How to report a scam in Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania

• Pennsylvania Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection. Call 800-441-2555 or email [email protected]. Contact info.
• 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.

Pennsylvania scam numbers

FBI, 2025. Pennsylvania residents reported 31,154 internet crimes to the FBI's IC3, 6th in the U.S. Reported losses were $537,787,231, 7th. That's 238.6 complaints per 100,000 people, 29th per person. (FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, 2025 Internet Crime Report, state data appendix)

Crypto, 2025. Pennsylvania residents filed 5,118 crypto complaints with reported losses of $292,893,338. (According to the FBI.)

Older adults, 2025. Pennsylvania residents age 60 or older filed 7,088 complaints and reported losses of $215,887,466. (According to the FBI.)

FTC, 2024. Pennsylvania had 184,269 fraud and other reports to the FTC. Reported fraud losses were $285.4 million, and the median (middle) loss was $350. Pennsylvania ranked 12th of 50 states for reports per 100,000 people (1,419). It also had 37,717 identity theft reports, ranking 14th. The top three report types were credit bureaus (28%), identity theft (17%), 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 Pennsylvania officials are warning about

• Fake sheriff calls. In August 2026, the Attorney General warned of more calls from scammers posing as county sheriff offices who demand "bail" money. (AG release, Aug. 7, 2026)
• Social media investment scams. In April 2026, the Attorney General warned about investment scams on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. (AG release, April 6, 2026)

What to do right now

1. Stop all contact. Hang up on anyone who says you must pay the sheriff now.
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 New Jersey
• How to report a scam in New York
• How to report a scam in Ohio

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.