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Scammers impersonate FBI on social media, prey on crime victims
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.
In short
- Fake FBI/IC3 accounts target cybercrime victims to steal more money
- Scams use fake profiles and AI-generated videos of officials
- IC3 has no social media presence and never solicits contact this way
Explained simply
Online fraud is a significant problem affecting thousands of people, particularly those who fall victim to scams that promise investment returns, romance opportunities, or job offers. When victims report these crimes or seek help recovering their money, they inadvertently reveal themselves as vulnerable people to other criminals. These previous victims become targets for a second wave of fraud from scammers impersonating authorities who offer to help recover their original losses.
The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is the official government body where Americans can report internet crimes. In recent years, the IC3 has warned about fraudsters creating fake accounts pretending to be FBI agents or the IC3 itself on social media platforms, as well as using artificial intelligence to create videos of senior FBI officials. These scammers promise to recover lost money or claim funds have already been retrieved, contacting potential victims through social media, email, phone, and online forums.
The genuine IC3 does not use social media, does not contact victims first, and does not offer to recover funds through any online platform. Anyone contacting victims claiming to represent the FBI or IC3 on social media is a fraudster. The IC3 recommends that people who have been scammed avoid posting about their experience online, as this can make them visible to further criminals.