Internet
Fraud Complaint Center Press Packet (pdf)
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 a 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. Additional information
on the NW3C can be found on-line at www.nw3c.org or by calling
(800) 221-4424.