How to report a scam in Maryland

Scammed? Call your bank or card company first. Calling quickly may improve the chance of stopping a payment, but recovery isn't guaranteed. Then use the list below.

Attorney-General-Brown-Issues-Warning-on-Investment-Scams-on-Meta-Platforms-.aspx source: https://oag.maryland.gov/News/Pages/Consumer-Alert-Beware-of-Scam-Targeting-Owners-of-Lost-Pets-in-Maryland.aspx

Who to report to in Maryland

• Maryland Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division. Consumer Hotline: 410-528-8662. Toll-free in Maryland: 1-888-743-0023. Spanish: 410-230-1712. File a complaint against a business. Consumer Protection Division.
• Your local police. File a report. Your bank may ask for it.

Phone numbers and links last verified Oct. 21, 2026. Check the agency's official contact page before calling.

Federal places to report (all states)

• FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov for most scams.
• FBI IC3: ic3.gov for online scams, crypto, and email payment scams.
• Identity theft: IdentityTheft.gov gives you a recovery plan.

Maryland scam numbers

FBI, 2025. Maryland residents reported 19,430 internet crimes to the FBI's IC3, 17th in the U.S. Reported losses were $390,242,821, 15th. That's 310.1 complaints per 100,000 people, 8th per person. (FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, 2025 Internet Crime Report, state data appendix)

Crypto, 2025. Maryland residents filed 3,226 crypto complaints with reported losses of $246,476,431. (According to the FBI.)

Older adults, 2025. Maryland residents age 60 or older filed 4,573 complaints and reported losses of $176,380,737. (According to the FBI.)

FTC, 2024. Maryland had 111,041 fraud and other reports to the FTC. Reported fraud losses were $198.9 million, and the median (middle) loss was $435. Maryland ranked 5th of 50 states for reports per 100,000 people (1,799). It also had 19,990 identity theft reports, ranking 10th. The top three report types were credit bureaus (28%), identity theft (15%), and imposter scams (11%). (FTC, Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2024)

These numbers only count people who reported. Many people don't, so real losses are likely higher. FTC figures come from unverified consumer reports, not a survey.

Scams Maryland officials are warning about

• Investment scams on social media. In April 2026, the Attorney General warned about fake investment ads and "deepfake" videos on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, including "pump and dump" and crypto schemes. (Maryland AG consumer alert, April 6, 2026)
• Lost pet scams. In May 2025, the Attorney General warned about scammers who find lost-pet posts, fake an animal shelter's caller ID, and demand money for an "injured" pet. (Maryland AG consumer alert, May 16, 2025)

What to do right now

1. Stop all contact. If a caller says they have your lost pet and need money first, hang up and call the shelter yourself.
2. Call your bank or card company and ask whether the payment can be stopped or reversed.
3. Change passwords on any account the scammer touched, and turn on two-step login.
4. Save proof: screenshots, texts, emails, call logs, receipts, and phone numbers.
5. Report it to the state agency listed above, plus the FTC or IC3.
6. Beware of "recovery" offers. A request for a fee to get your money back is a common warning sign of a recovery scam.

Nearby states

• How to report a scam in Delaware
• How to report a scam in District of Columbia
• How to report a scam in Virginia

Learn more

• How to report a scam anywhere in the U.S.
• How a $25 million email payment scam worked
• The fake closing email that cost $1.3 million

Last checked October 2026. Phone numbers and links come from each agency's official website. Agencies change them, so check the agency's site if something doesn't work. FraudMeNot is an independent publisher. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting for any government agency listed here. Links go to official sites. We can't take reports or get your money back. General education only, not legal, financial, tax or security advice. No guarantee. Consult a qualified professional. Stories may be dramatized or composite; see each label. See our disclaimer. Found an error? Tell us.