Report Cybercrime to Law Enforcement: How & Why It Matters

These days, our entire world revolves around a digital ecosystem. The bad guys are no longer in the dark alleys. They’re in your Facebook chat, email, and sometimes even digital ads you see on sites you think you can trust.

Online blackmail, sextortion, harassment, and other cyber crimes are prevalent. Cybercrime can include online fraud, hacking, identity theft, or cyber extortion.

What is cybercrime? It’s a crime that involves the use of computers, networks, and digital technologies. These crimes are typically perpetuated by individuals, organizations, and sometimes even state actors.

You, your business, or your family could become a victim. Even governments and entire countries aren’t safe.

That’s why it is critical to report cybercrime to law enforcement, including the FBI and the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

The FBI strives to hold these criminals responsible and make the world safer. You can help them help you by immediately reporting any cybercrime, whether it’s sextortion, online blackmail, or other harassment. You can report cybercrime to the FBI through the IC3. Reporting to law enforcement creates a paper trail that the FBI and local law enforcement can use to prosecute your case and bring the criminals to justice.

What are the Most Common Types of Cybercrime Reported to the FBI?

Some of the most commonly reported instances of cybercrime to the FBI include ransomware attacks, non-payment/non-delivery scams, business email compromise, data breaches, identity theft, catfishing or romance scams, sextortion or online blackmail, and phishing or vishing attempts.

Ransomware typically involves malware locking or encrypting the victim’s files with a ransom demand.
Non-payment/non-delivery scams trick businesses into paying for goods or services through fake online stores or audition sites that are never delivered.
Business email compromise tricks employees, executives, and trusted partners into transferring money or sensitive data to a hacker who’s impersonated a company executive.
Catfishing or other romance scams trick victims into believing the fake identity of the person they think they’re dating, scamming the victim for money or stealing sensitive information, photos, or videos.
Sextortion is online blackmail involving sexual or private content.
Data breaches involve the leaking of private or sensitive data to a hacker, often through malware delivered via a nefarious link.
Phishing scams involve fraudulent emails or websites that trick users into giving up sensitive data.
Vishing, AKA voice phishing, are phishing attempts that take place over the phone.

The Staggering Cost of Identity Theft and Data Breaches

The statistics on identity theft and data breaches are staggering. More than 1.3 billion victims reported identity breaches to the FBI in 2024. The number is likely much higher due to many cases going unreported.

Through identity theft and data breaches, cybercriminals can steal company and personal data. The theft can include social security numbers, financial credentials, and medical records. They can use this information to commit online fraud. Hackers will often sell the information over the dark web to other cybercriminals.

Major data breaches have exposed millions and even billions of individuals to financial and reputational harm.

A 2013 data breach of Yahoo! Exposed over 3 billion user accounts.
A 2017 data breach against the credit bureau company Equifax exposed the personal information of over 147 million people.
A 2023 attack on Real Estate Wealth Network, the online real estate education platform, exposed over 1.5 billion records, one of the largest data leaks in history.

Ransomware, Cyber Extortion, Sextortion, and Online Blackmail

Cybercriminals infect phones, computers, and networks with malicious software that can lock or encrypt files to hold data hostage. Once ransomware has attacked a computer or system, the hacker will typically demand a ransom, often in cryptocurrency.

Another form of cyber extortion is sextortion, in which an attacker steals sexual content of a victim. They then blackmail that victim into providing ransom or other demands. Other forms of online blackmail involve catfishing or other online dating scams.

Hacking and Unauthorized System Access: How Does It Work?

Hackers attack individuals, companies, or organizations through network intrusions, malware, or other exploits that target system vulnerabilities. They do this to gain unauthorized access, steal sensitive data, or sabotage digital infrastructure.

Network intrusions typically involve brute-force attacks, phishing, or exploiting weak security standards. Once the attacker breaks into the network, they deploy malware such as viruses, or ransomware to damage or gain control of a company’s network. Network intrusions can lead to data breaches, financial theft, or service disruption.

Network intrusions can be caused by an employee clicking on a malicious link, malware installed on a thumb drive that infects a computer, or a security weakness in a company’s digital code.

When and Why You Should Report Cybercrime to the FBI and Other Law Enforcement

You should always report any instance of cybercrime in the United States to the FBI, even if the financial loss is minimal. Reporting the crime to law enforcement helps authorities track criminal patterns, prevent future crimes, and hold cybercriminals accountable. Ultimately, it makes our world safer and helps prevent future issues.

It’s best to also report the crime to local law enforcement. Many local agencies have departments that specifically specialize in cybercrime.

When facing a cyber threat, you may need to take action beyond just reporting to law enforcement. Consider contacting a private cybersecurity firm like Digital Investigation Inc. We specialize in helping individuals and businesses recover from cybercrimes. Unlike law enforcement, which focuses on prosecuting criminals, our primary goal is to restore your compromised systems and implement robust measures to prevent future attacks.

How to Report Cybercrime to the FBI through the IC3

To report cybercrime to the FBI, visit the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), the FBI’s central hub for reporting cybercrime. File a report and tell them what happened with as much detail as possible. The FBI encourages you to report the crime to the IC3 even if you are unsure if your complaint qualifies.

Reports to the FBI through IC3 should include as much relevant information as possible. Be sure to include timestamps, account details, and the methods used by the cybercriminal.

Reports to the IC3 should include:

Contact info: Your full name, mailing address, phone number, and email address.
Incident details: Date and time of cybercrime, method of contact, and a detailed description of what happened.
Financial data: Amount of money lost, payment method, and financial institution involved.
Supporting evidence: Any screenshots with timestamps of emails, messages, or transactions; copies of receipts, invoices, or contracts; email headers.
Additional victims: Details of others who have been affected.
Local law enforcement reports: Include case number and local police information.

To report cybercrime to IC3:

Visit the IC3 website.
File a claim by clicking “File a Complaint” button on the website.
Provide the above data.
Submit the complaint.

If the cybercrime involves threats to national security or a cyberattack on critical infrastructure, or it’s an ongoing crime, you should contact a local FBI field office directly.
You can also report instances of identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission and credit bureaus, including:

Equifax
Experian
TransUnion

What Happens After You File a Cybercrime Report?

Once you’ve reported the crime to the FBI, you can expect an acknowledgment email confirming the complaint has been filed successfully. You’ll also receive a reference number for tracking purposes.

Next, the FBI will review the details of your reported complaint. They’ll assess the nature of the crime and determine if the complaint falls within their jurisdiction. If the crime is serious or involves local, state, or federal jurisdictions, the complaint will be reported to local police or farther up the chain in the FBI.

The FBI may follow up with you or initiate an investigation, but the process will take time. Be patient. They may contact you with further information or provide updates on the case, though this is not always possible due to privacy concerns.

How Does the FBI Processes Cybercrime Complaints?

When you report a cybercrime to the FBI through the IC3, they’ll prioritize your case based on severity, financial impact, and potential risks to public safety. Cases that involve organized cybercriminal groups or natural security threats tend to receive top priority with immediate investigation. Their rapid response Cyber Action Team can deploy across the country to critical attacks within hours of the report.

How Does the FBI Cooperate with Other Agencies and Private Sector Partners?

If necessary, the FBI will collaborate with cybersecurity firms, banks, and other law enforcement agencies to track down cybercriminals and prevent further attacks. The FBI will collaborate with agencies such as the U.S. Secret Service, FTC, DHS, and Interpol for crimes with national or international impact. The FBI maintains Cyber Task Forces in all major cities that work with local and state offices to investigate reported threats to cyber security.

The FBI may also collaborate with various financial institutions to freeze funds in cases of financial fraud. They’ll also work with banks to gather Suspicious Activity Reports (SARS) that provide intelligence through the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to assist investigations.

How to Protect Yourself from Cybercrime

In an increasingly digital age, it’s easy to become a victim of cybercrime. Fortunately, there are proactive safety measures you can take to protect yourself, your business, and your family.

You should always:

Keep software and operating systems updated.
Use anti-virus software and keep it updated.
Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all accounts.
Use strong, unique passwords as well as a password manager.
Monitor all financial records for suspicious activity.
Stay informed of current scams and cybersecurity threats.
Never open attachments in SPAM emails or from someone you do not know.
Use a secure Wi-Fi network and avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions.
Avoid suspicious links in emails or text messages.

The Importance of Reporting Cybercrime to Authorities

Reporting cybercrime to authorities, including the FBI through the IC3, is critical to protect the community. Cybercrime reports help the FBI and local police track and prosecute criminals, which helps protect future victims. Ultimately, reporting the crime improves cybersecurity for everyone and leads to a safer world.

Those impacted by cybercrime play a key role in tracking, prosecuting, and ultimately preventing these crimes. Be safe, vigilant, and proactive in protecting yourself from cybercrime. Report incidents when they occur to the proper authorities.

If you’ve been a victim of cybercrime, contact Digital Investigation Inc. We can help safeguard your systems, minimize the damage, and prevent this from ever happening again.

Sources: