In 2011, IC3 received and processed, on average, more than 26,000 internet crime complaints per month, or a total of 314,246 complaints for the year. Last year marked the third year in a row that the IC3 received more than 300,000 complaints, according to the 2011 Internet Crime Report.
The most common complaints included identity theft, advance-fee fraud, and scams in which a criminal poses as the FBI to defraud victims.
IC3 is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), and the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance.
Acting Assistant Director of the FBI’s Cyber Division Michael Welch said, “Internet crime is a growing problem that affects computer users around the world and causes significant financial losses. The IC3 is an efficient mechanism for the public to report suspicious e-mail activity, fraudulent websites, and Internet crimes. These reports help law enforcement make connections between cases and identify criminals.”
Added NW3C Director Don Brackman, “This report is a testament to the work we do every day at IC3, which is ensuring our system is used to alert authorities of suspected criminal and civil violations,” said. “Each year we work to provide information that can link individuals and groups to these crimes for better outcomes and prosecution of cases.”