FBI alerts public to spoofed IC3 site used in fraud schemes

The FBI warns that criminals are spoofing the official Crime Complaint Center (IC3) website to steal personal data and commit financial fraud, targeting users who report cybercrimes. The fake sites mimic the real IC3 domain by making slight changes in spelling or top-level domains, tricking people into submitting names, addresses, emails and banking information. Victims may land on these spoofed sites while trying to file cybercrime complaints, exposing them to fraud and scams.

The bureau urges the public to verify URLs carefully when accessing IC3 services, and to type www.ic3[.]gov directly rather than relying on search results, since sponsored links can lead to fraudulent sites. According to the FBI’s Public Service Announcement, IC3 does not ask for payments, does not partner with companies to recover lost funds, and has no social media accounts; users should never share sensitive information unless they are certain of the site’s legitimacy. This warning was published on 22 September 2025.