Cybercriminals are imitating FBI employees, working to combat online scams, trying to exploit people who have lost money to fraudsters.
The FBI said Friday that between December 2023 and February 2025, it received more than 100 complaints in an attempt to transfer itself as a representative of its Internet Crime Complaints Center (IC3). The center deals with reports of online scams, as well as other digital crimes.
Although this seems particularly rough compared to other types of online fraud, IC3 imitation complaints account for only a small percentage of complaints reported to IC3 each year. In 2023 alone, IC3 recorded more than 880,000 online scam complaints, causing $12.5 billion in losses.
In the IC3 parody scam, the FBI said that cybercriminals initially contacted the target in various ways, including via email, phone calls, social media messages and online forums. Almost all scammers claim to have recovered the money they lost, or they are helping with the money they lost.
In fact, scammers are seeking to repeat people who have lost money due to previous online scams, the FBI said.
The FBI said the scammers created female characters on social media sites and penetrated online groups for victims of financial fraud, pretending they were victims. The scammers then encourage actual victims to contact the male character they created called “Jaime Quin” via telegram, who claimed they were “chief directors” of IC3.
After contacting, the “Queen” character will claim to have recovered the lost money, but will then use a lie to get the victims handed over their financial information, allowing the scammers to be victimized again.
How to avoid being cheated
Here’s how to spot and avoid FBI and other imitation scams.
The FBI does not use telegrams. The FBI will not reach out through messaging apps, social media, public forums, emails or texts. Delete and report such unsolicited messages.
IC3 does not charge help. IC3 will never ask you to pay to recover the money lost in the scam, or recommend you to a company that asks to pay to recover your money.
Keep your private information private. Never share sensitive data with people who contact you online or by phone, such as your bank information, online account login, or social security number.
Ignore the money requirement. Never use money, cryptocurrency or gift card as a form of payment to someone you don’t know or just deal with online or on the phone.
Helps prevent future crimes. Report scams and scams to try IC3. Those who are over 60 years of age who need to file a complaint can contact the Ministry of Justice’s Department of Justice’s hotline via 1-833-Fraud-11 (833-372-8311).
