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Many people have been victims of cybercrimes. Some have been coerced to design a fake website, use their personal information to steal a person’s identity, send them a virus, or worse. Of course, no one should ever report a crime online without first stopping to think about the seriousness of the offense and what could happen if they don’t report it.
In this article, we will talk about who you should report cybercrime to according to your state laws and then propose some places that may be good for you or others who are reporting crimes online.
You might not know who specifically your state has designated as responsible for solving cybercrime but hopefully, this article will help people make wise decisions when deciding whether or not they should report it themselves.
Who is the Cyber Crime division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation?
Several organizations are responsible for cybercrime, or you can contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation directly. They have a special division called Cyber Crime/Cyber Terrorism which has been active since July 2002. Of course, they investigate crimes targeting both federal facilities and civilians.
The FBI’s definition of a cyber terrorism crime is any threat to public or private infrastructure that results in physical injury or loss of life, destruction of public or private property, disruption of public services including transportation services, telecommunications services, and financial institutions.
The FBI conducts thorough investigations into reported cybercrime but also acts as an information clearinghouse. Most law enforcement agencies do not have the resources to solve every case, so the FBI acts as a repository for information on reported cybercrime.
They can be contacted by phone at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-202-324-3000), online at https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us, or download the FBI’s cybercrime report form here.
The Cyber Underworld What You Don't Know Can Hurt Your Career
Who is the Cyber Crime division of the State Police?
Each state has an agency that they consider responsible for cybercrime investigations. Since most crimes are investigated by local law enforcement, these law enforcement officers will likely be responsible for cybercrime investigations as well.
If you aren’t sure who to call in your area, you can do some internet research on your state’s police agency or government website to find out who investigates cybercrime where you live.
Also, your state’s department of justice may have a cybercrime division or a cybercrime task force. You can check out their website to locate the appropriate person to make a report to.
Who is the Cyber Crime division of the FBI?
As we discussed earlier, there is a Cyber Crime/Cyber Terrorism division for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. They can be contacted at https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us.
They have special agents who investigate cybercrime and have been instrumental in bringing down many criminal organizations that were stealing from unsuspecting netizens all over the world. They have also prosecuted some of the most notorious hackers in the world.
Who is the Cyber Crime division of my state?
If you are not living in a larger city with a high population, contacting your city’s law enforcement agency may be your best bet. They will likely have their special section for cybercrime investigations. If they don’t, they may work closely with the state police to solve them.
It’s pretty simple to find out who covers cybercrime in your area by checking with your local police force or by downloading their publications or website information about them. Please check out each state’s website online to find out who investigates cyber crimes within your state jurisdiction.
Who is the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)?
This organization will accept any information or complaint on internet crimes such as phishing, computer intrusions and hacking, identity theft, and other various scams involving the internet.
They have a secure online form that you can report your crime to where your information will be submitted to each federal law enforcement agency including the U.S. Secret Service, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission, and Department of Homeland Security.
There is a convenient dropdown menu located on the form for each state so that you can quickly choose which state you want your report investigated in. The FBI’s IC3 website can be found at http://www.ic3.gov/.
The Cyber Underworld What You Don't Know Can Hurt Your Career
Where should I report my cybercrime?
If you are unsure of who or what to report your cybercrime to, you should visit the FBI’s website at https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us.
They have a section dedicated specifically to crimes against the internet and information on how to contact them for your state. The FBI will work with any federal law enforcement agency that is investigating your case.
What do you do if you need more help?
If after reading this article, you still need more help, you can contact both of these organizations for more information on how they may be able to assist at https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us and http://www.ic3.gov/. Don’t forget, if you think it’s an emergency, call 9-1-1!
What happens if you don’t contact anyone?
If you do not report your cybercrime and the criminals behind it continue their behaviors without leaving a trace on the internet, they will be able to continue to commit cybercrimes with impunity.
The FBI and other law enforcement officials will not be able to help without some sort of trace left on the internet that may help them track these criminals down if they continue their criminal behaviors as they have in the past.
Suggested Cyber Crime Reporting Links: FBI Cyber Crime Division –
FBI Tips for Online Crime Victims – https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/cyber
U.S. Secret Service – https://www.secretservice.gov/contact/field-offices
National Cyber Security Alliance – https://staysafeonline.org/cybersecurity-awareness-month/, and https://www.dhs.gov, and https://www.cisa.gov/cybersecurity-awareness-month
U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) – https://us-cert.cisa.gov/report
Identity Theft Resource Center – https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0014-identity-theft, and https://www.consumerfinance.gov, and https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/fraud/
Maryland Department of Justice – https://www.justice.gov/usao-md.
