Internet Crime Report


February 25, 2011

More than 300,000 people lost a staggering 1.1 billion dollars from online crime in 2010.


Audio Transcript

Mollie Halpern: More than 300,000 people lost a staggering 1.1 billion dollars from online crime in 2010. The Internet Crime Complaint Center, known as IC3, recently released that data in its annual report on online crime. I’m Mollie Halpern of the Bureau, and you’re listening to “FBI, This Week.” Bill Hinerman is the FBI unit chief of IC3.

Bill Hinerman: Anybody and everybody can potentially become a victim of Internet crime. The most heartbreaking aspect is, we practically can never get the victims’ money back.”

Halpern: IC3 is a repository for victim complaints and provides federal and local law enforcement with information to pursue cases. Non-delivery of payment or merchandise, scams impersonating the FBI, and identity theft are the top three complaints. Hinerman says to be vigilant when using the Internet.

Hinerman: If something is too good to be true it probably is.

Halpern: To file an Internet crime complaint, visit www.ic3.gov.

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