Does reporting actually do anything?

Yes. Reports help the FTC and FBI spot patterns and warn the public, help platforms remove scam accounts, and create the record you may need if you dispute a charge or a check with your bank. It also reduces how many other people get caught.

Do I need to have lost money to report?

No. You can and should report a scam attempt even if you lost nothing. Reporting the lure helps agencies and platforms shut it down before it reaches someone else.

What information should I include?

Whatever you have: the messages, the recruiter's name and email, the company named, any links, phone numbers, payment details, and dates. More detail makes the report more useful and easier to act on.

How do I report a job scam?

Reporting a job scam takes a few minutes and does real good: it warns others, helps shut the scam down, and builds the record you may need with your bank. Report in more than one place.

Where to report

The FTC: file at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. This is the main US channel for scams of any kind.
The FBI's IC3: if it happened online, file at ic3.gov, the FBI's internet-crime center.
The platform: report the listing or profile on LinkedIn, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, Facebook, or wherever you found it. For a scam text, forward it to 7726 (SPAM).
The BBB: add it to the BBB Scam Tracker so other job seekers see the warning.

What to include

Gather the messages, the recruiter's name and email, the company named, any links and phone numbers, payment or check details, and the dates. More detail makes the report more useful, and keeping copies protects you if there is a dispute later. Screenshots are better than retyped notes, since they capture the exact wording, addresses, and timestamps, and if the scam reached you on a platform, include the username and a link to the profile or post so it can be acted on quickly.

If you lost money or data

Reporting is one step. Also work through the recovery checklist, and if a "job" had you move money or packages, see did I become a money mule. Keep every confirmation number you receive.

What next

Reporting closes the loop on a scam you already spotted. To catch the next one before it costs you anything, paste any suspicious posting or message into the free checker. The complete guide covers the warning signs in full.