The FBI is warning Suncoast residents about a scam that turns the reporting process itself against victims. Criminals are impersonating IC3, the bureau’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, by watching social media for people who mention filing a complaint. Once they spot one, they reach back out posing as agents with an offer to recover lost funds, sometimes using AI voice cloning to sound like a trustworthy neighbor or attorney.
It helps to know how the real process works. IC3 is not an investigative agency. It takes your complaint and forwards it to the nearest FBI field office. That means anyone claiming to be from IC3 and pushing you to move money or act immediately is running a con. Supervisory Special Agent Tim Lynch says the safest move is to hang up and call your local FBI office directly. If doubt remains, actual agents will come to your door and show credentials. Urgency and any demand for money are the red flags, every time.
Snowbirds, retirees, and anyone who spends time on neighborhood Facebook groups are prime targets, so share this with someone who might get the call. Have you or a neighbor ever been targeted? Tell us your story and how you caught on.
