FBI Reports Significant Increase in Cryptocurrency Scam Losses

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has released a report detailing the scope of cryptocurrency scams in the United States. The report reveals that Americans lost over $11.4 billion to such scams last year, marking a significant increase from 2024. This surge in losses is attributed to the growing sophistication and reach of these scams.

The FBI notes that most cryptocurrency scams are operated by organized criminal groups based in Southeast Asia. These groups exploit human trafficking victims as forced labor to run long-term investment schemes. The report highlights the psychological manipulation used to deceive victims into investing large sums of money.

The number of complaints involving cryptocurrency increased by 21% last year, with an average loss per case of $62,604. Nearly 18,600 individuals lost more than $100,000, underscoring the severity of these scams. The FBI emphasizes that this is part of a broader surge in online fraud, with over 1 million cybercrime complaints filed in 2025.