Consumer Tip No. 109: Warning for IC3 Employee Scams

In honor of my Caught Dead in Wyoming mystery series, my assistant Gabriella Samuels is writing for my newsletter and blog a series of consumer tips inspired by TV reporter Elizabeth Margaret Danniher.

The number of cybercrimes and internet-based frauds is constantly growing. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is crucial for tracking and responding to cybercrime. IC3 is a central hub for the public to report cyber scams and crimes. To help investigations, prosecutions, and public warnings, IC3 shares scam reports with law enforcement agencies.

The FBI has issued a warning about scammers who are falsely claiming to be IC3 employees. According to the FBI, “Between December 2023 and February 2025, the FBI received more than 100 reports of IC3 impersonation scams.”

In this scam, fraudsters pose as IC3 employees, contacting victims with false promises of recovering their stolen money. They contact victims using a variety of online platforms, including social media, forums, and email. The scammer will ask for financial information and, if provided, victims of IC3 scams may suffer significant financial losses and identity theft. Victims are being scammed again when seeking help for initial scams.

Here are some things to remember:

The IC3 never asks for payment.The IC3 never communicates via social media or direct communication.Do not share personal or financial details with online or phone contacts.Regularly monitor your financial accounts and credit reports for unauthorized activity.Never send money online or through gift cards to people you do not know.If you suspect that you have fallen victim to an online scam, promptly report the incident to IC3 at www.ic3.gov.

There is more information on this scam here. Read more about other internet scams at www.ic3.gov. Always stay vigilant.

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