The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center Marks Its 6 Millionth Complaint as Pace Accelerates



The rate at which cyberattacks are increasing are being noticed by both their victims and the FBI, who are seeing more people affected by online crimes and scams.

Cyberattacks are occurring at an all-time rapid pace. The FBI recently announced a staggering statistic providing some insight into just how quickly that pace is increasing. According to an IC3 recent post, it took seven years for the FBI to collect its first million complaints. That is compared to the most recent million complaints only taking slightly more than one year, less than half the time it took for the previous million.

ic3-6-million-complaints-infographic-1Source: fbi.gov

According to the FBI, complaints of cyberattacks and scams increased nearly 70% between 2019 and 2020 (no 2021 data has been released). The top three crimes reported by victims in 2020 were phishing scams, non-payment/non-delivery scams, and extortion. The first is an attack technique, whereas the last two are social engineering themes. It’s important to realize that while email is a primary attack vector for most cyberattacks, cybercriminals can take any path they deem appropriate – phone, SMS/text, email, online, or a combination therein.

The staggering growth of the number of complaints is a reflection of both an understanding of the availability of the FBI’s complaint center, as well as the massive increase in the number of attacks. With “as a service” models for most attacks springing up daily, it’s relatively easy for just about anyone to join in and become a cybercriminal.

Keeping cybersecurity vigilance high in the workplace is always my recommendation. Using Security Awareness Training continually keeps your users up-to-date of the latest types of attacks, scams, social engineering tactics, and threats, so users know what to look for and how to avoid falling for an attack.


Free Phishing Security Test

Would your users fall for convincing phishing attacks? Take the first step now and find out before bad actors do. Plus, see how you stack up against your peers with phishing Industry Benchmarks. The Phish-prone percentage is usually higher than you expect and is great ammo to get budget.

PST ResultsHere's how it works:

  • Immediately start your test for up to 100 users (no need to talk to anyone)
  • Select from 20+ languages and customize the phishing test template based on your environment
  • Choose the landing page your users see after they click
  • Show users which red flags they missed, or a 404 page
  • Get a PDF emailed to you in 24 hours with your Phish-prone % and charts to share with management
  • See how your organization compares to others in your industry

Go Phishing Now!

PS: Don't like to click on redirected buttons? Cut & Paste this link in your browser:

https://www.knowbe4.com/phishing-security-test-offer



Subscribe To Our Blog


Comprehensive Anti-Phishing Guide




Get the latest about social engineering

Subscribe to CyberheistNews