How to report a scam in Ohio

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.

Who to report to in Ohio

• Ohio Attorney General. File a complaint online. Call 1-800-282-0515.
• 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.

Ohio scam numbers

FBI, 2025. Ohio residents reported 27,626 internet crimes to the FBI's IC3, 8th in the U.S. Reported losses were $421,289,526, 13th. That's 232.1 complaints per 100,000 people, 33rd per person. (FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, 2025 Internet Crime Report, state data appendix)

Crypto, 2025. Ohio residents filed 4,925 crypto complaints with reported losses of $208,874,675. (According to the FBI.)

Older adults, 2025. Ohio residents age 60 or older filed 6,948 complaints and reported losses of $163,748,647. (According to the FBI.)

FTC, 2024. Ohio had 131,319 fraud and other reports to the FTC. Reported fraud losses were $226.2 million, and the median (middle) loss was $350. Ohio ranked 26th of 50 states for reports per 100,000 people (1,115). It also had 27,766 identity theft reports, ranking 22nd. The top three report types were identity theft (17%), credit bureaus (17%), and imposter scams (13%). (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 Ohio officials are warning about

• Fake parking and toll fine texts. In March 2026, the Attorney General warned about texts with fake court documents and QR codes demanding payment. (AG release, March 5, 2026)
• Fake "payment notices". In June 2026, the Attorney General's consumer newsletter warned about impostors who send fake payment notices that look like real companies. (AG Consumer Advocate newsletter, June 10, 2026)
• Fake BMV parking ticket texts. In March 2026, the Ohio BMV warned about texts saying you have an unpaid parking ticket and must pay now to avoid a license suspension. (Ohio BMV release, March 6, 2026)

What to do right now

1. Stop all contact. Don't scan the QR code in a "fine" text. Look up the court's real phone number 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 Pennsylvania
• How to report a scam in Michigan
• How to report a scam in Indiana

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.