Report a crime

Find out who to contact to get immediate help in an emergency and file a police report. Understand and report different types of crime.

Alert

If you are experiencing an emergency, dial 911 immediately.

To report an emergency outside your area, you must contact the local law enforcement agency where the emergency is taking place. Search online for that local law enforcement agency’s website to find their 10-digit phone number.

How to file a police report or report crime anonymously

To file a police report, search online for the local law enforcement agency’s contact information where the crime occurred.

Most local law enforcement agencies accept anonymous tips or crime reports online or by phone. They may also have an online system or dedicated phone line to report a non-emergency crime. To learn more, contact your local police department.

Crimes involving children

Child abuse and neglect:

• Call 911 in an emergency.
• Contact your state child protective agency.
• Contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline:Call 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453).
• Text 1-800-422-4453.
• Report abuse through live chat.

Child pornography

• File a report online at CyberTipline.org.
• Call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).

Kidnapping inside the U.S.

• Call 911 in an emergency
• Call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678). Learn what to do if your child is missing.

International kidnapping

• If your child is still in the U.S., call 911. And learn from the Department of State how to stop a child abduction in progress.
• If a parent or legal guardian has abducted your child and taken them abroad, contact:Your local law enforcement
• The Department of State Office of Children’s Issues

Human trafficking

• File a report online at CyberTipline.org.
• Call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).

Domestic abuse

• Call 911 in an emergency.
• For help, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline:Call 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233).
• Text “START” to 88788.

Internet crime

• Report internet crime to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
• Contact your local FBI field office.

Human trafficking

• Call 911 in an emergency.
• Report a tip or find victim support by contacting the Human Trafficking Hotline:Call 1-888-373-7888.
• Text HELP to 233733 (BEFREE).
• Email help@humantraffickinghotline.org.
• Chat live online through the Human Trafficking Hotline Web Chat.

Sexual assault

• Call 911 in an emergency.
• Connect with a counselor anonymously by calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (1-800-656-4673).
• Talk to an advocate, and find resources in your state by calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233).
• If you or someone you know is the victim of teen dating violence, contact Love Is Respect:Call 1-866-331-9474.
• Text LOVEIS to 22522.
• Chat live online.

Restraining orders

• Call 911 in an emergency.
• To file for a restraining order against someone, you must contact your local court system. Learn more about restraining orders from the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Call them at 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233) to find resources near you.

Stalking

• Call 911 if you are in immediate danger.
• Contact the National Center for Victims of Crime’s VictimConnect Resource Center at 1-855-4-VICTIM (1-855-484-2846) to find resources and understand your rights.

Hate crimes

• Call 911 if you are in immediate danger.
• Report hate crimes to the FBI:

Submit a tip online to the FBI.

• Call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).

Bomb threat

• Contact your building’s supervisor first.
• If you cannot reach your building supervisor, call 911.
• Learn more about bomb threats from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and what to do:

If someone makes the bomb threat by phone

• If you discover a suspicious item that you think may be a bomb

Organized crime

• Call 911 if you are in immediate danger.
• Report organized crime to the FBI:

Submit a tip online to the FBI.

• Call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).

Whistleblower protection

If you have experienced retaliation for reporting workplace violations, learn how to file a whistleblower complaint.

Report international crimes

To report an international crime, contact your local law enforcement agency. They may ask Interpol to help.

Interpol is an intergovernmental agency that helps national police agencies work together to solve international crimes. However, Interpol does not accept crime reports directly from the public.

Theft and property crime

• Call 911 if you are in immediate danger.
• To report a theft or property crime, contact your local law enforcement agency.

Scams and fraud

Several government agencies accept scam reports. Use USAGov's tool to determine to find out where to report it.

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