Fake FBI / IC3 Recovery Agents
This is Agent Williams from the FBI — we can trace your stolen funds
Scammers impersonate FBI agents or Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) staff, sometimes using AI-generated video calls with deepfake faces. They reference your real IC3 complaint (complaints contain publicly visible details) to seem credible. They promise to investigate your case and recover funds, then request "secure account deposits" or "investigation fees."
What to Watch For
- The FBI never contacts victims about fund recovery
- IC3 does not have a "recovery division" that charges fees
- Caller references details from your public IC3 complaint
- AI-generated video calls with fake FBI badges or backgrounds
- Requests payment via cryptocurrency to a "secure government account"
Examples
""This is Special Agent Williams with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center. I'm calling about your complaint #IC2025-XXXX. We've traced the funds to an offshore account. To secure them, you need to deposit $3,000 into a secure holding account. I'll show you our FBI credentials on video.""
Why it works: The scammer knows your real complaint number and details, making the call feel incredibly legitimate. The video call with a convincing (but AI-generated) FBI badge adds to the deception.
What to Do
The FBI does not recover funds for individual victims and will never ask you to deposit money into any account. If someone claims to be from the FBI and asks for money, it is a scam.