Key Takeaways
- • The FBI's 2025 Internet Crime Report, released by the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), shows cyber-enabled crimes defrauded Americans of nearly $21 billion.
- • IC3 received 1,008,597 total complaints in 2025, up from 859,532 in 2024, with phishing/spoofing, extortion, and investment schemes the most frequently reported.
- • Cryptocurrency-related complaints produced the highest losses: 181,565 complaints totaling more than $11 billion.
- • Investment fraud accounts for nearly 49% of scam-related losses among roughly 453,000 cyber-enabled fraud complaints exceeding $17.7 billion.
- • Americans over 60 reported approximately $7.7 billion in losses, up 37% from 2024; AI-related complaints totaled 22,364 with losses near $893 million.
Summary
The FBI's 2025 Internet Crime Report, published through the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), estimates that cyber-enabled crimes defrauded Americans of nearly $21 billion. The IC3 received 1,008,597 total complaints, up from 859,532 in 2024. Phishing and spoofing, extortion, and investment schemes were the most frequently reported complaint categories.
Cryptocurrency was the costliest vector. Complaints involving cryptocurrency totaled 181,565 and accounted for more than $11 billion in reported losses. Investment fraud remained the primary driver of losses overall, representing nearly 49% of scam-related losses. The IC3 received approximately 453,000 cyber-enabled fraud complaints, with reported losses exceeding $17.7 billion.
Older Americans were disproportionately affected. Individuals over 60 reported approximately $7.7 billion in losses, a 37% increase from 2024. The report also includes, for the first time in the IC3's nearly 25-year history, a section on artificial intelligence, which accounts for 22,364 complaints and nearly $893 million in losses. According to the FBI, scammers use fake social profiles, voice clones, forged identification documents, and convincing videos depicting public figures or loved ones, combined with pressure tactics.
The FBI cites several ongoing responses. Operation Level Up, launched in 2024, proactively identifies and notifies people currently falling victim to cryptocurrency investment fraud; it has notified more than 8,000 victims and reduced losses by more than $500 million since inception. In 2026, the FBI launched Operation Winter SHIELD, focused on digital security steps organizations can take.
Other costly tactics include compromised corporate email, tech support fraud, and personal data breaches. The FBI urges the public to "Take a Beat," resist pressure to act quickly, and verify situations before sending money or personal information. Victims are advised to report to local FBI offices or at ic3.gov, documenting scammer details, contact methods, dates, payment methods, fund destinations, and interactions. IC3 receives nearly 3,000 complaints per day.
Cryptocurrency was the costliest vector. Complaints involving cryptocurrency totaled 181,565 and accounted for more than $11 billion in reported losses. Investment fraud remained the primary driver of losses overall, representing nearly 49% of scam-related losses. The IC3 received approximately 453,000 cyber-enabled fraud complaints, with reported losses exceeding $17.7 billion.
Older Americans were disproportionately affected. Individuals over 60 reported approximately $7.7 billion in losses, a 37% increase from 2024. The report also includes, for the first time in the IC3's nearly 25-year history, a section on artificial intelligence, which accounts for 22,364 complaints and nearly $893 million in losses. According to the FBI, scammers use fake social profiles, voice clones, forged identification documents, and convincing videos depicting public figures or loved ones, combined with pressure tactics.
The FBI cites several ongoing responses. Operation Level Up, launched in 2024, proactively identifies and notifies people currently falling victim to cryptocurrency investment fraud; it has notified more than 8,000 victims and reduced losses by more than $500 million since inception. In 2026, the FBI launched Operation Winter SHIELD, focused on digital security steps organizations can take.
Other costly tactics include compromised corporate email, tech support fraud, and personal data breaches. The FBI urges the public to "Take a Beat," resist pressure to act quickly, and verify situations before sending money or personal information. Victims are advised to report to local FBI offices or at ic3.gov, documenting scammer details, contact methods, dates, payment methods, fund destinations, and interactions. IC3 receives nearly 3,000 complaints per day.
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