Even reporting online fraud can lead to fraud; the FBI issues a warning. Keep yourself safe.

Cases of online fraud are increasing worldwide. Now, the US agency FBI has warned that people are being scammed even while reporting online fraud.

What if you report fraud and then get scammed again? It would be like adding insult to injury. Several cases have been reported in the US where cybercriminals are creating fake websites by imitating government websites that register fraud, and people are being scammed again. In light of this, the US agency FBI has issued a warning.

What's the whole matter?

The Internet Crime Complaint Center is an FBI portal where cybercrime is reported. Last year, more than 800,000 complaints were filed, resulting in losses of $16.6 billion. Now, cybercriminals have created a fake portal by copying this very portal. Its domain name is also similar, making it difficult for people to identify the real site. Therefore, if someone wants to report fraud, they are redirected to the fake portal. Here, cybercriminals are stealing sensitive information like name, address, email, and banking details. The FBI has issued an advisory regarding this matter. It's not the first such case. According to some reports, cybercriminals are also defrauding people by posing as government officials.

How to keep yourself safe?

Before filing a complaint on any portal, carefully review its URL. If you find any spelling mistakes, be cautious.
When filing an online complaint, always enter the full URL and avoid clicking on any other links that appear in search results.

Before filing a complaint, carefully review the portal and contact the relevant agency if you notice anything suspicious.

No government official ever asks for details like your PIN number. If someone is asking you for such sensitive details, then understand that an attempt is being made to scam you.