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Source from http://www.ibls.com/internet_law_news_portal.aspx
According to the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the vast majority of cyber crimes are not reported, which allows the perpetrators to continue to carry out their crimes and victimize others. Reporting Internet-related crimes to appropriate law enforcement agencies at local, state, federal, or international levels, depending on the scope of the crime, is advisable as the first step to combat Internet illegality.
Who cyber crime victims should contact?
Should they contact the local police authorities, should they contact Internet Service Providers?
This article provides information on those law enforcement authorities with jurisdiction over certain cyber crimes. Despite technology and surveillance best efforts, cyber criminals continue raising their cyber crime statistics. Users may update software, install a firewall, monitor children’s internet habits, avoid unfamiliar emails; and still, fall victims of phishing scam, identity theft, internet pornography or many other cyber crimes. Internet users must know what to do if they are victims of a cyber crime; whether the crime involves identity theft, fraud, online solicitation, or stalking. In the United States for instance, many government agencies take the notice of cyber crimes.
The following are some of the primary U.S. Federal law enforcement agencies that investigate domestic crime on the Internet:
- the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),
- the United States Secret Service,
- the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),
- the United States Postal Inspection Service, and
- the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF)
These agencies have offices suitably located in every U.S. State to which crimes may be reported. Ordinarily, Federal crimes are reported to the proper local law enforcement office by a telephone call requesting the officer on duty. Some Federal law enforcement agencies have headquarters in Washington, D.C. These headquarters have agents who specialize in particular areas. For instance, the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service both have headquarters-based specialists in computer hacking cases.
Federal law enforcement agencies have various investigative units in charge of particular cyber crimes. Following there is a list of some Federal agencies with jurisdiction on certain cyber crimes,
- For Computer intrusion (i.e. hacking) one should report to FBI local office, U.S. Secret Service or Internet Crime Complaint Center.
- For password trafficking the reporting authorities are FBI local offices, U.S. Secret Service and the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
- For counterfeiting of currency report to U.S. Secret Service.
- For Internet fraud and SPAM person may contact to FBI local office, the U.S. Secret Service (Financial Crimes Division), and the Federal Trade Commission (online complaint). If the cyber crime involves securities fraud or investment-related SPAM e-mails, then one should approach the Securities and Exchange Commission (online complaint) and the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
- For Internet harassment, the FBI local office is the reporting authority.
- Internet bomb threats must be reported to the FBI local office and ATF local office.
- For Internet trafficking in explosive or incendiary devices or firearms over, reports should be filed before the FBI local office and ATF local office.
Following there is a list of additional U.S. cyber crime reporting offices,
- The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): It is a partnership between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C). Its mission is to serve as a vehicle to receive, develop, and refer criminal complaints pertaining to cyber crime.
- Incidents relating to national security and infrastructure issues are to be reported before the Department of Homeland Security's National Infrastructure Coordinating Center.
- The U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (U.S. CERT) is the appropriate reporting authority for online technicians.
