The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has renewed a warning that scammers are impersonating the bureau and its complaint centre on social media to target and "revictimise" people who have already fallen prey to cybercrime. IC3 stressed that it has no social media presence whatsoever and never investigates crimes, contacts victims, or offers to recover lost funds through such platforms, meaning any account claiming otherwise is fraudulent.

The IC3 identified two main schemes: fake profiles impersonating FBI staff or the IC3 itself that infiltrate victim support groups or message people directly, sometimes after a victim mentions intending to report a scam; and AI-generated videos of senior FBI officials directing viewers to spoofed IC3 websites that harvest personal and financial information for further fraud. Nearly all complainants said the scammers claimed to have already recovered their lost funds or offered help doing so, contacting them via email, phone, adverts or forums. The IC3 said genuine follow-up only comes from an FBI employee at a local field office or another law enforcement official after a report is filed through its official website, and it advised victims not to post about scams on social media, as this can attract further fraudsters.