Report a Problem
You do not need to know which government agency handles your problem. Tell JAIP what happened, check all that apply, and we will show you the reporting resources most likely to fit the situation.
Start with what happened.
Many incidents involve more than one issue. A cloned employer page that collects personal information, for example, may fit the FTC, FBI IC3, a state consumer protection office and IdentityTheft.gov if identity information was actually compromised.
Legal & Reporting Disclaimer
JAIP is provided at no charge as a public service. It provides educational information and links to public reporting resources. It does not provide legal advice, and use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.
JAIP is not a law-enforcement agency, regulator or government office. The reporting suggestions shown here are based only on the circumstances you select. They are not a legal determination that any law was violated, that a particular agency has jurisdiction, or that any person or organization committed fraud or other wrongdoing.
JAIP does not guarantee that any agency will accept, investigate or act on a complaint, and does not guarantee any recovery, enforcement action or other result. Agency procedures, jurisdiction and filing deadlines can change. Always review the official agency instructions and meet any applicable deadline yourself. Submitting information to JAIP does not file a government complaint or preserve a legal deadline.
If you need advice about your legal rights, obligations, deadlines or a specific claim, consult a qualified attorney or the appropriate government agency.
What happened?
Based on what you checked, these reporting paths may fit your situation.
More than one report may be appropriate. JAIP is helping you locate the right government resources and does not replace those agencies.
Start with consumer-protection and scam reporting
The strongest starting points are usually the Federal Trade Commission and your state consumer protection office. Add FBI IC3 if the issue involved online impersonation, phishing, account compromise or financial fraud.
- Primary channels: FTC, State Consumer Protection Office
- Add when cyber-enabled: FBI IC3
- Preserve: job URL, Apply URL, redirect chain, screenshots, recruiter identity, dates, payment requests and what was submitted
Preserve the copied identity and report the impersonation
When someone appears to be using a real employer's name, job, logo or recruiter identity, preserve both the authoritative posting and the copied version. Report cyber-enabled impersonation to FBI IC3 and deceptive conduct to the FTC. Notify the legitimate employer as well.
- Primary channels: FBI IC3, FTC
- Also consider: State Consumer Protection Office
- Preserve: original employer URL, copied listing, suspicious domain, screenshots, recruiter communications and application path
Use identity-theft and privacy reporting resources
If personal or sensitive information was actually exposed, IdentityTheft.gov should usually be one of your first stops. Depending on what happened, you may also need the FTC, FBI IC3, SSA OIG, IRS or a state privacy regulator.
- Primary channel: IdentityTheft.gov
- Additional channels may include: FTC, FBI IC3, SSA OIG, IRS, state privacy regulator
- Preserve: what information was shared, where it was shared, dates, confirmations, misuse notices and affected accounts
Use the agency that matches the rights issue
Employment discrimination, citizenship or work-authorization discrimination, federal-contractor discrimination, military-service rights and certain labor-rights issues each have specialized reporting channels and filing deadlines.
- Primary channels may include: EEOC, DOJ IER, DOL OFCCP, DOL VETS, NLRB
- Watch deadlines: some complaints have strict filing windows
- Preserve: posting, application, dates, adverse decision, statements made, policies, messages and interview notes
Document the report, dispute history and adverse action
When a third-party background report, worker score or other employment report is inaccurate, consumer-reporting laws may apply. Preserve the report, the adverse-action notice, employer communications and any dispute submissions.
- Primary resources: CFPB and the consumer reporting company
- Preserve: copy of the report, dispute letters, adverse-action notice and corrections requested
- Also helpful: employer name, screening company name and the exact inaccurate data
Use communications-related reporting channels when they fit
Scam calls, spoofed numbers and unwanted recruiting texts may belong with the FCC. If U.S. Mail was used in a fake job, payment or check scheme, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service can be relevant. Broader scam facts may also fit the FTC or FBI IC3.
- Primary channels may include: FCC, U.S. Postal Inspection Service
- Also consider: FTC, FBI IC3
- Preserve: numbers used, message content, envelopes, checks, tracking information, email headers and screenshots
Build your evidence file before the page disappears
Good reports are factual, specific and reproducible. Save original evidence whenever possible.
- Job title and employer represented
- Original job-posting URL
- Employer's official career-site URL, if known
- Date and time you viewed or applied
- Full-page screenshots or a saved PDF of the posting
- The URL behind the Apply button
- Every redirect or domain you passed through
- The final application destination
- Names, logos and company identities displayed at each step
- Recruiter name, email address, phone number and profile URL
- Emails, text messages and offer letters
- What personal information was requested
- What information you actually submitted
- Any request for money, gift cards, crypto, checks or equipment purchases
- Any application confirmation or receipt
- Whether the real employer confirmed the job or application
- Any financial loss or identity misuse
If you are an employer
Preserve the authoritative posting and enough evidence to show what was published in your name.
- Your original job posting and canonical employer URL
- Job ID, publication date and close date
- Unauthorized or unexpected copies of the job
- Unauthorized use of your logo, brand or employee identities
- Observed Apply URLs and redirect chain
- Evidence that applications were diverted, intercepted or not received
- Applicant reports describing what they experienced
- Dates the issue was first observed
- Takedown or correction requests sent to the platform
- The platform's response
How to describe the problem
State what you observed and distinguish it from what you suspect. Avoid overstating what the evidence proves.
Suggested factual format
“I encountered an online job advertisement that appeared to represent an employment opportunity with [Employer]. The application path directed applicants to [URL/domain]. I am reporting the matter because [brief factual explanation]. The employer's official job or career page is [URL, if known]. I preserved screenshots, URLs and communications documenting the application path.”
Report to more than one agency when the facts fit
Government agencies have different jurisdictions. Filing with one agency does not necessarily replace another reporting channel. For example, financial loss, identity theft, discrimination and cyber-enabled impersonation may involve separate authorities.
Open the Government Reporting Resources Directory