPS App 

The South African Police Service has decided to move with the times and has released an app that can help citizens report a crime. Users also have easy access to information such as the location of the nearest police station and their contacts

Anyone can download the app from Google Play or the Apple Store. However, we should note that many reviews indicate that the app does not always work properly. Even worse, there are numerous complaints that it is ineffective and clunky when it comes to generating reports.

Southern Africa Fraud Prevention Service 

This is one of the leading non-profit agencies in the region that is dedicated to fighting scams. If you have been a victim of any type of fraud you can find their online complaint form and other contacts on the following page: www.safps.org.za/Home/Contact. 

SAFPS also provides helpful tips and information along with protection and prevention services against various types of scams. 

Financial Intelligence Center 

The FIC was established to enforce the Financial Intelligence Center Act of 2001. Its primary mission is to prevent abuse of the South African financial system. This task includes fighting fraud and fraudulent activities. The FIC is very informative, but also provides a versatile form for filing various types of complaints. FIC site, you can report scams. The page also contains contact information like phone numbers and emails for FIC. 

Blocking Unsolicited SMS and Spam

If you are having problems with email phishing, contact your South African ISP and report the problematic email. To date, the Internet Service Providers Association has no overarching system to address the problem of spam. 

Nevertheless, netizens can benefit from several Do Not Contact services. Firstly they can register at the Direct Marketing Association of South Africa. That way you shouldn’t be receiving any promotional emails from the member companies. 

In the same vein, an individual can use the services of the Wireless Application Service Providers’ Association. They can fill in the form to report spam at https://waspa.org.za/report-spam/ or they can use the do not contact blocking page https://dnc.org.za/.

How Do I Report a Scam in Southeast Asia? 

Unfortunately, crime syndicates committing online scams have exploded since 2020. Worse, these fraudulent organizations also force many foreigners into slavery. In these cases, the fraudsters often turn out to be victims themselves

These criminal syndicates have large branches in Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. Even worse, the authorities in these countries do very little to combat the problem, and this is usually due to heavy corruption

It is very difficult to report a scam in these states, but you can try to contact the local police. However, there is a portal where you can report online scams. 

Global Anti-Scam Organization 

Founded by scam victims this non-profit group of Asian and international volunteers is fully dedicated to fighting online scams and helping victims. You can file a complaint at their site www.globalantiscam.org/contact. The portal offers a cornucopia of anti-fraud information and advice, while it also shows how GASO can help. 

How Do I Report a Scam in the UK?

Action Fraud

This is the main go-to for filing a complaint against scams as it is the national center for reporting fraud and cybercrime. It is a cooperative endeavor between London city police and the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau. You can easily report the scam on their site and it also provides a host of useful information and links that can help against fraud.

Financial Conduct Authority

In case you have been targeted by an investment scam be sure to contact the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) the following page offers phone contacts as well as an online contact form – www.fca.org.uk/consumers/report-scam-us

National Cyber Security Center

All the phishing emails can be forwarded to [email protected] and the National Cyber Security Center will investigate. Also, you can visit the following NCSC link to report fraudulent and suspicious websites. 

Additional Helpful Links 

Lastly, we would like to mention several sites that might aid you or provide helpful insights and information regarding scams. 

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

https://www.cifas.org.uk/

https://crimestoppers-uk.org/

Reporting Unsolicited Calls and Text Messages

Citizens who find themselves under the barrage of cold calls from very questionable services and sales agents can register with Telephone Preference Service where they can also file a complaint. 

In the case of pesky text messages, anyone has the option of forwarding the problematic text to the 7726 number. This will inform the mobile network provider the number is spam and it will be blocked. 

Additionally, you can report problematic calls and text messages to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) on the following page. 

How Do I Report a Scam in Scotland? 

British citizens have recently become more victims of scams ranging from money-trap websites to fake trading platforms to calls posing as banks and government officials. Some statistics indicate that the UK is the third largest leading country in terms of reported scams

The government and groups of concerned citizens have recognized this growing problem and they have taken action. There are several government agencies whose websites you can use to report a scam, as well as several anti-fraud websites that are non-profit organizations

Please note that some of these sites are for people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We will present the options for residents of Scotland separately

Citizens can contact the police at any time using the 101 number and the 999 number for emergencies. We will also introduce the site with an online form on the official site of the Scottish police. 

How Do I Report a Scam in Russia? 

As the largest country in the world, it is not surprising that Russia is so targeted by online scammers. Many scams that target English-speaking countries are often translated or repurposed to extort money from Russian Internet users

The additional problem with scams involving this country is that many fraudulent organizations originate from Russia and neighboring countries. It is known that Russian officials cooperate with Interpol and international organizations to take fraudulent companies out of circulation. Nevertheless, there are many indications in social media that the Russian police will not do much in this matter

The options for reporting online fraud are limited, but they do exist. Moreover, if you do not speak Russian, you will encounter a language barrier.

Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation 

If you are in Russia it’s always best you report directly to the MIA, but you should note that the appeal should be submitted in Russian. If you can’t come in person you can contact the Ministry’s hotline at 8-800-222-74-47. 

The Department K (Cyber Crime Prevention Department) has jurisdiction over internet fraud cases. If you can navigate the MIA site in Russian you can access their online form for complaints, just be sure to check the field with Управление «К» МВД России first.

The English version of the MIA site provides a different set of information which is less detailed and diverse, while it is more directed to contacts and topics foreigners could use. It provides a list of the Ministry’s representatives across the globe that might take complaints against online scams.  

As a foreigner, you can also write directly to the mail of Department K at [email protected]  

МВД РОССИИ App 

Like many countries worldwide, the Russian police have developed their app. You can download it on Google Play and AppStore. It provides various information and assistance along with the chance to report a crime with it. 

How Do I Report a Scam in Mexico? 

According to many reports, Internet users in Mexico are the most frequent victims of online scams among all Spanish-speaking countries. Following the global trend, the United States of Mexico has also seen a huge increase in fraudulent activity due to digitalization and a longer online presence

As for the countries of Mesoamerica and South America, the lack of a language barrier, unfortunately, contributes to online scams spreading across the continent. Most of the time, the same fraudulent organizations target several states at the same time

Filing a report with your local police is always the first step. However, keep in mind that if you do not know the Spanish language well enough, you will probably have significant difficulties reporting the case.

Public Ministry 

This is the main law enforcement body of Mexico that protects human rights and investigates various types of crimes, which include online fraud. You can report a crime directly, and for this, we give you the page where you can check the location of the nearest Public Ministry offices. 

You can also use this page to check the specific phone numbers and emails of the nearest department. 

In case you are interested in online forms, the following site presents the list of all the Mexican States – denuncia.org/denuncia-digital/. Some of them provide online services. 

Mexico City 

Being one of the largest cities in the world, it stands to reason that denizens of Mexico City are exposed to all kinds of online fraud. They can report a crime anonymously using the 098 number, and if they wish to file a complaint online we provide the following form – denunciadigital.cdmx.gob.mx/victima-delito.

BBB Mexico 

Better Business Bureau has also offices in Mexico where they also spread their vision of protecting customers’ rights. For additional information, you can check the BBB Mexico web page here. https://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-of-mexico

How Do I Report a Scam in Brazil? 

Brazil has long been considered one of the leading countries in fraud. Citizens are bombarded with fraudulent activities, many of which are specifically designed and exist only in Brazil. The Brazilian government has recognized the damage that Internet scams do on a daily basis, and officials have worked to prevent them.

The entire fight against fraud starts with a single report. Here are some ways you can file your complaint with the relevant authorities.

Ministry of Justice and Public Security 

We provide a link to the Ministry of Justice and Public Security federal portal that enables the citizens of several states of Brazil to file a complaint electronically. You can start by simply clicking on the appropriate state. Please have in mind in order to use the services of this portal, you need to be registered at www.gov.br/pt-br. 

In case the appropriate state is not on the list, you can visit their specific portal. 

For example, if you are in Rio Grande De Sul you can visit the page www.pc.rs.gov.br/inicial.

Citizens of Ceará State can use the services of delegaciaeletronica.ce.gov.br while netizens of Sao Paolo can go to delegaciaeletronica.policiacivil.sp.gov.br . 

Europol 

The European Union Law Enforcing Agency provides a page with a useful list of their member states and their respective institutions where you can report a cyber crime. 

The Econsumer

The Econsumer website, a product of the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network, is the additional option we present. It is an international collaboration between 40 member nations and 65 consumer protection agencies. They are committed to stopping online fraud, and they offer a wealth of helpful information and the option to report suspicious activity.

The website also provides a list of the government departments in each member nation where you can report online fraud directly.. www.econsumer.gov