Know which authority does what
The Federal Bureau of Investigation receives cybercrime reports through the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and uses that information to support criminal investigation and intelligence analysis. The Department of Justice is responsible for related federal criminal prosecutions and for asset forfeiture conducted under the law. The United States Secret Service also investigates certain financial crimes and cyber-fraud matters.
A formal channel is not a private arrangement
Where it is appropriate, relevant leads can be submitted through a formal channel. That is a submission of information. It is not an affiliation with the agency, and it is not a direction to the agency about what the investigation must do.
Prepare the record for the process that follows
The practical task is to organize the materials, analyze the path of the transactions, and make the evidence usable in a lawful investigation or judicial proceeding. Finding the problem is only part of that task.
This perspective is general information for discussion, not legal advice. A particular matter requires advice based on its facts and applicable law.
