How to Report Cybercrime in Michigan (and Get Your Money Back)

Quick answer: Report to the federal FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, AND in Michigan file an Attorney General Consumer Protection complaint (michigan.gov/ag, 877-765-8388) plus a report with your local police or the Michigan State Police. If money moved, call your bank or card issuer right now, before you do anything else, because speed is what gets funds frozen.

What to do in 3 steps

1. Call your bank or card issuer immediately. Report the transaction as fraud, ask them to freeze the account, attempt a recall or chargeback, and open a written dispute. For an unauthorized electronic transfer, notifying your bank within 2 business days caps your liability at $50 under federal Regulation E. Change your online banking password and write down the date, time, and name of whoever you speak with.
2. File the federal reports. File a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov and report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If your Social Security number or identity was used, also start a personal recovery plan at IdentityTheft.gov. Save the IC3 complaint number; banks and police will ask for it.
3. File the Michigan reports. Submit a complaint to the Michigan Attorney General's Consumer Protection division online at michigan.gov/ag/complaints or by phone at 877-765-8388, and file a report in person with your local police department, sheriff's office, or Michigan State Police post. If a Michigan business, nonprofit, or public entity was hacked (ransomware, business email compromise, network intrusion), the Michigan State Police Cyber Command Center (MC3) can be reached at 877-MI-CYBER (877-642-9237) or [email protected].

How recovery actually works

There is no single button that returns your money. Recovery happens through your bank's fraud and dispute process, sometimes backed by law enforcement. The single biggest factor is time. If funds are still sitting in the receiving account, your bank may be able to freeze or claw them back; once the money is withdrawn or moved abroad it is usually gone. For unauthorized card and bank transactions, your bank must investigate disputes and restore funds where the law requires. For scams where you sent the payment yourself, banks are not generally obligated to refund you, but a fast recall request can still work, and the FBI's IC3, working with banks, has at times helped freeze fraudulent wire and crypto transfers when victims report within hours or days. Your Michigan reports and your IC3 complaint number are the paper trail that supports every dispute, so file everything even if one channel cannot promise a refund.

What to have ready

• The exact dates, amounts, and reference or confirmation numbers of every fraudulent transaction
• The account, card, or wire details the money came from, and where it went if you know (account number, crypto wallet address, recipient name)
• All messages, emails, texts, caller IDs, website addresses, and screenshots from the scammer
• Your bank's fraud-department phone number and any case or dispute number they gave you
• Your FBI IC3 complaint number and your FTC report number once filed
• A simple timeline of what happened, in order, with the date and time you first noticed the loss

Frequently asked questions

Should I report to Michigan police or to the FBI? Both. There is no conflict. File the federal IC3 and FTC reports online, and also file locally so there is a record with a Michigan agency. Individuals are asked to file in person with the police department, sheriff's office, or Michigan State Police post that covers where they live; the MC3 handles criminal network intrusions affecting Michigan organizations.

Will the Michigan Attorney General get my money back? The Attorney General's Consumer Protection division informally mediates complaints, often by contacting the business involved on your behalf, which can resolve disputes with legitimate companies. It does not act as your personal lawyer or guarantee a refund, but filing builds the official record and helps the office spot patterns to act against bad actors. Your bank dispute is still the main route for getting funds returned.

How fast do I have to act to limit my losses? For unauthorized electronic transfers, reporting to your bank within 2 business days of noticing caps your liability at $50 under federal Regulation E; waiting longer can raise that to $500 or more, and waiting beyond 60 days after your statement can leave you fully exposed. For any scam where money moved, call the bank the moment you realize it, because a freeze is only possible while the funds are still there.

Sources

• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) - file a federal cybercrime complaint; source of the 2024 Michigan complaint and loss figures (2024 IC3 Annual Report)
• Michigan Attorney General: File a Complaint - Consumer Protection complaint, 877-765-8388
• Michigan State Police: Michigan Cyber Command Center (MC3) - reporting guidance for criminal cyber incidents
• FTC ReportFraud - report fraud and scams to the Federal Trade Commission
• IdentityTheft.gov (FTC) - personal recovery plan if your identity was stolen
• CFPB Regulation E, 12 CFR 1005.6 - consumer liability limits for unauthorized electronic fund transfers

For step-by-step reporting and recovery guides covering other countries, see our cybercrime help hub.