How to Report Internet-Related Crime

[mea culpa <jericho () DIMENSIONAL COM>]

Forwarded From: Elias Levy <aleph1 () SECURITYFOCUS COM>

http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/cybercrime/reporting.htm


                             Computer Crime and
                   Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS)



                    How to Report Internet-Related Crime

     Internet-related crime, like any other crime, should be reported to
     appropriate law enforcement investigative authorities at the local,
     state, federal, or international levels, depending on the scope of
     the crime.  Citizens who are aware of federal crimes should report
     them to local offices of federal law enforcement.

     Some federal law enforcement agencies that investigate domestic
     crime on the Internet include: the [1]Federal Bureau of
     Investigation (FBI), the [2]United States Secret Service, the
     [3]United States Customs Service, and the [4]Bureau of Alcohol,
     Tobacco and Firearms (ATF).  Each of these agencies has offices
     conveniently located in every state to which crimes may be
     reported.  Contact information regarding these local office may be
     found in local telephone directories.  In general, federal crime
     may be reported to the local office of an appropriate law
     enforcement agency by a telephone call and by requesting the "Duty
     Complaint Agent."

     Each law enforcement agency also has a headquarters (HQ) in
     Washington, D.C., which has agents who specialize in particular
     areas.  For example, the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service both have
     headquarters-based specialists in computer intrusion (i.e.,
     computer hacker) cases.  In fact, the FBI HQ hosts an interagency
     center, the [5]National Infrastructure Protection Center (NIPC),
     created just to support investigations of computer intrusions.  The
     NIPCs general number for criminal investigations is 202-324-0303.
     The U.S. Secret Services Electronic Crimes Branch may be reached at
     202-435-5850.  The FBI and the Customs Service also have
     specialists in intellectual property crimes (i.e., copyright,
     software, movie, or recording piracy, trademark counterfeiting).
     Customs has a nationwide toll-free hotline for reporting at
     800-BE-ALERT, or 800-232-2538.

     The FBI investigates violations of federal criminal law generally.
     Certain law enforcement agencies focus on particular kinds of
     crime.  Other federal agencies with investigative authority are the
     [6]Federal Trade Commission and the [7]U.S. Securities and Exchange
     Commission.

     To determine some of the federal investigative law enforcement
     agencies that may be appropriate for reporting certain kinds of
     crime, please refer to the following table:


                               Type of Crime

         Appropriate federal investigative law enforcement agencies

   Computer intrusion (i.e. hacking)  FBI local office; NIPC
   (202-324-0303); U.S. Secret Service local office

   Password trafficking  FBI local office; NIPC (202-324-0303); 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)

   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)

   Counterfeiting of currency  U.S. Secret Service local office; FBI
   local office

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

   Internet fraud  FBI local office; Federal Trade Commission; if
   securities fraud, Securities and Exchange Commission

   Internet harassment  FBI local office

   Internet bomb threats  FBI local office; ATF local office

   Trafficking in explosive or incindiary devices or firearms over the
   Internet  FBI local office; ATF local office


    Go to . . . [8]CCIPS home page || [9]Justice Department home page
     _________________________________________________________________


    Updated page May 21, 1999

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