The Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) 2025 Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) report, released in April 2026, reveals a stark escalation in cryptocurrency-related fraud. Total losses linked to digital assets surged to $11.366 billion in 2025, accounting for more than half of the $20.9 billion in total losses from all reported internet crimes.
Complaint volume for crypto-linked crimes reached 181,565 cases, a 21% increase from the previous year, with average losses per victim standing at $62,604. The broader cybercrime landscape also expanded, with IC3 logging over one million complaints for the first time in its history, representing a 26% year-over-year increase in total losses.
Investment scams remained the dominant driver, accounting for $7.2 billion in losses across more than 61,000 complaints. Organized criminal groups, particularly in Southeast Asia, continue to run large-scale operations, often relying on forced labor. Law enforcement efforts have begun to disrupt these networks, with authorities freezing or seizing over $580 million in digital assets tied to organized crime.
The report highlights several key structural trends: Recovery scams added $1.4 billion by targeting victims a second time. Crypto ATM-related fraud rose sharply to $389 million in losses. Most notably, artificial intelligence (AI)-linked scams emerged as a major new threat, contributing to $893 million in reported losses across over 22,000 complaints. AI tools are being used to impersonate advisors, create deepfakes, and automate fraudulent outreach.
Older Americans were disproportionately affected. Individuals aged 60 and above reported $4.4 billion in crypto-related losses, a sharp increase from $2.84 billion in 2024. This demographic accounted for 44,555 complaints, with more than 12,000 victims in this group reporting individual losses exceeding $100,000.
In response, the FBI has ramped up proactive measures. The IC3 Recovery Asset Team initiated nearly 4,000 interventions, freezing $679 million and achieving a 58% recovery rate. Operation Level Up has alerted over 8,000 potential victims and prevented an estimated $225.9 million to over $500 million in losses. The agency is now urging the public to "Take a Beat" and carefully evaluate unsolicited requests before sending money or information.
