Unwanted Calls & Spoofing
Unwanted Calls & Spoofing
Caller ID can be faked. Robocalls, suspicious texts, spoofed numbers, and pressure tactics can be used to steal money, personal information, account access, or verification codes.
Report Unwanted Calls & Texts
Reports help federal agencies and industry partners identify patterns, track illegal callers, support call-blocking efforts, and respond to national trends.
Use the right reporting path
If you are reporting spam, robocalls, unwanted telemarketing calls, spoofing, or suspicious texts, FTC and FCC reporting tools are the best starting point.
Report unwanted calls to the FTC
Use DoNotCall.gov for unwanted calls when no money was lost. Use ReportFraud.ftc.gov if you lost money or have details about the scammer or company.
Report calls, texts, and spoofing to the FCC
Use the FCC Consumer Complaint Center for unwanted calls or texts, robocalls, spoofing, and phone service issues.
Which Reporting Path Should I Use?
Use the tabs below to choose the reporting path that best matches what happened.
Use DoNotCall.gov
If you did not lose money and only want to report an unwanted call, use the FTC’s streamlined DoNotCall.gov reporting form.
Report the number shown
Report the number that received the call, the number shown on caller ID even if it may be fake, and any callback number provided.
Include date and time if possible
The FTC uses report data and calling patterns to help identify illegal callers and support call-blocking and labeling efforts.
File a consumer complaint
If an unwanted call or text led to a purchase, billing dispute, subscription issue, service problem, or loss of money, consider filing a consumer complaint with the Consumer Protection Division.
Gather your records
Include payment records, receipts, screenshots, phone numbers, text messages, voicemails, names used, dates, amounts paid, and any communications with the business or caller.
Protect accounts if needed
If you shared account access, passwords, verification codes, remote access, or payment information, contact your bank, card issuer, or account provider through verified channels.
Report fraud patterns federally, too
You may also report scam details to ReportFraud.ftc.gov to help federal agencies track fraud patterns.
Use the FCC Consumer Complaint Center
The FCC accepts complaints involving unwanted calls or texts, robocalls, spoofing, blocked or mislabeled numbers, and phone service issues.
Choose phone issues
FCC phone issue categories include robocalls, unwanted calls and texts, spoofing, billing, coverage, number porting, and more.
Share your details
Tell the FCC what happened and include the date, time, number shown, numbers provided, and whether your number was spoofed or mislabeled.
What To Do When a Suspicious Call or Text Comes In
Do not rely on caller ID alone. Scammers can make calls or texts look like they come from a local number, government agency, bank, business, or someone you know.
Unknown Caller
(515) 000-0000Looks local. Sounds urgent. Could still be fake.
Caller ID Spoofing
Spoofing means a caller deliberately falsifies caller ID information to disguise who they are or make the call look trustworthy.
Neighbor spoofing
The call appears to come from your area code or a nearby number.
Business spoofing
The caller ID may display a bank, retailer, delivery company, utility, or tech company.
Government spoofing
Scammers may pretend to be from law enforcement, a court, the IRS, Medicare, or another agency.
Common Spoofed Caller Scenarios
IRS or Tax Impersonator
A caller threatens arrest, lawsuits, or immediate payment for taxes. Hang up and report it.
Utility Shutoff Threat
A caller says your power, gas, or water will be shut off unless you pay immediately. Contact the utility using a verified number.
Family Emergency or Grandparent Scam
A caller claims a loved one is hurt, jailed, or stranded. Pause, verify, and call the person or another family member directly.
Tech Support Caller
A caller claims your computer has a virus or your account is compromised. Do not give remote access or payment information.
Bank or Account Verification
A caller asks for codes, passwords, or account details. Hang up and use the number on your card or official statement.
Do Not Call: What It Does and Does Not Do
The National Do Not Call Registry does not block calls and does not stop scammers. It applies to many sales calls from real companies that follow the law.
Some calls may still be allowed, including:
- Political campaign calls
- Calls from tax-exempt or non-profit organizations
- Calls based on a prior business relationship or prior consent
- Debt, contract, payment, health, safety, or emergency-related calls
Report by Scenario
Unwanted Telemarketing or Robocalls
Report unwanted sales calls or robocalls to the National Do Not Call Registry or FTC.
Report to Do Not CallSpoofing, Robotexts or Number Labeling
Report spoofed numbers, robotexts, and unwanted communications to the FCC.
Report to FCCMoney Lost or Fraud Details
If you lost money or shared personal information, report the fraud and save records.
Report to FTCIRS Impersonation
Hang up, write down the number, and report IRS impersonation attempts.
Report to TIGTAIowa Consumer Complaint
If the issue involves an Iowa consumer transaction or business, you may also contact our office.
File with the Consumer Protection DivisionInternet or Cyber-Enabled Scam
If the call or text led to an online scam, account compromise, phishing link, remote access, or internet-enabled fraud, you may also report it to IC3.
Report to IC3How To Reduce Unwanted Calls
No single tool stops every unwanted call. FTC guidance emphasizes call blocking and call labeling as important tools because scammers may ignore the Do Not Call Registry.
Layer your defenses
Use built-in phone settings, provider tools, call-blocking or labeling services, and reporting tools together.
Use built-in settings, carrier tools, or reputable call-blocking apps.
Ask your provider about call-blocking and call-labeling services for VoIP or bundled phone service.
Check with your provider about call-blocking devices or services that work with your line.
Use device blocking tools, carrier reporting options, and avoid clicking links in suspicious texts.
National Do Not Call Registry
The National Do Not Call Registry is designed to stop sales calls from real companies that follow the law, but it does not block calls and it does not stop scammers.
Register, then block and report
Registering can reduce calls from legitimate telemarketers. For scam calls and illegal robocalls, use call blocking and reporting tools.
You can register a home or cell number at DoNotCall.gov.
The Registry tells registered telemarketers what numbers not to call.
Scammers may ignore the Registry, so blocking and reporting remain important.
Use DoNotCall.gov or ReportFraud.ftc.gov depending on what happened.
Warning Signs
Scammers often use pressure, fear, fake urgency, and hard-to-reverse payments.
No real agency or company requires payment by gift card.
These payments are often difficult to recover.
Never read a code to someone who contacted you unexpectedly.
Do not give control of your device to unexpected callers.
Scammers may threaten arrest, lawsuits, account closure, or service shutoff.
Be suspicious if someone tells you not to talk to your bank, family, or law enforcement.
Scammers may pretend to issue refunds while stealing access to your accounts.
Unexpected tech support calls are a major warning sign.
What Details Should I Save?
Reports are more useful when they include specific information, even if the number shown may have been spoofed.
This helps identify who was targeted.
Report it even if you believe it may be fake or spoofed.
Save numbers the caller or text instructed you to contact.
Save voicemail, text screenshots, payment demands, and what the caller claimed.
Ready to Report?
If an unwanted call or text led to a purchase, billing dispute, subscription issue, service problem, or loss of money, you may contact the Consumer Protection Division.
File a Consumer Complaint
Use this option if you want the Consumer Protection Division to review a consumer issue involving a business, seller, service provider, or other consumer transaction.
