Online Sellers: What the iC3 is and How to Use It (SUPER IMPORTANT!)

I am often surprised to learn that the majority of online sellers are not familiar with the iC3, so I knew I had to write this blog post for you.

The iC3 is a division of the FBI within the US Government. The full name is the Internet Crime Complaint Center. The reason this is so important for you to learn about is because they WORK FOR YOU!

WHY THE IC3 IS VALUABLE:

If someone uses stolen credit card numbers to place fraudulent orders through you, or if you are outright scammed, you can file a complaint with the IC3. But that’s not all. You can also utilize the iC3 for a variety of other crimes, including:

• false or fraudulent representations to consumers
• advance-fee schemes
• non-delivery of goods or services (NOTE: This does not mean the mail carrier is operating at a snails pace)
• computer hacking
• employment/business opportunity schemes

WHAT IS NEEDED TO FILE A COMPLAINT?

• Canceled checks
• Credit card receipts
• Money order receipts
• Certified or other mail receipts
• Wire receipts
• Virtual currency receipts
• Pre-paid card receipts
• Envelopes (if you received items via FedEx, UPS, or U.S. Mail)
• Facsimiles
• Pamphlets or brochures
• Phone bills
• Printed or preferably electronic copies of emails (if printed, include full email header information)
• Printed or preferably electronic copies of web pages
• Hard drive images
• PCAP files containing malicious network traffic
• Network, host system, and/or security appliance logs
• Copies of malware
• Chat transcripts and/or telephony logs
• Or whatever other documentation clearly shows the crime

HOW EXACTLY IS A COMPLAINT FILED?

On the iC3 website you fill out a form:

You also swear, under penalty of perjury, that the information you are submitting is 100% accurate.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOU FILE A COMPLAINT?

The iC3 doesn’t actually investigate. Instead they forward the complaint to the correct place; federal, state, local, or international law enforcement or regulatory agencies for criminal, civil, or administrative action.

Do not expect a phone call from the iC3, but you will most likely be contacted by the proper law enforcement (if you need to be contacted).  In many instances, there is no reason to contact you because law enforcement instead investigates the criminal.  

IMPORTANT NOTES, BEFORE YOU FILE A COMPLAINT:

With that being said; this IS NOT a place you use to report:

• A problem with an eBay purchase that doesn’t fit. 
• And you definitely never want to file false complaints because a real customer left you a bad review. 
• Slow transit on a parcel
• An item arrived broken
• Sellers you just don't like
• Sellers you think might be selling knockoffs, but you have absolutely no evidence at all
• Ugly websites or sites that load slow
• Although you CAN report Spam emails to the iC3, you are better off reporting the spam to the email provider because they have the ability to quickly take action against the spammer.

BUT, if you have an actual issue, you can file a complaint on the iC3 website.