Internet Crime: The Simple Truth

Relevant Links:

The United States Government provides a great deal of information about Internet crime, how to report it if it happens to you, and how to minimize the risk of being victimized. If you do encounter criminal activity on the Internet, here is a list of which government agency to contact by type of crime in alphabetical order:

• Child Exploitation and Internet Fraud Matters That Have a Mail Nexus: U.S. Postal Inspection local office.



• Child Pornography or Exploitation: FBI local office; if imported, U.S. Customs Service local office (800-BE-ALERT, or 800-232-2538).



• Computer Intrusion (i.e. hacking): FBI local office; NIPC (202-323-3205); U.S. Secret Service local office.



• Copyright (software, movie, sound recording) Piracy: FBI local office; if imported, U.S. Customs Service local office (800-BE-ALERT, or 800-232-2538).



• Counterfeiting of Currency: U.S. Secret Service local office; FBI local office.



• Internet Bomb Threats: FBI local office; ATF local office.



• Internet Fraud: The Internet Fraud Complaint Center; FBI local office; U.S. Secret Service local office; Federal Trade Commission; if securities fraud, Securities and Exchange Commission.



• Internet Harassment: FBI local office.



• Password Trafficking: FBI local office; NIPC (202-323-3205); U.S. Secret Service local office.



• Theft of Trade Secrets: FBI local office.



• Trademark Counterfeiting: FBI local office; if imported, U.S. Customs Service local office (800-BE-ALERT, or 800-232-2538).



• Trafficking in Explosive or Incindiary Devices or Firearms Over the Internet: FBI local office; ATF local office.

(The above information was taken from: How to Report Internet-Related Crime.)

The best place to begin educating yourself about Internet crime is: C Y B E R C R I M E. This is the website of the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. It provides information tailored to the needs of students and researchers, parents and citizens, children, police officers or law enforcement agencies, victims of computer related crimes, people working in high-tech fields, and the media. Another excellent source of information is the Internet Fraud Complaint Center. The Internet Fraud Complaint Center is a joint effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C).

Clicking on the links to the other government websites on the left side of your computer screen will also provide you with useful information on Internet crime and how not to be victimized. A simple search for "internet crime" on Yahoo! or Google will also give you access to a wide variety of information sources. While there is no perfect protection from Internet crime, the risk of experiencing Internet crime can be minimized. View any offers you receive with the same caution as in the offline world. Read Privacy Statements and licensing agreements before disclosing confidential information about yourself. Learn more about the software you use (web browsers, office products, e-mail software, and multimedia software for example) on the Internet, and try to discover if there are any vulnerability issues or security features. Decide how much of a risk you are willing to take weighed against the ability to access certain types of web content. If you use caution and common sense, you will probably never experience Internet crime. If by any mischance you do encounter Internet crime, report it to the proper authorities.

ATF Online - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms

C Y B E R C R I M E

CIAO Home Page

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Federal Bureau of Investigation - Uniform Crime Reports

FirstGov -- New Administration

Federal Trade Commission Home Page

Internet Fraud Complaint Center - Operation Cyber Loss

Internet Fraud Complaint Center

National White Collar Crime Center

U.S. Customs Service

U.S. Postal Inspection Service

United States Secret Service

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (Home Page)

Copyright @ 2002 by Robert J. Trader, University of Kentucky Graduate Student.
All rights reserved.

This page was last modified: