Question 1

Where does this data come from?

Accepted Answer

The Federal Trade Commission's consumer complaint database. Every report filed by U.S. consumers about unwanted calls, texts, robocalls, and scams gets recorded by the FTC, and we sync new reports into our map every 24 hours.

Question 2

Does this show where scammers are, or where victims are?

Accepted Answer

Where victims are. Each dot or shaded state represents where the person who filed the complaint lives — not where the scammer was calling from. Scammers routinely spoof caller IDs, use VOIP lines, and operate overseas, so the caller's real location is rarely knowable.

Question 3

How current is the map?

Accepted Answer

The map refreshes every night at 3 AM UTC with the latest complaints. The FTC itself publishes with a roughly 1–2 day lag, so activity from the last 24 hours may not appear immediately.

Question 4

Why isn't my city on the map?

Accepted Answer

Either there are no reports in the time window you've selected, or your city isn't in our geocoded list yet. We started with ~200 major cities and are adding more as we see real traffic. Try widening the window to "Last month" or click a state to see the top cities within it.

Question 5

How do I report a scam?

Accepted Answer

File a complaint at reportfraud.ftc.gov or donotcall.gov — your report directly improves this map. You can also check a phone number or message with our free tools before answering.

Where are scams happening right now?

Frequently asked questions