The Internet Crime Complaint Center, or IC3, is the FBI’s official online portal for reporting internet-enabled crime and fraud. It collects victim complaints, helps law enforcement identify patterns, and provides a trusted route for documenting scams, account compromise, extortion, and other cyber incidents.
IC3 matters in cyber security because criminals often exploit its reputation. Attackers may build spoofed IC3 pages, send fake support messages, or use deepfake voices to convince victims they are dealing with the FBI. These tactics turn a legitimate reporting step into a recovery scam, where the target is tricked into sharing personal data, paying fees, or following malicious instructions. Defensively, users should reach IC3 only through a known-good government domain and verify any contact claim independently.