The Utah Attorney General's Office has launched the Financial Crimes Intelligence Center (FCIC) to combat an increase in sophisticated scams and financial fraud across the state. Established by the Utah Legislature in 2026, the statewide initiative was officially launched by Attorney General Derek Brown on Aug. 31, 2026, to address the growing complexity of crimes targeting Utah residents and businesses.
The creation of the FCIC follows significant financial losses reported by Utah residents. According to the Office of the Utah Attorney General, Utahns have lost nearly $450 million to scams, fraud, and other financial crimes since 2020. In 2025 alone, reported losses reached $108.4 million, while residents have reported nearly $60 million in losses so far in 2026.
The specialized team is designed to move beyond treating fraud reports as isolated incidents. By centralizing investigations, prosecutions, and intelligence sharing, the FCIC aims to build a statewide intelligence picture to identify larger criminal networks operating within Utah. The initiative expands the existing Financial Crimes Division to address a broad spectrum of modern threats.
The multidisciplinary team within the FCIC includes criminal investigators, assistant attorneys general serving as prosecutors, an intelligence analyst, a forensic accountant, and legal support staff. This team works in close coordination with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as financial institutions and community organizations throughout the state.
The scope of the FCIC's investigation and prosecution capabilities covers several high-priority areas. These include identity theft and bank account takeovers, bank and mortgage fraud, and technology-enabled elder fraud schemes. The center also targets romance scams, money laundering, counterfeiting, forgery, cyber-enabled identity theft, and cryptocurrency fraud schemes.
Legislative support was a driving force behind the new center. Senate Majority Leader Kirk Cullimore stated that the Legislature created the FCIC to provide law enforcement with the specialized tools, expertise, and coordination required to protect Utahns and hold criminals accountable. Cullimore noted that the center aims to make the state a harder place for criminals to operate.
Attorney General Derek Brown emphasized that no individual is immune to these evolving threats. Brown said that criminals have preyed on business owners, investors, and even financial literacy professionals, using sophisticated schemes to exploit trust. He noted that criminals rely on a lack of coordination to succeed, but the FCIC is designed to counter that advantage.
Reporting and Support Services
Beyond active investigations, the FCIC is tasked with providing training and resources to law enforcement agencies and financial institutions. The center also serves to support local agencies by providing specialized expertise in financial crimes. To assist in these efforts, the Office of the Attorney General encourages anyone who believes they have been a victim of a financial scam to report it directly at fraud.agutah.gov.
