Americans lost $11.4 billion to cryptocurrency scams in 2025, marking a 22% increase from 2024, according to a new report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The agency recorded 181,565 crypto related complaints, a 21% rise, with an average loss of $62,604 per case.
The report described cryptocurrency investment scams as long-term schemes using psychological manipulation and false legitimacy to convince victims to invest significant amounts of money. Losses were heavily concentrated, with nearly 18,600 victims each losing more than $100,000, often affecting savings and retirement funds.
Organized Crime and Global Fraud Networks Drive Scams
According to the FBI, many operations are run by organized criminal groups in Southeast Asia, often using human trafficking victims as forced labor to manage scam networks.
A separate report from Chainalysis estimated that up to $17 billion in crypto was lost worldwide to scams and fraud in 2025. Methods such as impersonation schemes, fake crypto exchange platforms, and AI-generated scams increasingly surpassed cyberattacks as the leading tactics used by criminals.
Online Fraud Trends Show Rapid Expansion
Overall cybercrime activity also climbed sharply, with more than 1 million complaints filed in 2025 and total losses exceeding $20.8 billion, underscoring the rapid evolution of digital fraud threats.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves risk and may result in financial loss.
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