Reporting cybercrime is the first step toward bringing cybercriminals to justice.
You can eliminate cybercrime by simply clicking a button in your web browser or sending an email to IT.
Cybercrime is a complex crime that can be difficult to prosecute and investigate because it crosses the borders of legal jurisdictions. Cybercriminals often dissolve online criminal organizations and start new ones using new approaches quickly. Authorities can sometimes be one step behind hackers due to this constant churn.
Criminals do not own the internet, but responsible digital citizens like you own it. Since the initial viruses, malware, and phishing attacks, authorities have significantly improved their capabilities. Today, law enforcement agencies from all levels of government, including local and state officials, are focused on cybercrime prevention. Cybercrime prevention, investigation, and stopping is a priority that has cost billions of dollars. Legislation is being passed to empower federal, state, and local authorities to bring cybercriminals before the courts and show the world that even online crime doesn’t pay.
Stopping cybercriminals starts with you. Cybercrime can’t be stopped if you are the victim. This is true if you are a victim of an infamous cyberattack, such as a phishing email sent to you or a text message you clicked before you received any links. Reporting a cybercrime depends on the nature of your attack. You can click a button in your email program to say it.
Remember that you’re just one of many online! Cybercriminals can be stopped!
WHO DO YOU CONTACT?
Local Law Enforcement
Even if you are the victim of cybercrime multinationals, your local law enforcement agency (such as a local sheriff’s or police department) must take a formal report. If necessary, they are required to refer you to other agencies. Notify the authorities as soon as possible. Many local agencies now have cybercrime departments or detectives.
Your workplace’s IT department
If the cybercrime occurred in a workplace context, such as if you were sent a phishing email to your inbox at work, you should immediately contact your supervisor or IT department. You should immediately report the situation to your supervisor or IT department. Cybercriminals could be targeting your company in general, so it is essential to notify them as soon as possible.
Your email provider
You can keep your computer safe by deleting spam, malicious messages, and other suspicious emails. However, you can improve cybersecurity by notifying your email client of serious cybercrime attempts. This is easy with many prominent email services, such as Gmail or Outlook. You can also block email senders to ensure that a bad actor does not contact you again. However, remember that bad guys can change email addresses and spoof legitimate ones much faster than you can play Whack-a-Mole.
The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
Contact IC3 to get help from the federal government. IC3 is a partnership of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (yes, that FBI) with the National White Collar Crime Center (funded in part by the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance). IC3 will review your complaint thoroughly and send it to the relevant federal, state, or local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction. You can file your complaint with IC3 by clicking here.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Although the FTC doesn’t resolve consumer complaints individually, it manages the Consumer Sentinel, a secure online database used by criminal and civil law enforcement authorities around the world to identify patterns of wrongdoing. Investigating and prosecuting patterns can lead to an end to the design. The FTC can be reached here to file a complaint.
You can get additional assistance from the FTC hotline at 1-877-438-4338 if you have been the victim of identity theft (1-877-438-44338). Identitytheft.gov has more resources for individuals, businesses, and law enforcement.
Local victim services provider
Cybercrime has affected so many people in America that many communities have victim advocate programs to assist you. These advocates can provide you with advocacy, support, and resources. Here’s a list of local victim service providers.
COLLECT AND KEEP THE EVIDENCE
Remember your detective hat. Although you might not be asked for evidence when you first report cybercrime to authorities, you must retain any proof you have regarding the case. It’s not just bits and pieces that phishing emails, suspicious texts, or ransomware are. This information can be used to help law enforcement prosecute and stop hackers.
