Cloudflare - CDN/Hosting Abuse Reporting Guide

Last Updated: November 5, 2025
Provider Type: CDN, DDoS Protection, Web Hosting
Response Time: 24-72 hours (typical)
Success Rate: Moderate-High (70-80%)

Overview

Cloudflare is a major CDN (Content Delivery Network) and DDoS protection service. Many websites use Cloudflare to improve performance and security, but scammers also use it to hide their hosting infrastructure. Cloudflare has a dedicated abuse team and takes phishing/fraud reports seriously, but they act as an intermediary rather than a hosting provider.

Important: Cloudflare is often not the hosting provider - they sit between users and the actual server. However, reporting to Cloudflare is still valuable because they can:

Disable CDN services, exposing the real server
Suspend phishing sites under their Trust & Safety policies
Provide information about the underlying hosting provider

Prerequisites

Before reporting, gather:

Fraudulent domain/URL (e.g., https://scam-site.com)
Your legitimate domain (e.g., https://legit-business.com)
Evidence of abuse:
- Screenshots showing Cloudflare is being used
- Screenshot of fraudulent content
- WHOIS or DNS data
- Examples of phishing/impersonation
Your contact information (business email required)

Verification Steps

1. Confirm Cloudflare is Being Used

Method 1: DNS Lookup

nslookup fraudulent-domain.com

Look for Cloudflare nameservers:

Server: 8.8.8.8
Address: 8.8.8.8#53

Non-authoritative answer:
Name: fraudulent-domain.com
Address: 104.21.x.x (Cloudflare IP range)

Cloudflare IP ranges: 104.16.x.x to 104.31.x.x, 172.64.x.x to 172.71.x.x

Method 2: HTTP Headers

curl -I https://fraudulent-domain.com

Look for:

server: cloudflare
cf-ray: [unique identifier]

Method 3: Online Tools

Use https://www.whatsmydns.net/ to check nameservers
Look for *.ns.cloudflare.com nameservers

Reporting Methods

Cloudflare provides multiple reporting channels depending on the type of abuse:

Method 1: Phishing Report Form (Recommended for Phishing)

URL: https://www.cloudflare.com/trust-hub/reporting-abuse/

Steps:

Navigate to the Abuse Report Center
Select "Phishing" as the abuse type
Fill in the form:
- Your Email: Business email address
- Phishing URL: Full URL of fraudulent site (e.g., https://scam-site.com/login)
- Legitimate URL: Your real website (e.g., https://legit-business.com)
- Describe the phishing: Clear explanation (template below)
- Screenshot: Upload evidence showing impersonation
Submit and note your report ID

Method 2: Copyright/Trademark Infringement Form

URL: https://www.cloudflare.com/abuse/form

Use this for: Brand impersonation, logo theft, trademark violations

Steps:

Go to the abuse form
Select category: "Copyright or Trademark Infringement"
Provide details:
- URL(s) of infringing content
- Description of your intellectual property
- How the site violates your rights
- Your contact information
Upload evidence:
- Trademark registration certificate
- Screenshots of infringement
- Screenshots of your legitimate site/brand

Method 3: Email Abuse Team

Email: abuse@cloudflare.com

Subject Line: Phishing Report: [fraudulent-domain.com] impersonating [your-domain.com]

Email Template:

To: abuse@cloudflare.com
Subject: Phishing Report: scam-site.com impersonating legit-business.com

Dear Cloudflare Trust & Safety Team,

I am reporting a phishing website that is using Cloudflare's services to impersonate my business and defraud customers.

CLOUDFLARE SERVICE VERIFICATION:
I have confirmed the reported site is using Cloudflare services via:
- DNS lookup showing Cloudflare nameservers (*.ns.cloudflare.com)
- HTTP headers showing "server: cloudflare"
- CF-Ray ID: [ray ID from curl response, if available]

FRAUDULENT SITE INFORMATION:
Phishing URL: https://scam-site.com
Domain: scam-site.com
Cloudflare IP: 104.21.x.x (confirmed via nslookup)

LEGITIMATE BUSINESS INFORMATION:
Business Name: [Your Company Name]
Legitimate Website: https://legit-business.com
Contact Email: contact@legit-business.com
Relationship: Owner/Authorized Representative

NATURE OF ABUSE:
The reported website is engaged in phishing by:
- Impersonating our brand and website design
- Using our logo and copyrighted materials without authorization
- Falsely representing themselves as our business
- Collecting customer credentials and personal information
- [Add specific examples]

EVIDENCE:
Attached screenshots show:
1. The fraudulent site copying our design/branding
2. Our legitimate website for comparison
3. DNS/HTTP evidence showing Cloudflare usage
4. [Optional] Customer complaints about the phishing site

RELEVANT POLICIES:
This activity violates Cloudflare's Terms of Service, specifically:
- Section 2.8: Phishing and impersonation
- Section 2.1: Illegal activities
- Acceptable Use Policy: Fraudulent schemes

REQUEST:
We request that Cloudflare:
1. Suspend CDN services for the reported domain
2. Investigate the customer account operating this site
3. Provide information about the origin server (if legally permissible)

We are available to provide additional evidence or information as needed.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this critical security matter.

Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Title]
[Your Company Name]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]

Attach:

Screenshot of fraudulent site (JPG/PNG)
Screenshot of your legitimate site (JPG/PNG)
DNS/WHOIS evidence (TXT or screenshot)
Trademark certificates (PDF, if applicable)

What Happens Next

Timeline

Acknowledgment: Within 24 hours (automated email)
Initial Review: 24-72 hours
Investigation: 3-7 business days
Action Taken: Variable (depends on severity)

Expected Response

Cloudflare will:

Send acknowledgment with a ticket number (e.g., CF-123456)
Review evidence against their Terms of Service
Take action if violations are confirmed:
- Disable Cloudflare services for the domain
- Contact the site owner for remediation
- In severe cases, terminate the account

Possible Outcomes

✅ Best Case: Cloudflare suspends services within 48-72 hours, exposing real server
⚠️ Common Case: Cloudflare contacts site owner, who may remove content or lose service
➡️ Alternative: Cloudflare provides information about origin server for you to report directly
❌ Rare Case: Insufficient evidence or content doesn't violate ToS

Understanding Cloudflare's Role

What Cloudflare CAN Do:

✅ Suspend CDN/proxy services for the fraudulent domain
✅ Disable DDoS protection, exposing the real server IP
✅ Terminate accounts that violate Terms of Service
✅ Remove content that violates copyright/trademark

What Cloudflare CANNOT Do:

❌ Take down the actual website (they're not the host)
❌ Access or modify content on the origin server
❌ Transfer domain ownership
❌ Provide customer information (privacy laws)

Key Point: Even if Cloudflare suspends services, the site may remain online at its origin IP. You'll need to:

Identify the actual hosting provider (often revealed after Cloudflare suspension)
Report to that hosting provider separately

Finding the Real Host After Cloudflare Suspension

Once Cloudflare suspends services, the real server may be exposed:

Step 1: DNS History Lookup

Use services like:

SecurityTrails: https://securitytrails.com/
DNSlytics: https://dnslytics.com/
ViewDNS: https://viewdns.info/

Look for previous DNS records before Cloudflare was enabled.

Step 2: IP Ownership Lookup

whois [exposed-ip-address]

This will reveal the hosting provider (e.g., AWS, DigitalOcean, Vultr).

Step 3: Report to Host

Use the appropriate guide for that hosting provider to file a new abuse report.

Tips for Success

Do's:

✅ Verify Cloudflare is actually being used before reporting
✅ Use clear, professional language
✅ Provide specific examples of phishing/impersonation
✅ Include CF-Ray IDs if available
✅ Reference specific Cloudflare ToS sections
✅ Use your business email address
✅ Keep your ticket number for follow-up

Don'ts:

❌ Don't expect Cloudflare to take down the site completely (they can't)
❌ Don't submit reports for sites not using Cloudflare
❌ Don't use personal email addresses
❌ Don't make legal threats (be professional)
❌ Don't submit duplicate reports without follow-up

Follow-Up Instructions

If you don't receive a response within 72 hours:

Check spam/junk folder for Cloudflare emails
Reply to the acknowledgment email with your ticket number
Send a follow-up email to abuse@cloudflare.com referencing your ticket
Be patient - Cloudflare receives high report volumes

If your report is not acted upon:

Request clarification on why no action was taken
Provide additional evidence if needed
Ensure the content clearly violates Cloudflare ToS
Consider legal action (DMCA for copyright, cease & desist)

Escalation Path

If standard abuse reporting is ineffective:

1. DMCA Takedown (for copyright violations)

URL: https://www.cloudflare.com/dmca/

Requirements:

Valid copyright claim
Registered copyright (preferred but not required)
Specific infringing content identification

2. Legal Department Contact

For serious cases involving:

Ongoing criminal activity
Court orders
Subpoenas

Email: legal@cloudflare.com

3. Public Advocacy

Tweet at @Cloudflare (for public pressure)
Post on Cloudflare Community Forums
Contact your legal counsel for formal demands

Additional Resources

Cloudflare Abuse Policy: https://www.cloudflare.com/acceptable-use-policy/
Cloudflare Terms of Service: https://www.cloudflare.com/terms/
Cloudflare Transparency Report: https://www.cloudflare.com/transparency/
DMCA Takedown Guide: https://www.cloudflare.com/dmca/

Common Questions

Q: Will reporting to Cloudflare take down the fraudulent site?
A: Not completely. Cloudflare can only disable their CDN/proxy services. The site may still be accessible at its origin IP. You'll need to report to the actual hosting provider.

Q: How do I find the real hosting provider?
A: After Cloudflare suspends services, use DNS history tools or wait for the DNS to update. The real IP will be revealed, which you can trace to the hosting company.

Q: Can Cloudflare tell me who owns the site?
A: No. Privacy laws prevent them from sharing customer data. You can only see public WHOIS information.

Q: What if the site moves to another CDN after Cloudflare suspension?
A: Report to the new CDN provider. Also report to the underlying hosting company once identified.

Q: Does Cloudflare charge for abuse reports?
A: No. Abuse reporting is free.

Q: Can I report multiple URLs from the same domain?
A: Yes. Include all URLs in a single report, but provide evidence for each page.

Summary Checklist

Before submitting your Cloudflare abuse report:

Confirmed site is using Cloudflare (DNS/headers)
Gathered clear evidence of phishing/impersonation
Prepared screenshots of both fraudulent and legitimate sites
Used business email address
Identified specific Cloudflare ToS violations
Completed abuse report form or drafted professional email
Attached all evidence files
Saved confirmation/ticket number
Prepared to also report to origin host if/when identified

Document Version: 1.0
Contributors: ScamSnitch.ai Research Team
License: Public Domain - Free to use and distribute

This guide is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult with an attorney for specific legal guidance.

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