Internet Fraud Complaint Center

	October 15, 2004
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Press Release

U.S. Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation

For Immediate Release
May 8, 2000

From Washington D.C.
FBI National Press Office

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, jointly with the Department of Justice and National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C) today announced the creation of the Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC). The IFCC was established to combat the growing problem of fraud occurring over the Internet by providing a vehicle for victims around the country to report incidents of fraud online.

"The Internet Fraud Complaint Center allows consumers who suspect Internet fraud to share that information with law enforcement quickly and efficiently," said Attorney General Janet Reno. "Our ability to work with private citizens and industry is extremely important to our efforts to fight Internet crime, and the IFCC is a major step forward in that fight."

FBI Director Louis J. Freeh said, "The Internet provides a boundless new medium for many traditional frauds investigated by the FBI. That there are real victims suffering significant losses remains unchanged. This center is another positive development as law enforcement responds to yet another facet of cybercrime."

"The crucial difference in fraud committed over the Internet is that the perpetrator can ‘virtually' vanish, leaving consumers wondering who or where to turn to for help," said West Virginia State Auditor Glen B. Gainer III, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the NW3C. "This unique partnership gives victims of Internet fraud a way to fight back in this largely unregulated environment," Gainer added.

The IFCC is cosponsored by the FBI and the NW3C and is located in Morgantown, West Virginia. A dedicated Web site located at www.ifccfbi.gov gives consumers nationwide the ability to file Internet fraud complaints online with the IFCC. Victims can go directly to the secure IFCC Web site to submit complaint information, making it a fast and efficient forum to file an Internet fraud complaint. IFCC's trained personnel log complaints filed on-line, analyze them to determine the jurisdiction of the complaint, conduct the appropriate level of analytical and investigative work that is necessary, and disseminate the information to the appropriate local, state, and/or federal law enforcement agencies for criminal, civil, or administrative action, as needed. The IFCC will adequately identify and track new fraudulent schemes on the Internet on a national and international level.

"The IFCC has been developed to identify, track, and assist in the prosecution of fraudulent schemes on the Internet on a national and international level. This partnership will allow law enforcement and the private sector to address and eradicate this growing problem," Freeh said.

Freeh also noted that without the tremendous contribution from the private sector in providing their expertise with the technical support and guidance this project would not have been possible.

The NW3C is funded through a grant award from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, Department of Justice. The NW3C provides a national support network for law enforcement agencies, state regulatory bodies, state and local prosecution offices, and other organizations involved in the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of high-tech and economic crime. It has had great success in forming cooperative projects between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, and, just as important, between the public and private sector business.