FBI Alerts Public to Spoofed IC3 Site Used in Fraud Schemes

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued a public warning to alert citizens about the recent trend of spoofing the official Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) website. The fake websites, which mimic the real IC3 domain with slight changes in spelling or top-level domains, have been used by criminals to steal personal data and commit financial fraud targeting cybercrime reporters.

Victims may unknowingly land on these sites while trying to file cybercrime complaints, exposing them to fraud and scams. The FBI is urging the public to exercise extreme caution when accessing IC3 services and to verify URLs carefully before submitting sensitive information.

The Threat Actors Behind the Spoofed Sites

Threat actors create spoofed websites by slightly altering characteristics of legitimate website domains, with the sole purpose of gathering personally identifiable information entered by a user into the site. This includes name, home address, phone number, email address, and banking information.

The Importance of Verification

To stay safe while using IC3 services, it is essential to type www.ic3.gov directly into your browser rather than relying on search engines. Sponsored results often lead to fraudulent sites, so it's crucial to verify that the URL ends in .gov and avoid clicking on suspicious links or low-quality imitations.

Protecting Yourself from IC3 Impersonation

Users should never share sensitive information unless they are certain of the site's legitimacy. It is also important to note that IC3 does not ask for payments, does not partner with companies to recover lost funds, and has no social media accounts.

Reporting Suspicious Activity

If you have interacted with a website or individual impersonating IC3, the FBI requests that you report this activity to your local FBI Field Office or IC3 at www.ic3.gov. By taking these precautions, we can all help protect ourselves and our communities from falling victim to these types of scams.

Conclusion

The FBI's Public Service Announcement serves as a reminder of the importance of being vigilant when accessing online services, particularly those that require sensitive information. By verifying URLs carefully and being cautious of suspicious activity, we can all play a role in protecting ourselves from falling victim to these types of scams.