How to report a scam in Virginia

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 Virginia

• Virginia Attorney General, Consumer Protection. Consumer protection. Hotline: 804-786-2042.
• 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.

Virginia scam numbers

FBI, 2025. Virginia residents reported 25,314 internet crimes to the FBI's IC3, 12th in the U.S. Reported losses were $476,120,025, 10th. That's 285.1 complaints per 100,000 people, 17th per person. (FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, 2025 Internet Crime Report, state data appendix)

Crypto, 2025. Virginia residents filed 4,246 crypto complaints with reported losses of $261,243,361. (According to the FBI.)

Older adults, 2025. Virginia residents age 60 or older filed 5,509 complaints and reported losses of $220,941,233. (According to the FBI.)

FTC, 2024. Virginia had 117,836 fraud and other reports to the FTC. Reported fraud losses were $293.7 million, and the median (middle) loss was $450. Virginia ranked 16th of 50 states for reports per 100,000 people (1,361). It also had 18,460 identity theft reports, ranking 23rd. The top three report types were credit bureaus (19%), imposter scams (14%), and identity theft (14%). (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 Virginia officials are warning about

• Scams on grieving families. In March 2026, the Attorney General warned about fake funeral home calls demanding payment. (AG release, March 5, 2026)
• Gift cards and remote access. In March 2026, the Attorney General warned about IRS impostors, gift card demands, and remote access scams. (AG release, March 6, 2026)
• Tax debt settlement companies. In April 2026, the Attorney General warned about tax debt settlement companies that use fear of the IRS and make promises they can't keep. (AG release, April 15, 2026)

What to do right now

1. Stop all contact. Call the funeral home back at its real number.
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 Maryland
• How to report a scam in North Carolina
• How to report a scam in West 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.