What if you report a fraud and end up getting scammed again? Unfortunately, this has happened in the United States.
Cybercriminals are creating fake websites that look like official government fraud reporting sites, tricking people into sharing sensitive information. Because of this, the FBI has issued a warning.
What Happened?
The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is an official FBI portal where people can report cybercrime.
Last year, over 800,000 complaints were filed through this portal, resulting in losses of $16.6 billion.
Now, criminals have made a fake portal that looks almost identical to the IC3 site. Its web address is very similar, making it hard to tell the real site from the fake one.
People trying to report fraud may accidentally enter their personal details—such as name, address, email, and banking information—into the fake site.
This is not the first time such scams have occurred. In some cases, cybercriminals also pretend to be government officials to trick people.
How to Protect Yourself
Check the URL carefully: Make sure the website address is correct. Watch out for spelling mistakes.
Type the URL yourself: Always enter the full website address directly instead of clicking on search results.
Verify the portal: Review the website carefully before submitting a complaint. If anything seems suspicious, contact the relevant agency.
Never share sensitive info: Government officials will never ask for PIN numbers or banking details. If someone does, it’s likely a scam.
