(InvestigateTV) — The FBI is warning the public that scammers are impersonating employees of its Internet Crime Complaint Center, known as IC3, to target victims a second time.
IC3 is where people who have been scammed online can report the crime. Paul Keener, a cybersecurity strategist at GuidePoint Security, said the scheme is particularly harmful because it targets people who have already been victimized once.
“It’s just like a horrible crime, because you’re victimizing people who have already been victimized,” Keener said. “And that’s probably the worst thing.”
Keener said the impersonation scheme carries a broader risk beyond individual victims.
“If you’re a criminal and you are trying not to get your threat network discovered, what would be one of the best ways? To make it so people don’t trust the one tool that the public has in order to report all of these different types of attacks,” Keener said.
The FBI says scammers use a variety of methods to reach victims, including phone calls, emails, social media outreach, fake IC3 websites and AI deepfake videos. Some victims report that impersonators claim to have already recovered lost funds and offer to assist further — typically by requesting payment.
“They request money in order to recover money,” Keener said. “Just as a general rule, the federal government does not do that.”
IC3 does not have a social media presence and does not investigate crimes or recover funds through social media. Any contact claiming otherwise is fake.
To file a legitimate complaint, type www.ic3.gov directly into a browser rather than clicking a link or searching for the site.
The FBI also recommends being cautious of online content designed to provoke strong emotional reactions, such as anger, fear or disbelief. Taking time to verify information before responding can help prevent falling victim to a scam.
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