Key Takeaways
- Crypto scams reached $11.4 billion in 2025, up 22% year over year.
- Investment fraud led to losses of $7.2 billion, making 2025 the worst year on record.
- The FBI urges immediate reporting and warns about recovery scams.
United States citizens lost $11.36 billion to cryptocurrency-related scams in 2025, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) Annual Report.
The total marks a 22% increase from the previous year and highlights crypto’s growing role in online fraud.
FBI Logged Over 180,000 Crypto Complaints
The IC3 received 181,565 crypto-related complaints in 2025, up 21% from 2024, with an average loss of $62,604 per victim.
More than 18,500 individuals reported losses exceeding $100,000.
Across all categories, the IC3 recorded over 1 million complaints, totaling nearly $20.9 billion in losses.
Cyber-enabled fraud accounted for most of these losses, with crypto-related scams among the largest contributors.
Investment fraud accounted for the majority of crypto losses, often involving social media, dating apps, and fake trading platforms promising high returns.
Scammers typically build trust, display fabricated profits, and pressure victims to send more funds before disappearing.
Many operations are linked to organized scam networks in Southeast Asia.
Crypto investment scams alone resulted in $7.228 billion in losses from more than 61,000 complaints.
Recovery scams generated about $1.4 billion in losses across more than 10,000 complaints.
These schemes target previous victims by posing as officials or recovery agents and requesting upfront fees.
Crypto ATM and kiosk fraud accounted for another $389 million in losses, with fewer reports but higher overall losses.
Other categories included tech support scams and breaches involving crypto wallets.
Losses Continue to Climb
The FBI is sounding the alarm louder than ever.
In its report and accompanying press release, the bureau warns that scammers are leveraging AI-generated deepfakes, QR codes on unsolicited packages, and crypto ATMs to move funds instantly and irreversibly.
Recovery scams are particularly insidious, often combining multiple tactics to re-victimize those already harmed.
When stacked against previous years, 2025 stands out as the worst on record.
Crypto-related losses have exploded since the IC3 began tracking them:
- 2017: $27 million.
- 2018: $289 million.
- 2019: $862 million.
- 2020: $1.55 billion.
- 2021: $2.14 billion.
- 2022: $4.43 billion.
By 2024, losses had climbed to roughly $9.3 billion, then jumped another 22% in 2025 to $11.366 billion.
The upward trajectory—more than 400-fold growth in under a decade—signals both the mainstream adoption of crypto and the parallel rise in criminal sophistication.
FBI Guidance for Users
The FBI has issued a set of key recommendations for crypto users:
- Act immediately on suspicious transactions: Contact your bank or crypto exchange right away to attempt a recall or freeze. Even minutes can make a difference.
- Report early and thoroughly: File a complaint at www.ic3.gov with every detail, wallet addresses, transaction IDs, screenshots, and communications. The IC3’s Recovery Asset Team uses this data to trace and freeze funds through its Financial Fraud Kill Chain initiative.
- Verify before you invest: Never send crypto in response to unsolicited messages, social media “guarantees,” or pressure from strangers. Legitimate opportunities do not require immediate wire transfers to unverified platforms.
- Stay vigilant against recovery fraud: Ignore calls or emails claiming to be from the FBI, IC3, or law enforcement demanding fees. Real agencies never ask for upfront payments.
FBI recommends using two-factor authentication, hardware wallets, and avoiding public Wi-Fi for crypto transactions. Enable transaction alerts and never share seed phrases.
The FBI has backed its warnings with action.
Operation Level Up has notified thousands of potential victims of crypto investment fraud since 2024, preventing over $500 million in losses and even referring dozens for suicide prevention support.
A new Scam Center Strike Force is targeting organized fraud rings abroad.
As crypto becomes more embedded in everyday finance, the FBI stresses that awareness remains the best defense.
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Prashant Jha is a seasoned crypto journalist based in Delhi, India, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science Engineering. Passionate about the evolving world of blockchain and cryptocurrencies, he has been a dedicated voice in the industry since 2018. Prashant’s expertise lies in regulatory reporting, where he unravels complex legal and financial developments with clarity and precision. Before joining CCN in 2024, he honed his craft at Cointelegraph, establishing himself as a trusted name in crypto journalism.
His coverage spans major industry events, including the high-profile collapses of FTX, Three Arrows Capital (3AC), and LUNA, offering readers insightful analyses of their regulatory and market implications. Prashant’s technical background enables him to bridge the gap between intricate blockchain technology and its real-world applications, making his work accessible to novices and experts.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Prashant is an avid music enthusiast, often exploring diverse genres to unwind. A sports lover, he has a particular passion for cricket and frequently engages in discussions about the game. His multifaceted interests and sharp journalistic instincts make him a valuable contributor to CCN, where he continues shaping the crypto landscape's narrative.
