Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) was established as a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C) to serve as a means to receive Internet related criminal complaints and to further research, develop, and refer the criminal complaints to federal, state, local, or international law enforcement and/or regulatory agencies for any investigation they deem to be appropriate. The IC3 was intended, and continues to emphasize, serving the broader law enforcement community to include federal, as well as state, local, and international agencies, which are combating Internet crime and, in many cases, participating in Cyber Crime Task Forces.
Visit the Internet Crime Complaint Center website
In addition to the FBI and National White Collar Crime Center, other agencies support the Internet Crime Complaint Center project. The IC3 aggressively moves toward strengthening law enforcement’s ability to identify and combat Internet crimes. Creating new and expanded alliances with industry is key to making Internet e-commerce safer for consumers. These partners provide information and intelligence that helps ensure proper development of significant cases and referral to law enforcement in an expeditious fashion. Among these are:
Business Software Alliance (BSA)
The BSA was founded in 1988 and includes members throughout the world who are part of the high-tech industry. The BSA promotes policy, education, and intellectual enforcement efforts on behalf of its members.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
The FTC works to enforce federal consumer protection laws that prevent deception and unfair business practices. The Commission investigates deceptive commercial email and spammers’ responsibilities under the Can-Spam law. Whether combating telemarketing fraud or Internet scams, the FTC’s primary mission is to protect consumers.
Merchant Risk Council (MRC)
The MRC is a not-for-profit organization founded in September 2000. It provides education about fraud prevention techniques and encourages businesses selling online to adopt best practices and anti-fraud technologies. The Network’s merchant focus distinguishes this group from others that are trying to combat this problem.
Visit the Merchant Risk Council website
United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS)
The USPIS is the law enforcement arm of the U.S. Postal Service. Postal Inspectors enforce over 200 federal laws in investigations of crimes that may adversely affect or fraudulently use the U.S. Mail, the postal system, or postal employees. Many fraud schemes that originate over the Internet, such as auction fraud or multi-level marketing schemes, involve payment or delivery via the U.S. Mail and are under the jurisdiction of the USPIS.
Visit the United States Postal Inspection Service website
eConsumer.gov
eConsumer.gov is an initiative of the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN). ICPEN is a network of governmental organizations involved in the enforcement of fair trade practice laws and other consumer protection activities. Learn more at www.icpen.org
Visit the eConsumer.gov website
Fraud.org
The NFIC was originally established in 1992 by the National Consumers League, the oldest nonprofit consumer organization in the United States, to fight the growing menace of telemarketing fraud by improving prevention and enforcement. In 1996, the Internet Fraud Watch was created, enabling the NFIC to offer consumers advice about promotions in cyberspace and route reports of suspected online and Internet fraud to the appropriate government agencies.