THE SHORT ANSWER
Contain the loss first, then route the same evidence by agency scope
Contact the bank, card issuer or payment service immediately and ask about recall, reversal or dispute options. Preserve originals and secure compromised accounts. Report consumer fraud to the FTC, cyber-enabled conduct to FBI IC3, possible securities violations to the SEC and brokerage conduct to FINRA. A report records the event; it does not guarantee investigation or recovery.
FIRST HOUR
Prioritize actions whose value decays with time
- Stop communication and do not send another payment, code, document or shipment.
- Contact the payment provider using a verified number and ask for the correct fraud procedure.
- Change exposed passwords, revoke remote access and secure email and phone accounts.
- Preserve original messages, headers, invoices, statements and transaction references.
- Contact local emergency services if anyone faces immediate danger.
REPORTING MAP
Choose channels by conduct, not by the word “gold”
EVIDENCE PACKET
Give each report a reproducible transaction chronology
Include who contacted whom, every claimed identity, dates and time zones, product and price, payment method, beneficiary, transaction references, custody or delivery promises, websites, domains, phone numbers and the loss amount. IC3 says it does not collect evidence attachments through its complaint process and instructs complainants to retain supporting evidence safely. Save or print the filing confirmation when the form offers one.
RECOVERY-SCAM BOUNDARY
A second contact may be monetizing the first loss
FTC and Investor.gov warn that fraud victims may be targeted by unexpected recovery offers. Do not pay an advance fee or disclose banking credentials because someone claims access to a regulator, secret fund, asset freeze or guaranteed recovery. Independently locate the agency or professional and verify through its official channel.
OFFICIAL SOURCES
Regulator, consumer-protection and law-enforcement guidance
- Joint CFTC/FINRA physical-metals advisory for rollover pitches, spreads, fees and dealer questions.
- SEC, NASAA and FINRA self-directed IRA alert for custodian limitations, fake-custodian risk, liquidity and independent valuation.
- FTC post-scam action guide for payment-specific recall, dispute and account-security steps.
- FBI IC3 business-email-compromise guidance for changed payment instructions, verified callbacks and urgent bank contact.
- FTC ReportFraud, FBI IC3 complaint and SEC TCR are different reporting channels with different scopes.
- FINRA investor help covers complaints involving brokerage firms or their employees.
Reviewed July 31, 2026. Reporting forms, jurisdiction and recovery options can change. Open the current official page and preserve the confirmation number for every submission.
FAQ
Precious-metals fraud reporting questions
Where should I report a precious-metals scam?
Start with the payment provider for urgent recall or dispute options. FTC ReportFraud covers consumer scams, IC3 covers cyber-enabled crime, SEC TCR covers possible securities-law violations, and FINRA complaints cover brokerage firms or employees. More than one channel may apply.
Should I wait until every document is organized?
No. Do not delay a time-sensitive bank recall, account-security action or local emergency response. Preserve what exists, make the urgent contact and continue building the record.
Will filing an IC3 complaint recover my money?
No. IC3 says complaints are reviewed and may be referred to law enforcement, but investigation is discretionary and IC3 does not provide status updates.
Should I pay a company that promises to recover my gold loss?
Be extremely cautious. FTC and Investor.gov warn about recovery services that unexpectedly contact victims and demand advance fees or sensitive financial information.