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

Quick answer: Report to the federal IC3 (ic3.gov) and the FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov), and in New Jersey file a complaint with the Division of Consumer Affairs (njconsumeraffairs.gov, 800-242-5846), report the cyber incident to the NJCCIC (cyber.nj.gov/report), and notify the New Jersey State Police or your local police. Then call your bank now.

What to do in 3 steps

1. Call your bank now. Tell them the transaction was fraud, ask them to stop or recall the payment and freeze the account, and ask for a SWIFT recall or a card chargeback. Under federal Regulation E your liability for an unauthorized debit can be capped at $50 if you report within two business days, so the call matters more than anything else.
2. File the federal and state reports. Report to the FBI's IC3 at ic3.gov and the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. In New Jersey, file a complaint with the Division of Consumer Affairs (njconsumeraffairs.gov or 800-242-5846), and report the cyber incident to the NJCCIC at cyber.nj.gov/report, the state's cybersecurity agency. Keep every reference number.
3. Report to police and protect your identity. Notify the New Jersey State Police or your local police department to create a report. If your personal data was exposed or stolen, start a recovery plan at IdentityTheft.gov.

How recovery actually works

For unauthorized card or account charges, your bank is generally required to investigate and reimburse you under Regulation E or the Fair Credit Billing Act, provided you report promptly. For payments you were deceived into sending yourself, there is no mandatory reimbursement scheme in the United States, so your only real chance is the bank freezing or clawing back the money before the recipient withdraws it. That is why minutes count. The NJCCIC adds a New Jersey-specific layer: it coordinates with the New Jersey State Police Cyber Crimes Unit, the FBI, and federal partners to help victims respond and to track threats across the state, and it can connect you with the right responders. Once money is moved overseas or into cryptocurrency it is rarely recovered, and no legitimate service charges an upfront fee to get it back.

What to have ready

• The amount, date, and method of each payment (account and routing numbers, card, wire, Zelle, or crypto wallet)
• Who you paid: the account name, platform, or website used
• The scammer's phone numbers, emails, URLs, and social-media handles
• Screenshots of messages, ads, and payment confirmations
• Your bank's fraud-case number and any IC3, FTC, or police reference numbers

Frequently asked questions

Where do I report cybercrime in New Jersey? Report federally to IC3 (ic3.gov) and the FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov). In New Jersey, file with the Division of Consumer Affairs (800-242-5846), report the cyber incident to the NJCCIC at cyber.nj.gov/report, and notify the New Jersey State Police or your local police.

What is the NJCCIC and why report to it? The New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell is the state's official cyber agency. It accepts incident reports from residents and organizations, shares threat intelligence, and works with the State Police, FBI, and federal partners to help victims respond and recover.

Will I get my money back? If the transaction was unauthorized and you report it quickly, your bank usually must refund it under federal law. If you were tricked into sending the payment yourself, there is no guaranteed refund, and recovery depends on the bank recalling the funds before they are withdrawn.

Sources

• New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs — File a Complaint (800-242-5846)
• NJCCIC — Report a Cyber Incident
• New Jersey State Police
• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
• FTC — ReportFraud.ftc.gov
• FTC — IdentityTheft.gov

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