U.S. Department
of Justice
Reporting Computer, Internet-related, Or Intellectual Property 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.
The primary federal law enforcement agencies that investigate domestic crime on the Internet include: the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Secret Service, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) , the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) . Each of these agencies has offices conveniently located in every state to which crimes may be reported. Contact information regarding these local offices 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.
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) | |
| Password trafficking | |
| Counterfeiting of currency | |
| Child Pornography or Exploitation | |
| Child Exploitation and Internet Fraud matters that have a mail nexus | |
| Internet fraud and SPAM | |
| Internet harassment | |
| Internet bomb threats | |
| Trafficking in explosive or incendiary devices or firearms over the Internet |
Other Cybercrime Reporting Resources
The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
The mission of the Internet Crime Complaint Center is to provide the public with a reliable and convenient reporting mechanism to submit information to the Federal Bureau of Investigation concerning suspected Internet-facilitated criminal activity and to develop effective alliances with law enforcement and industry partners. Information is analyzed and disseminated for investigative and intelligence purposes to law enforcement and for public awareness.
- Department of Homeland Security's National Infrastructure Coordinating Center: (202) 282-9201 (report incidents relating to national security and infrastructure issues)
- U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (U.S. CERT) (online reporting for technicians)
| Type of Crime | Appropriate federal investigative law enforcement agencies |
| Copyright piracy (e.g., software, movie, sound recordings) | |
| Trademark counterfeiting | |
| Theft of trade secrets /Economic Espionage |
- Reporting Intellectual Property Crime: A Guide for Victims of Copyright Infringement, Trademark Counterfeiting, and Trade Secret Theft (Second Edition)
- Other Government Initiatives to Combat Cybercrime
National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center
The IPR Coordination Center's responsibilities include:
- Coordinating U.S. government domestic and international law enforcement activities involving IPR issues.
- Serving as a collection point for intelligence provided by private industry, as well as a channel for law enforcement to obtain cooperation from private industry (in specific law enforcement situations).
- Integrating domestic and international law enforcement intelligence with private industry information relating to IPR crime, and disseminating IPR intelligence for appropriate investigative and tactical use.
- Developing enhanced investigative, intelligence and interdiction capabilities.
- Serving as a point of contact regarding IPR law enforcement related issues.
The STOP Initiative (www.stopfakes.gov)
The stopfakes.gov website provides information to consumers and businesses on intellectual property, including information on how to report trade in fake goods.
Those with specific information regarding intellectual property crime can submit an IPR Coordination Center Complaint Referral Form.