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The FBI Internet Crime Report reads as a warning siren. It should ring alarm bells across the country and send up a clear cry for help. Complaints surged from 49,711 in 2001 to 1,008,597 in 2025, a 1,982.92% increase. The most recent comparison, 2024 to 2025, also witnessed a sharp rise, climbing from 859,532 in 2024 to just over a million in 2025. Reported cybercrime losses soared from $17.8 million in 2001 to $20.877 billion in 2025, a staggering 117,186.52% increase. Losses jumped 26% from 2024, when Americans reported about $16.6 billion in damage. The FBI now receives nearly 3,000 complaints every day. Americans over 60 reported about $7.7 billion in losses, up 37% from the previous year. This is a crisis, and the numbers show the country is losing ground.
A Quarter-Century Of Escalation – Whack-a-Mole
Former NSA director Mike Rogers said at the RSAC 2026 Conference, “We are starting to accept this in some ways as the price of living in the digital age.” Paul Nakasone, who led the NSA from 2018 to 2024, put it more bluntly at the same event: “I think we’ve become numb to it.”
When you see numbers like these and hear words from leaders with this kind of experience, it’s important to listen.
Cyber-Enabled Fraud Drove Most Of The Damage
Looking at specific categories, cyber-enabled fraud caused most of the damage. In 2025, IC3 received 452,868 complaints about this type of fraud, leading to $17.697 billion in losses, or 85% of all reported losses. Investment fraud was the biggest problem, with $8.648 billion in losses. Business email compromise came next at $3.046 billion, followed by tech support fraud at $2.134 billion. Personal data breach complaints added another $1.314 billion. This is not just random online trouble; it is large-scale theft.
Cryptocurrency Scams Led The Loss Rankings
Cryptocurrency scams caused the biggest losses in the report. Americans filed 181,565 complaints, with losses reaching $11.366 billion. Of that, $7.2 billion came from cryptocurrency investment fraud. Scam artists often begin on social media, dating apps, texts, or ads, then move victims to private messages. They show fake profits, ask for bigger deposits, block withdrawals, and demand extra fees or taxes before the money disappears.
The FBI describes these as “sophisticated long-term scams using psychological manipulation.” These scams take time to build trust before stealing money. For cyber insurers and risk managers, this means there is serious risk for both individuals and businesses.
AI Scams Added A Powerful New Threat
For the first time, the 2025 report includes a section on artificial intelligence. IC3 recorded 22,364 AI-related complaints, with losses of about $893 million. According to the press release, scammers now use “fake social profiles, voice clones, identification documents, and believable videos.” These AI tools give criminals more speed, reach, and realism. This makes impersonation easier, helps social engineering succeed, and lowers the cost of scams.
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This trend is important for cybersecurity and cyber insurance. AI makes fraud harder to detect and allows criminals to automate attacks. A voice can sound like a child, a boss, or a bank officer. A fake ID can look real. A video can quickly create false trust.
The Most Common Complaints Still Packed A Punch
Phishing and spoofing were the most common crimes, with 191,561 complaints. Extortion was next with 89,129, and investment scams were third at 72,984. There were 67,456 personal data breaches, 56,478 non-payment and non-delivery cases, 47,794 tech support fraud complaints, and 32,424 government impersonation cases. Business email compromise had fewer complaints than phishing but caused much bigger losses. The main point is that the most common crimes do not always cause the biggest losses, while less common crimes can have a larger financial impact.
Older Americans Bore The Heaviest Losses
People over 60 lost the most money, filing 201,266 complaints and reporting $7.748 billion in losses, much more than any other age group. By comparison, victims aged 50 to 59 lost $3.676 billion. The report also says the FBI’s Financial Fraud Kill Chain froze over $32.8 million linked to elder fraud. These recoveries are important, but they also show how often and how specifically scammers target older Americans.
One Minute Watch – Cyber Scams Targeting the Elderly – What You Must Know!
Ransomware And Critical Infrastructure Remained Under Pressure
Ransomware continued to be a major cyber threat. IC3 got more than 3,600 ransomware complaints, with losses over $32 million. The report found 63 new ransomware types in 2025, about 5 each month. Critical manufacturing, healthcare, and government facilities were among the hardest hit. The FBI warns that attackers use both new and old weaknesses to “steal our money and hold our data for ransom.” This shows the pressure on public safety, daily operations, and insurance claims.
Law Enforcement Made Some Gains
The report underscores several areas of progress. Operation Level Up, started in 2024, notified over 8,000 victims of cryptocurrency investment fraud and helped reduce losses by more than $500 million. In 2025, it notified 3,780 victims, and 78% did not know they had been scammed. The IC3 Recovery Asset Team also froze $679 million in 3,900 cases, with a 58% success rate. These efforts have saved money, homes, retirement funds, and even lives.
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Take A Beat Before You Pay
The FBI’s advice is clear and urgent: “Take a Beat.” Pause before sending money. Check identities. Don’t give in to pressure. Write down contacts, payment methods, dates, and where the money is going. File a complaint at IC3.gov as soon as possible. Acting quickly helps freeze funds, while waiting gives criminals more time.
FAQ FBI Internet Crime Report
1. What Is The FBI Internet Crime Report?
The FBI Internet Crime Report is the annual report from the Internet Crime Complaint Center, or IC3. It tracks cybercrime complaints, reported losses, and major threat trends across the United States.
2. How Many Complaints Did The FBI Receive In 2025?
IC3 received 1,008,597 complaints in 2025. That total rose from 859,532 complaints in 2024.
3. How Much Money Did Americans Lose To Internet Crime In 2025?
Americans reported $20.877 billion in losses in 2025. That figure rose 26% from 2024.
4. What Were The Most Common Internet Crimes In 2025?
Phishing and spoofing led complaint volume in 2025. Extortion, investment fraud, personal data breaches, and tech support scams also ranked high.
5. Which Crime Type Caused The Greatest Financial Losses In The FBI Internet Crime Report?
Investment fraud caused the largest reported losses in 2025. Victims reported $8.648 billion in investment scam losses.
6. How Large Were Cryptocurrency Scam Losses In The FBI Internet Crime Report?
Cryptocurrency-related complaints produced more than $11.366 billion in losses. The report also says cryptocurrency investment fraud alone accounted for $7.2 billion in losses.
7. How Is Artificial Intelligence Being Used In Cybercrime?
Scammers use artificial intelligence to create fake voices, false identities, cloned social profiles, and convincing videos. IC3 recorded 22,364 AI-related complaints with about $893 million in losses.
8. Which Age Group Lost The Most Money?
Americans age 60 and older reported the greatest losses. That group filed 201,266 complaints and reported about $7.748 billion in losses.
9. What Is Operation Level Up?
Operation Level Up is an FBI initiative that identifies victims of cryptocurrency investment fraud and warns them before losses grow worse. Since launch, it has notified more than 8,000 victims and helped save more than $500 million.
10. What Should Someone Do After A Scam Or Fraud Attempt?
The FBI says people should act fast. Contact your financial institution, gather transaction details, document all contact with the scammer, and file a complaint at IC3.gov as soon as possible.
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