The FTC Is Not a Court — It’s a Federal Agency

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is an independent U.S. government agency created by Congress in 1914. Its job is to protect consumers and promote fair competition—not to hear lawsuits or award money. That means you *cannot* ‘file a case’ against a company in the FTC like you would in small claims court. Instead, the FTC collects complaints to spot patterns of fraud, investigate companies, and take legal action when laws are broken. If you’ve been scammed or misled, reporting to the FTC helps protect others—even if you don’t get your money back directly.

Small claims court is run by your state or local government and handles private disputes where you sue for money (usually under $5,000–$15,000, depending on the state). The FTC does not operate courts, issue judgments, or enforce individual debt collection.

Think of the FTC as a watchdog: your complaint adds to national data that may trigger investigations, fines, or court orders against bad actors—but it won’t replace filing in small claims court if you want compensation.

How to File a Complaint with the FTC (Step-by-Step)

Filing a complaint with the FTC is simple, secure, and always free. As of 2026, the official and only recommended way is through the FTC’s online portal: ReportFraud.ftc.gov. You do not need a lawyer, pay a fee, or mail paperwork. The form takes about 5–10 minutes and works on phones, tablets, or computers.

1. Go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov (bookmark it—it’s the FTC’s official site; avoid lookalike domains).

2. Select the type of issue (e.g., 'Imposter Scam', 'Online Shopping Problem', 'Credit or Debit Card Fraud').

3. Answer clear, plain-English questions about what happened, who was involved, and when.

4. Upload documents (optional but helpful): receipts, screenshots, emails, or contracts.

5. Review and submit. You’ll get a confirmation number and email receipt.

What Happens After You File

Once submitted, your complaint becomes part of the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network—a secure database shared with over 3,000 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies across the U.S. The FTC itself does not resolve individual disputes or recover your money—but your report helps identify trends, build cases, and stop widespread scams.

For example, if hundreds of people report the same fake tech support number, the FTC may sue the operators or refer the case to the Department of Justice for criminal charges.

You won’t receive personal updates on your report—but you *can* check the FTC’s public complaint database (at ftc.gov/complaintdata) to see anonymized trends by location or industry.

If you want money back, consider filing in your state’s small claims court *in addition to* reporting to the FTC. Some states even let you use your FTC complaint as supporting evidence.

What the FTC Can’t Do (And What to Do Instead)

The FTC has important powers—but real limits. It cannot force a company to refund *you* personally, reverse a credit card charge, or represent you in court. It also doesn’t handle complaints about most banks (those go to the CFPB), workplace issues (go to the DOL), or local zoning or landlord disputes (handled by city/county agencies).

✅ Do report to the FTC if: You were scammed online, pressured into a loan, signed up for a fake government program, or sold a product that never arrived.

❌ Don’t report to the FTC if: You’re disputing a credit card charge (contact your bank first), have a contract dispute with a contractor (file in small claims), or need help with Social Security benefits (contact SSA directly).

💡 Pro tip for 2026: Use the FTC’s free tools like IdentityTheft.gov (for identity theft recovery plans) or ftc.gov/scamalerts (to check current scams in your area).

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