Instagram or Facebook Hacked in the US: Should I File With the FBI's IC3 or the FTC?

Instagram or Facebook hacked in the US? Whether to file with the FBI's IC3, the FTC or both, what each does, and how to recover your account.

Md Shariar Shanaz ShuvonMd Shariar Shanaz ShuvonFounder & CEO, AwareXone
2 min read
Cover card with a report form and document, for choosing IC3 or the FTC after a US hack.
Short answer

In the US, recover a hacked Instagram or Facebook account through Meta's hacked flows. Then report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, or IdentityTheft.gov if your identity is misused. File with the FBI's IC3 if you lost money or were extorted. Filing both is fine. Neither agency recovers accounts.

Summary
  • Recover the account through Meta first.
  • FTC handles fraud and identity theft reports.
  • IC3 handles cybercrime, especially money loss.
  • Filing with both is allowed.
  • Neither recovers accounts.
Table of contents4 sections
  1. 01Where do I report?
  2. 02What should I do first?
  3. 03What common mistakes should I avoid?
  4. 04When should I ask an expert before I act?

Here's how the US reporting options fit together.

Last checked: 29 October 2026 against the sources listed at the end of this guide.

#Where do I report?

SituationFile with
Hacked, no money lostFTC ReportFraud
Identity misusedIdentityTheft.gov
Money lost or extortionIC3 and FTC
Card chargedYour bank

#What should I do first?

  1. Recover through Meta.
  2. Call your bank.
  3. File with the FTC.
  4. File with IC3 if money was lost.

Related guides: Hacked Instagram or Facebook in Australia: Do I Report to ReportCyber or IDCARE First?, Instagram or Facebook Hacked in Singapore: Where Do I Report It and Who Can Help Me Recover?.

#What common mistakes should I avoid?

  • Expecting agencies to recover accounts.
  • Not calling your bank.
  • Paying 'IC3 agents' who contact you.
  • Skipping Meta recovery.

#When should I ask an expert before I act?

Ask for help before you appeal if the account matters to your income, your business or your memories, if you have already had one appeal rejected, or if you cannot tell whether the problem is a bug, a restriction or a hack. That is where most avoidable losses happen.

AwareXone has solved 1,300+ cases and works only through official platform processes. Support is available 24 hours, every day. We never ask for your password, login codes or backup codes, and we never name our clients. Request a free case review or message us on WhatsApp. Malaysian cases are priced in MYR; other markets are quoted in USD after review.

AwareXone is independent and not affiliated with Meta, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp or Threads. Recovery work is best-effort and the platform makes the final decision.

Does IC3 reply?
Not always; it collects reports.
Is filing free?
Yes.
Will Meta use my report?
Not directly.
Can you help?
Yes, a free review.
Can AwareXone check my case before I appeal?
Yes. AwareXone offers a free case review. Send us what you see on screen and what you have already tried, and an expert will tell you whether to appeal, wait or take another route. We never ask for your password or codes.

Official sources

More free guides on the same kind of problem.