The FBI says that a huge increase in scams has caused cybersecurity crimes to cost US victims an estimated $21 billion last year. The most common example was investment scams, with cryptocurrency fraud causing huge losses.
This report covers AI-related scams for the first time. The agency says the use of voice cloning, fake documents, and immersive videos was responsible for the loss of £893m…
A huge increase in scams
These statistics were revealed in the Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Report 2025, published this week.
The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received a total of 1,008,597 complaints, an increase from 859,532 in 2024. […] IC3 has received approximately 453,000 online fraud complaints, with reported losses exceeding $17.7 billion.
Investment fraud remains the leading cause, accounting for nearly 49% of all fraud-related losses. Americans who submitted complaints involving cryptocurrency reported the highest losses, with 181,565 complaints totaling more than $11 billion.
AI-powered fraud is a growing threat. It is now less common for fraudsters to create audio clips of a friend or family member’s voice, and fake videos are also on the rise.
For the first time in its nearly 25-year history, the IC3 report reveals the category of artificial intelligence, which accounts for 22,364 complaints, costing Americans approximately R893 million.
How to protect yourself and your family
One of the FBI’s main messages is that fraudsters often use tactics that create a sense of urgency. These include fraudulent work receipts that need to be disputed in a very short time, bank accounts that need to be “protected” by wire transfers, fines that need to be paid quickly to avoid arrest, and family members who are said to need immediate financial support in an emergency.
This organization says that it is important to “breathe” when faced with a seemingly urgent situation.
The FBI is urging everyone to “Take Action” to identify red flags of a potential scam. Resist the pressure to act quickly and check the situation before responding with money or personal information.
Email addresses, social media profiles, phone calls, and video calls can all be spoofed these days. Always keep in touch with a family member or friend using a second method of texting, and it is recommended to agree on a password with your partner and other family members that you will use in a real emergency.
If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from your bank’s fraud team or another card provider, always hang up and call them back at the phone number printed on the back of your card.
The FBI has detailed information on 20 different categories of fraud on its website. Statistically, seniors are more likely to be victims of online fraud, so it’s worth taking the time to educate the seniors in your family.
Photo: FBI
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