How to Report Scam Texts, Calls and Emails in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (2026)
Where to report scam texts, calls and emails in the US, UK, Canada and Australia, with numbers like 7726, step-by-step forwarding and what to do if you lost money.
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A text says your parcel is stuck at customs. A call claims to be from your bank’s fraud team. An email warns that your tax refund is waiting. Scam messages like these now reach almost everyone, and they are getting more convincing every year.
Reporting them takes less than a minute, and it genuinely helps. Phone networks use reports to block scam numbers, and national agencies use them to warn the public and track criminal groups. This guide shows exactly where to report scam texts, calls and emails in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, and what to do if you have already lost money.
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First: if you have lost money, call your bank
Before anything else, if you have sent money or shared card or banking details, contact your bank or card provider immediately using the number on the back of your card or on its official website. Fast action gives the best chance of stopping or recovering a payment. Then report the scam using the steps below for your country.
United States
| What happened | Where to report |
|---|---|
| Scam or spam text | Forward it to 7726 (SPAM) from your phone, then report it in your messaging app |
| Scam call, text or email (any consumer scam) | Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov |
| Online fraud, crypto scams, business email compromise | FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov |
| Someone used your identity | IdentityTheft.gov, which creates a recovery plan |
| Unwanted sales calls | Register at donotcall.gov (scammers ignore it, but it helps flag them) |
United Kingdom
| What happened | Where to report |
|---|---|
| Scam text | Forward it free to 7726. All major UK networks support it. |
| Scam phone call | Text the word “Call” followed by the caller’s number to 7726 |
| Scam email | Forward it to [email protected] (National Cyber Security Centre) |
| You lost money or were targeted by fraud (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) | Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040 |
| Fraud in Scotland | Police Scotland on 101 |
| Someone pretending to be your bank calls | Hang up and call 159 to reach your bank’s fraud team safely |
Note that Report Fraud replaced the old Action Fraud service. Ofcom’s current guidance directs people to Report Fraud, so ignore older articles that still mention Action Fraud (Ofcom).
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Canada
| What happened | Where to report |
|---|---|
| Scam or spam text | Forward it to 7726 (SPAM). It is free and does not count against your plan. |
| Fraud, scam call or attempted scam | Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at antifraudcentre.ca or 1-888-495-8501 |
| You lost money | Your bank first, then your local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre |
| A fraudulent website | The Competition Bureau |
The Government of Canada’s Get Cyber Safe program notes that legitimate organizations, including federal departments, will not try to conduct business with you by text message (Get Cyber Safe).
Australia
| What happened | Where to report |
|---|---|
| Any scam, including near-misses | Scamwatch, run by the ACCC’s National Anti-Scam Centre |
| You lost money or personal information online | ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au |
| SMS spam | Forward it unchanged to the ACMA on 0429 999 888 |
| Your identity details were stolen or exposed | IDCARE, the free national identity and cyber support service |
| Scams impersonating myGov, Centrelink or Medicare | Services Australia’s scams helpdesk |
Choice recommends reporting every scam to Scamwatch, even when you did not lose anything, because reports feed into the National Anti-Scam Centre’s work to disrupt scams (Choice).
How to forward a scam text
iPhone
- Press and hold the message, tap More, then tap the forward arrow.
- Enter 7726 (or 0429 999 888 in Australia) and send.
- If asked, reply with the number the scam came from.
- Then go back, delete the message and tap Report Junk if available.
Android
- Press and hold the message and choose Forward (or Share).
- Enter the reporting number and send.
- Open the conversation menu and choose Block & report spam.
Do not tap links, reply, or text “STOP” to a scam message. Replying confirms that your number is active.
The most common scams in 2026
- Parcel and toll scams: “Your package could not be delivered” or “You have an unpaid toll” with a link to a fake payment page.
- Bank impersonation: a caller says your account is compromised and asks you to move money to a “safe account”. Banks never ask this.
- Government impersonation: fake messages from the IRS, HMRC, CRA, ATO or myGov about refunds, fines or arrest warrants.
- Tech support scams: pop-ups or calls claiming your computer is infected. These have spiked around the end of Windows 10 support; see our guide on what Windows 10 users should do now.
- Job and task scams: offers to earn money by “rating products” or “liking videos” that end with you paying to unlock earnings.
- “Hi Mum/Dad” scams: a message from an unknown number claiming to be your child with a new phone who urgently needs money.
- Investment and crypto scams: fake trading platforms, often promoted with fake celebrity endorsements.
How to protect yourself
- Stop and check. Scammers create urgency. Take a moment and contact the organization using details you find yourself, not the ones in the message.
- Never share one-time codes. No genuine bank, government agency or tech company will ask you to read out a security code.
- Turn on two-factor authentication for email, banking and social media. Our guide to the best authenticator apps explains the options.
- Use your phone’s spam filters and call-screening features.
- Talk to family members, especially older relatives, about the most common scam scripts.
Frequently asked questions
Does forwarding a text to 7726 cost money?
In the US, UK and Canada, forwarding to 7726 is free on major networks. In Australia, forwarding SMS spam to the ACMA’s number may be charged at your standard rate.
Is it worth reporting a scam if I did not lose money?
Yes. Reports help networks block numbers and help agencies warn others and track criminal groups.
Can I get my money back after a scam?
Sometimes, especially if you contact your bank quickly. Rules on refunds differ between countries and payment types, so report it to your bank as soon as possible.
What should I do if I clicked a scam link?
Do not enter any details. If you already did, change the password for that account and any account using the same password, turn on two-factor authentication, and contact your bank if you entered card details.
Who replaced Action Fraud in the UK?
Report Fraud is now the national fraud and cybercrime reporting service for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Sources
- Ofcom: How to protect yourself from scam calls and texts
- Get Cyber Safe (Government of Canada): Reporting spam texts to 7726
- Rogers: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre contact details
- Australian Cyber Security Centre: Recover from scams
- Choice: Steps to take if you have been scammed
- Reporting spam to the ACMA
