Protecting yourself online goes beyond just using security software. It also means knowing how to report illegal and fraudulent activity when you encounter it. The following resources are the primary organizations that handle various types of online crimes. Filing a complaint with the correct authority is the first step in combating these threats and holding criminals accountable.
Fraudulent Activity: Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is a partnership between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center. It is the central hub for reporting fraudulent online activity, including phishing schemes, scams, and cyber-enabled financial crimes. The IC3 accepts complaints from the public and then analyzes and forwards them to the appropriate law enforcement authorities for possible investigation.
Report online fraud here: https://www.ic3.gov/
Spam and Identity Theft: Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the U.S. government’s consumer protection agency. The FTC is the best place to report cases of identity theft and complaints about unsolicited email (“SPAM”). Your reports help the FTC and other law enforcement agencies track patterns and build cases against scammers.
Report scams and identity theft here: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/
Child Exploitation: National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) operates the CyberTipline, which is the centralized reporting mechanism for allegations concerning the distribution of child pornography and other forms of child exploitation. This is the official channel for reporting this type of content.
File a report with the CyberTipline here: https://report.cybertip.org/
By using these official channels, you’re not just protecting yourself, you’re helping law enforcement agencies build a safer digital world for everyone.
