Reporting cybercrime depends on the type of crime and location. The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) in the US forwards reports to law enforcement. National law enforcement or consumer protection agencies outside the US can refer victims to the appropriate contact. Regulatory agencies handle minor crimes, while elite units handle extreme acts. Victims of identity theft should contact consumer protection agencies and financial institutions. Independent organizations like the National Fraud Information Center and Scambusters work to educate the public. Cybercrime attorneys can provide legal recourse for compromised information or property.
The best way to report cybercrime depends on your specific circumstances, including the type of crime committed and the country, state or province where you live. Cybercrime is a broad term, encompassing a variety of crimes involving computers or technology, and while some of these crimes are handled by special government agencies or departments, many come under the jurisdiction of more than one government agency. In the United States, a special organization known as the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) takes reports of cyber crimes involving at least one US citizen and forwards them to law enforcement or the appropriate regulatory agency. You may also want to report some types of cybercrimes to more than one agency, local authorities, or even independent organizations
Many cybercrimes can fall under the jurisdiction of multiple law enforcement agencies, making it difficult for victims to find the most appropriate agency to report cybercrimes to. To combat this problem, the US government established IC3 to accept cybercrime reports from American citizens or foreign victims of Americans and then forward them to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies for investigation. Outside of the United States, a good place to start is with your national law enforcement agency or consumer protection agency. While these organizations may not be the best place to report your particular crime, they should be able to refer you to a more appropriate contact. In many cases, you can also report serious cybercrimes to your local or state law enforcement, and some Internet fraud cases are handled by the Attorney General’s Office in many states and provinces.
Very minor crimes, such as spam, are often handled by regulatory agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the United States, while more extreme acts involving terrorism, violence or large-scale hacking are handled by elite units by agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It may be necessary to involve other organizations depending on the nature of the crime. If you have been a victim of computer-based identity theft, for example, you should contact the FTC or similar consumer protection agency in your country, as well as your financial institutions and major credit reporting agencies, also known as credit reference agencies. Crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children should be reported to local police and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
It may also be helpful to report cybercrime to independent organizations. Groups like the National Fraud Information Center and Scambusters work to educate the public about the latest types of Internet fraud and scams. Cybersecurity software vendors often accept reports of new viruses, malware, or hacking, and a large number of non-profit groups are dedicated to fighting spammers and phishers. If you believe that your information or property has been compromised due to the negligence of another party, you may want to contact a cybercrime attorney. Local and national data security laws can give you legal recourse if a business or organization has failed to adequately protect your information.
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