IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center)

The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is a partnership between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C) that serves as the central reporting mechanism for internet crime in the United States. Victims of online fraud, including investment fraud, romance scams, business email compromise (BEC), ransomware, and identity theft, can file a complaint at ic3.gov. Complaints become part of a database used by FBI field offices and other law enforcement agencies to identify patterns and pursue investigations.

IC3's Recovery Asset Team (RAT) is a specialised unit that attempts to halt or recover fraudulently transferred funds by working with financial institutions to freeze accounts. Time is critical: the RAT is most effective when a complaint is filed within 72 hours of the fraudulent transfer. The team coordinates with domestic and international banks through the FinCEN Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and foreign equivalents.

Consumers should file an IC3 complaint even if they cannot identify the perpetrator or if the amount is small; data aggregation across thousands of reports helps identify high-volume fraud campaigns. After submitting, you will receive a complaint ID number. IC3 does not directly contact complainants about individual cases unless further information is needed or an investigation is opened. Victims should also report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, their state attorney general, and their financial institution.