Missouri Scam and Fraud Laws: Where to Report, Your Right to Sue (2026)

Missouri's consumer protection law, the Merchandising Practices Act (MMPA), lets a person sue a business that cheated them, but only if they bought or leased something primarily for personal, family or household purposes and lost money or property as a result. A person who wins recovers actual damages, and a court may, in its discretion, add punitive damages and attorney's fees. Unlike some states, Missouri's act does not triple damages.

Missouri also has a crypto ATM law that took effect August 28, 2025, which requires a scam warning before each transaction and live customer service on weekdays, with a toll-free number shown on every kiosk, and a criminal law that reaches anyone who exploits an older or disabled person, not just caregivers. Complaints go to the Attorney General, which mediates disputes between consumers and businesses but cannot act as your lawyer.

Information last verified on October 2, 2026. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This guide covers Missouri state law: the Merchandising Practices Act (RSMo chapter 407), Missouri complaint offices, Missouri protections for older and disabled adults, Missouri's crypto kiosk, telemarketing and door-to-door sales rules, and Missouri court limits and deadlines. Federal refund and reporting rights are summarized briefly and covered in depth on our national guides. Out of scope: criminal defense, and the law of other states (if the scammer or business is elsewhere, that state's law may also matter).

First steps if you were scammed in Missouri

Call the bank, card issuer, payment app, wire company or crypto exchange that moved your money right away. That company is usually the only one that can stop or reverse a payment, and your federal rights depend on how you paid. Our guide on how to get money back after a scam walks through each payment method, and the Zelle and payment app guide covers app transfers. If your bank turned down a fraud claim, see what to do when the bank refuses a scam refund.

Then report it. Most scams go to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and internet crime to the FBI's IC3; our where to report a scam guide lists every federal channel. The Missouri offices below are in addition to those, not instead of them. If a scammer has your Social Security number or account details, see Missouri identity theft laws.

Where to report a scam in Missouri

Be realistic about what an Attorney General complaint does. The office says it "mediates complaints between businesses and consumers," which can help when the other side is a real business with a reputation to protect. It also says: "Because the Attorney General's Office brings enforcement actions on behalf of the state, not individual consumers, it is prohibited by law from providing legal advice to you." When the office wins a case, a court can order restitution paid to the state, and the statute makes it "the duty of the attorney general to distribute such funds to those persons injured" (RSMo 407.100.4). The civil penalty of up to $1,000 per violation in that same section goes to the state, not to the victim.

Missouri's consumer protection law: can you sue?

Sometimes. The MMPA (RSMo 407.020) makes it unlawful to use "any deception, fraud, false pretense, false promise, misrepresentation, unfair practice or the concealment, suppression, or omission of any material fact in connection with the sale or advertisement of any merchandise in trade or commerce ... in or from the state of Missouri." Merchandise is defined broadly as "any objects, wares, goods, commodities, intangibles, real estate or services" (RSMo 407.010(4)).

The private right to sue is in RSMo 407.025.1(1):

"Any person who purchases or leases merchandise primarily for personal, family or household purposes and thereby suffers an ascertainable loss of money or property, real or personal, as a result of the use or employment by another person of a method, act or practice declared unlawful by section 407.020, may bring a private civil action in either the circuit court of the county in which the seller or lessor resides or in which the transaction complained of took place, to recover actual damages."

Three conditions are built into that sentence. You must have purchased or leased something, it must have been primarily for personal, family or household use (not for a business), and you must have suffered an ascertainable loss of money or property as a result of the unlawful practice.

The 2020 reasonable-consumer elements

For cases filed on or after August 28, 2020, section 407.025.1(2) adds three things a person seeking damages must prove:

"(a) That the person acted as a reasonable consumer would in light of all circumstances; (b) That the method, act, or practice declared unlawful by section 407.020 would cause a reasonable person to enter into the transaction that resulted in damages; and (c) Individual damages with sufficiently definitive and objective evidence to allow the loss to be calculated with a reasonable degree of certainty."

The same subsection lets a court dismiss a claim "as a matter of law where the claim fails to show a likelihood that the method, act, or practice alleged to be unlawful would mislead a reasonable consumer." Keep receipts, messages, bank records and anything else that shows exactly what you lost.

What you can recover

• Actual damages. That is the core remedy in section 407.025.1(1).
• Punitive damages, at the court's discretion. Section 407.025.2 says the court "may, in its discretion" award punitive damages.
• Attorney's fees, at the court's discretion. The court may "Award to the prevailing party attorney's fees, based on the amount of time reasonably expended." The text says "prevailing party," not only a consumer who wins.
• Equitable relief the court considers necessary to protect the prevailing party.

Section 407.025 contains no treble damages, no statutory minimum award and no requirement to send the business a demand letter before you sue. If you do sue, section 407.025.10 requires you to notify the court clerk, who informs the Attorney General.

Does the MMPA cover a scam payment?

It depends on the facts. The act fits most easily when you paid a seller for goods, services or an investment product that turned out to be fake, worthless or misrepresented. It is less clear for a pure impostor scam, where someone posing as your bank, a government agency or a romantic partner talked you into sending money and you bought nothing. The statute requires a purchase or lease of merchandise and a practice "in connection with the sale or advertisement of any merchandise," and we did not find a Missouri case deciding whether such a payment qualifies. A Missouri lawyer can tell you whether your situation fits.

Banks, credit unions and insurers are excluded

Section 407.020.2(2) says the MMPA does not apply to:

"Any institution, company, or entity that is subject to chartering, licensing, or regulation by the director of the department of commerce and insurance under chapter 354 or chapters 374 to 385, the director of the division of credit unions under chapter 370, or director of the division of finance under chapters 361 to 369, or chapter 371, unless such directors specifically authorize the attorney general to implement the powers of this chapter or such powers are provided to either the attorney general or a private citizen by statute"

In practice, that means an MMPA lawsuit generally targets the scam seller, not your own state-chartered bank, credit union or insurer. Disputes with those institutions go to their regulators in the table above, and your federal payment rights still apply. Missouri's crypto kiosk law requires kiosk operators to be licensed as money transmitters under chapter 361 by the Division of Finance, the kind of licensing this exclusion names, so an MMPA suit against a kiosk operator may well be barred; that is a question to put to a lawyer.

Separately, a willful and knowing violation of the MMPA with intent to defraud is a class E felony (RSMo 407.020.3). A prosecution punishes the scammer; it is not a lawsuit that pays you.

The honest limit

Any lawsuit needs a defendant you can identify, serve and collect from. That often works against a Missouri business, a contractor or a seller with a real address. It usually does not work against an anonymous scammer behind a spoofed number, a fake website or an overseas crypto wallet, and a judgment does not help if nobody can be found to pay it. Our guide on when a lawyer helps after a scam covers when it is worth talking to one.

Protections for older adults in Missouri

A crime anyone can commit. RSMo 570.145 is not limited to caregivers or people in a position of trust. A person commits financial exploitation of an elderly person or a person with a disability if they "knowingly obtains control over the property" of that person (in the statute's words) with intent to permanently deprive them of it by means that include "Deceit," "Creating or confirming another person's impression which is false" and "Promising performance which the offender does not intend to perform." That describes most scams. It is not a defense that the accused believed the victim was not elderly (section 570.145.6).

The grade depends on the value taken (section 570.145.2):

Report suspected crimes to local law enforcement.

Adult Protective Services. Missouri's Department of Health and Senior Services takes reports at 1-800-392-0210 or through its online reporting tool. Under RSMo 192.2400, "abuse" of an eligible adult includes "financial exploitation by any person, firm, or corporation." Section 192.2405 makes a list of professionals, including pharmacists, social workers and law enforcement officers, mandatory reporters when they have reasonable cause to suspect an eligible adult has been abused or neglected, and knowingly failing to report is a class A misdemeanor (RSMo 565.188). Financial institutions are not on that list; we have not confirmed whether another Missouri provision requires banks to report.

Banks and credit unions may report and offer a trusted contact. Under RSMo 362.424 (banks) and 370.245 (credit unions), enacted in 2025, an institution "may report suspected fraudulent activity or financial exploitation" to law enforcement or a protective agency and "shall be immune from civil liability in doing so." Banks may also offer, "on a voluntary basis," a trusted contact program: you name an adult the bank may call if it suspects fraud or financial exploitation targeting you. Neither section authorizes the bank to hold or delay a transaction, and we have not confirmed that any other Missouri law gives banks that power. Ask your bank or credit union whether it offers a trusted contact, and name one.

Brokerage holds. RSMo 409.615 lets a broker-dealer, investment adviser or their compliance staff refuse a disbursement or transaction from the account of a person 60 or older (or a person with a disability aged 18 to 59) if they "reasonably believe" it "will result in financial exploitation." Within two business days they must make a reasonable effort to notify the others authorized on the account (unless suspected of the exploitation), notify the agencies and send the adult written notice that includes the state's investor protection hotline. The refusal ends when the firm no longer believes the transaction will cause exploitation, or "Ten business days after the initial refusal," whichever is sooner, unless a court, the Commissioner of Securities or the Department of Health and Senior Services orders it extended. This section applies to securities firms only, not to banks.

For more on spotting and stopping fraud against a parent, see our elder fraud guide.

Missouri scam laws on the books

Crypto ATMs (virtual currency kiosks)

Missouri's Virtual Currency Kiosk Consumer Protection Act, RSMo 361.1100, took effect August 28, 2025 (House Bill 754 merged with Senate Bill 98). It requires kiosk operators to:

• Disclose the risks in writing before a customer's first transaction, including that "Transactions in virtual currency may be irreversible, and, accordingly, losses due to fraudulent or accidental transactions may not be recoverable" (subsection 6).
• Show a warning before each transaction, substantially similar to: "Did you receive a phone call from your bank, software provider, the police, or were you directed to make a payment for Social Security, utility bill, investment, warrants, or bail money at this kiosk? STOP" The notice also has the customer acknowledge that "the purchase and sale of cryptocurrency is a final irreversible and nonrefundable transaction" (subsection 8).
• Give a receipt with the operator's name, a phone number for questions and complaints, the fee, and "A statement of the refund policy of the virtual currency kiosk operator" (subsection 9).
• Use blockchain analytics to help prevent sending crypto to a wallet known to be tied to fraud (subsection 10).
• Offer live customer service at least "Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.," with the toll-free number shown on the kiosk (subsection 11).
• Keep a written anti-fraud policy and an enhanced due diligence policy that identifies "individuals who are at risk of fraud based on age or mental capacity" (subsections 12 and 13).
• Be licensed as a money transmitter (subsection 18). Operators that were not already licensed had to apply within 60 days after August 28, 2025.

Section 361.1100 does not set a daily or per-transaction dollar limit, and it does not give a scam victim a right to a refund; the refund terms are whatever the operator's own policy says. If a scammer sent you to a crypto ATM, call the operator's customer service number on your receipt right away and report the kiosk to the Division of Finance. Our crypto and investment scams guide explains what else can help.

Telemarketing and the no-call list

Missouri's telemarketing law makes it unlawful for a seller or telemarketer to call a consumer's residence at any time other than between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. local time, or to threaten or intimidate a consumer (RSMo 407.1076). Missouri also runs a state no-call list: under RSMo 407.1098, "No person or entity shall make or cause to be made any telephone solicitation to any residential subscriber in this state who has given notice to the attorney general." For scam calls and texts, see our phishing, smishing and vishing guide and government impersonation scams.

Door-to-door sales: three business days to cancel

RSMo 407.700 to 407.720 cover a consumer credit sale of goods or services made at the buyer's residence. The seller must give a written notice that the buyer may cancel "within 3 business days following the above date" (section 407.710.2). If the seller does not comply, the buyer may cancel "in any manner and by any means" (section 407.710.3).

Suing a scammer or a business in Missouri

Small claims. Under RSMo 482.305, a judge sitting as a small claims court hears civil cases "where the amount in controversy does not exceed five thousand dollars, exclusive of interest or costs."

Deadlines. RSMo 516.120 sets a five-year limit for several kinds of action, including "An action upon a liability created by a statute other than a penalty or forfeiture" and, in subsection (5):

"An action for relief on the ground of fraud, the cause of action in such case to be deemed not to have accrued until the discovery by the aggrieved party, at any time within ten years, of the facts constituting the fraud."

For MMPA claims, the Missouri Court of Appeals said in Ullrich v. CADCO, Inc., 244 S.W.3d 772 (Mo. App. 2008), that "A claim alleging a violation of the MMPA based on a contract must be filed within five years from the time the plaintiff discovers he sustained damage as a result of the violation," citing section 516.120. That case involved a contract claim under the act's earlier text. The MMPA itself says a claim "accrues on the date of purchase or lease" or "upon receipt of notice" of the unlawful practice (RSMo 407.025.4). Deadlines can turn on the facts, so do not wait; our Missouri statute of limitations guide covers other civil deadlines. If a collector is now chasing a debt a scammer ran up in your name, see Missouri debt collection laws.

Who you can actually reach. Lawsuits work against people and businesses with a name, an address and assets. A scammer who hid behind a fake identity, a spoofed caller ID or an overseas account is usually not reachable through a Missouri court. In those cases, the payment company, a fast report to law enforcement, and protecting your identity are where your effort pays off.

Related guides

• Scams and fraud: your rights and where to start
• How to get money back after a scam
• Where to report a scam
• Zelle and payment app scams
• Elder fraud
• Crypto and investment scams
• When a lawyer helps after a scam
• Missouri identity theft laws
• Missouri debt collection laws
• Missouri statute of limitations

Last updated: October 2, 2026.

This article is general legal information, not legal advice. For your specific situation, contact your payment company, the Missouri office named above, or a lawyer licensed in Missouri.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sue a scammer in Missouri?

Possibly, if you can identify and serve them. The Merchandising Practices Act (RSMo 407.025) lets a person who purchased or leased merchandise primarily for personal, family or household purposes and suffered an ascertainable loss of money or property because of an unlawful practice sue for actual damages. Whether money sent to an impostor counts as a purchase depends on the facts, and an anonymous or overseas scammer is usually not reachable through a Missouri court.

Does the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act give triple damages?

No. Section 407.025 provides actual damages, and the court may, in its discretion, award punitive damages and attorney's fees to the prevailing party. It has no treble damages or minimum award.

What does a Missouri MMPA plaintiff have to prove?

A personal, family or household purchase or lease, an ascertainable loss caused by a practice section 407.020 makes unlawful, and, for cases filed on or after August 28, 2020, that they acted as a reasonable consumer would, that the practice would cause a reasonable person to enter the transaction, and their individual damages with sufficiently definitive and objective evidence (RSMo 407.025.1).

Can I sue my bank under the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act?

Generally not if it is regulated by Missouri's Division of Finance, Division of Credit Unions or Department of Commerce and Insurance: section 407.020.2(2) excludes those institutions. Complaints about them go to their regulator, and your federal payment rights still apply.

Will the Missouri Attorney General get my money back?

Do not count on it. The office mediates complaints between businesses and consumers, but it enforces the law for the state and says it is prohibited by law from giving you legal advice. Contact your payment company first.

What is the Missouri Attorney General's consumer protection hotline?

1-800-392-8222, which the office says to call for more information about filing a complaint. Complaints themselves are filed online or on a PDF form through ago.mo.gov.

Is there a limit on crypto ATM transactions in Missouri?

Section 361.1100 does not set a daily dollar limit. It requires risk disclosures, a STOP warning before each transaction, receipts showing the operator's refund policy, blockchain analytics, live customer service and licensing as a money transmitter.

Can a Missouri bank stop a transaction if it suspects elder fraud?

Missouri banks and credit unions may report suspected financial exploitation with civil immunity and may offer a voluntary trusted contact program (RSMo 362.424 and 370.245), but those sections do not authorize a hold. Securities firms may refuse a transaction for up to 10 business days under RSMo 409.615, longer if ordered.

Who do I call if an older person in Missouri is being scammed?

Call Adult Protective Services at 1-800-392-0210 or use the Department of Health and Senior Services online reporting tool, and call local police. Financial exploitation of an elderly or disabled person is a crime under RSMo 570.145.

What is the small claims limit in Missouri?

$5,000, not counting interest or costs (RSMo 482.305).

How long do I have to sue for fraud in Missouri?

RSMo 516.120 sets five years, and subsection (5) says a fraud claim is deemed not to have accrued until the discovery by the aggrieved party, at any time within ten years, of the facts constituting the fraud. In Ullrich v. CADCO (Mo. App. 2008), the Missouri Court of Appeals applied the five-year statute to an MMPA claim based on a contract, running from discovery of the damage.