Where to Report Cybercrime in the US?

Several agencies exist to collect cybercrime reports depending on the nature of the crime.

Here’s a breakdown of the key avenues:

The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

• Website: https://www.ic3.gov/
• The central hub: The IC3, a partnership between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center, is the primary point of contact for most internet-related crimes. They analyze complaints and refer cases to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

• Website: https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/cyber
• For serious cases: Report directly to the FBI if the cybercrime involves large-scale fraud, network intrusions, ransomware attacks, or threats to national security. Local FBI field offices are listed on their website.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

• Website: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/
• Consumer fraud: If the cybercrime involves financial losses related to online scams, product fraud, or identity theft, report to the FTC.

Other Specialized Agencies

• Child exploitation: The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: https://www.missingkids.org/
• Securities fraud (e.g., investment scams): The Securities and Exchange Commission: https://www.sec.gov/tcr

Local Law Enforcement

Alongside these federal options, you can also report cybercrimes to your local police department. This is particularly helpful if you know the suspect or believe they are in your area.

The internet has become an undeniably integral part of modern life. Unfortunately, its benefits come with the risk of cybercrime. If you fall victim, knowing where to report the crime is vital to stopping the perpetrators and potentially recovering losses.