IC3
FBI warns of virtual kidnapping scams using altered social media photos
The FBI warns of criminals altering images shared on social media and using them as fake proof of life photos in virtual kidnapping ransom scams. This is part of a public service announcement published today about criminals contacting victims via text message, claiming to have kidnapped a family member and demanding ransom payments. However, as […]
FBI: Cybercriminals stole $262M by impersonating bank support teams
The FBI warned today of a massive surge in account takeover (ATO) fraud schemes and said that cybercriminals impersonating financial institutions have stolen over $262 million in ATO attacks since the start of the year. Since January 2025, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has received over 5,100 complaints, with the attacks impacting individuals, as well as businesses and organizations across […]
FBI warns of cybercriminals using fake FBI crime reporting portals
The FBI warned today that cybercriminals are impersonating its Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) website in what the law enforcement agency described as “possible malicious activity.” Although it didn’t share any examples and didn’t point to specific attacks, the FBI said that such spoofed websites could be used by attackers in financial scams or to steal […]
FBI: US lost record $16.6 billion to cybercrime in 2024
The FBI says cybercriminals have stolen a record $16,6 billion in 2024, marking an increase in losses of over 33% compared to the previous year. According to the bureau’s annual Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) report, IC3 recorded 859,532 complaints last year (256,256 with actual loss), amounting to an average loss of $19,372. The most impacted […]
FBI: Scammers pose as FBI IC3 employees to ‘help’ recover lost funds
The FBI warns that scammers impersonating FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) employees offer to “help” fraud victims recover money lost to other scammers. Over the last two years, between December 2023 and February 2025, the FBI said it has received over 100 reports of fraudsters using this tactic. “Complainants report initial contact from the scammers […]
FBI shares tips on how to tackle AI-powered fraud schemes
The FBI warns that scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence to improve the quality and effectiveness of their online fraud schemes, ranging from romance and investment scams to job hiring schemes. “The FBI is warning the public that criminals exploit generative artificial intelligence (AI) to commit fraud on a larger scale which increases the believability […]