Fighting Back: A Songwriter's Guide to Reporting Scams and Protecting the Community

Fighting Back: A Songwriter's Guide to Reporting Scams and Protecting the Community

By Russell Nomer, CISSP | July 30, 2025

In our last post, we pulled back the curtain on the ugly world of music industry scams. Identifying a scam is the first critical step, but it often leaves you with a burning question: "What now?" The feelings of anger, embarrassment, and helplessness are real, but you are not powerless.

Taking action by reporting these predators does more than just help you seek justice—it helps protect countless other artists from falling into the same trap. It's how we, as a community, can fight back. Here is a practical guide on where and how to report scammers so they can be held accountable.

Step 1: Before You Report, Organize Your Evidence

To be taken seriously by any official body, you need proof. Don't let your anger cause you to delete everything in frustration. Instead, become a meticulous record-keeper. Your evidence is your power.

Create a dedicated folder and gather the following:

• All Communications: Save every email, text message, and social media DM. Don't just save screenshots; save emails as PDFs, which include header information that is harder to fake.

• Payment Records: Collect receipts from PayPal, Venmo, your credit card statements, or any wire transfers. This is crucial for proving a financial transaction occurred.

• Website & Profile Info: Take screenshots of the scammer’s website, social media profiles, and any promises they made in writing. Scammers often disappear, so capturing this before it's gone is key.

• A Written Timeline: Write down a clear, chronological account of what happened. Include dates, names, promises made, and when you realized it was a scam.

Step 2: File Official Reports with Government Agencies

Reporting to these agencies helps them track patterns, build cases against large-scale fraudsters, and potentially shut them down.

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC): The FTC is the primary U.S. agency for protecting consumers from fraud. Reporting here is essential as it adds your complaint to a national database used by law enforcement.

  • Where to Report: ReportFraud.ftc.gov

• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): If the scam was conducted primarily online through emails, websites, or social media (as most are), this is the place to go. The IC3 forwards complaints to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

  • Where to Report: ic3.gov

Step 3: Report to Financial & Business Platforms

This is your best chance at recovering your money and getting the scammer's accounts shut down.

• The Payment Service You Used:

  • Credit Card Company: If you paid with a credit card, call your provider immediately and request a "chargeback," explaining that the services you paid for were fraudulent. This is one of your strongest tools for getting your money back.

  • PayPal: Use their Resolution Center to report the fraudulent transaction.

  • Venmo/Cash App: While harder to reverse, you should still report the user's account for fraudulent activity.

• The Better Business Bureau (BBB): While the BBB has no enforcement power, filing a complaint creates a public record. The next artist who gets an offer from this scammer might google them, see your BBB complaint, and be saved from the same fate.

  • Where to Report: BBB.org/complaints

Step 4: Report on the Platforms Where the Scam Occurred

Warn the gatekeepers of the platforms these scammers are using to find their victims.

• Social Media: Report the scammer's profile directly on Instagram, X (Twitter), Facebook, or TikTok for "Fraud or Scams." This can get their account suspended, cutting off their access to new artists.

• Spotify: If you fell for a pay-for-playlist scam, you can report the fraudulent playlist to Spotify. This helps them clean up their platform and protect other artists from fake curators. Use the reporting tools available in your Spotify for Artists account.

• Music Distributors: If a scammer is impersonating an employee from DistroKid, TuneCore, etc., report it directly to that company’s support or legal team.

Step 5: Warn the Community (Safely)

Your story is a powerful warning. Sharing it helps others, but you should do so carefully.

• Musician Forums and Groups: Post your experience (without emotional rants) on platforms like Reddit (r/WeAreTheMusicMakers, r/musicindustry) and in private Facebook groups for musicians.

• Stick to the Facts: When posting publicly, present the evidence. Instead of saying, "John Doe is a thief!" say, "I paid John Doe $500 for PR services on [Date], and he never delivered the promised services and is no longer responding to my emails. Here are the receipts." This helps you share your story while protecting you from potential libel accusations.

Taking these steps can feel daunting, but it's a vital act of self-respect and community service. Every report filed makes the music industry a little bit safer for the next artist with a dream. We are stronger and safer when we look out for one another.

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Disclaimer: This article provides informational guidance and is not a substitute for legal advice. If you have suffered significant financial loss, please consult with an attorney to discuss your legal options.