How to Handle Report Cyber Crime Step by Step

When report cyber crime leaves you confused, worried, or unsure what it means, a clear step-by-step approach can help you sort the signal from the stress. This guide explains how to understand the situation, reflect on what matters, choose a practical next step, and know when to ask for trusted support.

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Write down a chronology of events.

Start from the beginning, with your first contact with the perpetrator – even if that first contact was relatively benign. Write each event that occurred along with the date and time (if possible).

Be as detailed as possible.
Include all interactions, no matter how small.
This will help law enforcement piece together what happened.
Start from the beginning, with your first contact with the perpetrator – even if that first contact was relatively benign.
Write each event that occurred along with the date and time (if possible).

Keep electronic copies and files where possible.

The source code of web pages, emails, and other electronic files contains information that can help law enforcement identify and locate the people involved in the incident. If you merely print up a hard copy of something online, law enforcement won't have access to this information.

Save all original documents.
Preserve metadata whenever possible.
This can be crucial evidence in an investigation.
The source code of web pages, emails, and other electronic files contains information that can help law enforcement identify and locate the people involved in the incident.
If you merely print up a hard copy of something online, law enforcement won't have access to this information.

Take screen shots

of online evidence you can't save. There are some places online, such as social media sites, that can't be saved the way a webpage or an email can. While a screen shot doesn't provide a lot of information that would be of use to law enforcement, it's better than nothing.

Focus on screenshots from web pages and emails.
Don't rely solely on screen shots for critical evidence.
They can still be useful in supporting other evidence.
of online evidence you can't save.
There are some places online, such as social media sites, that can't be saved the way a webpage or an email can.

Collect receipts, envelopes, and other related evidence.

If you sent money or other property to the perpetrator, you may have receipts or other evidence that could be useful to law enforcement. Keep the originals and also make copies in case you need them.

Save all relevant documents.
Keep a record of any transactions.
This can help investigators track down assets and identify patterns.
If you sent money or other property to the perpetrator, you may have receipts or other evidence that could be useful to law enforcement.
Keep the originals and also make copies in case you need them.

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