WASHINGTON — Americans lost billions of dollars to cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence-driven scams in 2025, with cyber-enabled fraud reaching record levels, according to a new report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The FBI said complaints tied to cryptocurrency scams accounted for the largest share of losses, with more than 181,000 complaints totaling over $11 billion.
Overall, cyber-enabled fraud made up the vast majority of reported financial losses, with Americans losing roughly $17 billion in 2025, the FBI said.
Increasing Use of AI
The agency said criminals are increasingly using artificial intelligence to make scams more convincing and scalable. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received more than 22,000 complaints referencing AI-related fraud, with reported losses nearing $900 million.
Investment scams—many involving cryptocurrency—remained among the most damaging schemes, the FBI said, often using sophisticated tactics such as impersonation, fake platforms and social engineering to lure victims.
To combat the surge, the FBI highlighted its “Operation Level Up” initiative, which proactively identifies and contacts victims of cryptocurrency investment fraud. Since its launch, the program has notified more than 8,000 victims and helped prevent more than $500 million in additional losses, according to the Bureau.
