The FBI’s latest internet crime report shows Americans lost nearly $21 billion to cybercrime in 2025. Roughly half of those losses, about $11.4 billion, were tied to cryptocurrency-related complaints.The report underscores how scams are becoming more sophisticated and costly, with older Americans continuing to bear the heaviest burden. People 60 and older reported more than $7.7 billion in losses.For the first time, the FBI also highlighted a rapidly growing factor behind many of these schemes: artificial intelligence.In 2025, the agency received 22,364 complaints involving AI, totaling more than $893 million in losses. The true number is likely higher, since victims may not realize AI was used.The FBI outlined several ways criminals are already deploying the technology:Business email compromisesScammers use AI tools to generate polished emails that mimic executives or coworkers, sometimes paired with voice cloning to request urgent payments.Romance and “distress” scamsFraudsters create fake profiles and use AI-generated messages to build trust. In some cases, they clone a loved one’s voice to stage an emergency and ask for money.Employment scamsScammers are using deepfake video and voice spoofing to pose as job candidates during remote interviews, often to gain access to company systems. Victims reported about $13 million in losses tied to these schemes.Investment scamsCriminals are using AI to generate fake endorsements, videos and even entire online communities that appear to be filled with real investors, helping lure victims into fraudulent platforms.The report warns that AI is making scams harder to detect and easier to scale.”Cyber threats and cyber-enabled crime will continue to evolve as the world embraces emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence,” the FBI said.The best defense is simple: slow down, verify independently and don’t act on urgency — even when it looks or sounds real.Stay Connected with the National Consumer UnitGet clear, actionable consumer reporting delivered across platforms.Follow National Consumer Correspondent Allie Jasinski for real-time updates, myth-busting videos and behind-the-scenes reporting on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.Have a question you’d like us to investigate? Email us at askallie@hearst.com.
The FBI’s latest internet crime report shows Americans lost nearly $21 billion to cybercrime in 2025. Roughly half of those losses, about $11.4 billion, were tied to cryptocurrency-related complaints.
The report underscores how scams are becoming more sophisticated and costly, with older Americans continuing to bear the heaviest burden. People 60 and older reported more than $7.7 billion in losses.
For the first time, the FBI also highlighted a rapidly growing factor behind many of these schemes: artificial intelligence.
In 2025, the agency received 22,364 complaints involving AI, totaling more than $893 million in losses. The true number is likely higher, since victims may not realize AI was used.
The FBI outlined several ways criminals are already deploying the technology:
Business email compromises
Scammers use AI tools to generate polished emails that mimic executives or coworkers, sometimes paired with voice cloning to request urgent payments.
Romance and “distress” scams
Fraudsters create fake profiles and use AI-generated messages to build trust. In some cases, they clone a loved one’s voice to stage an emergency and ask for money.
Employment scams
Scammers are using deepfake video and voice spoofing to pose as job candidates during remote interviews, often to gain access to company systems. Victims reported about $13 million in losses tied to these schemes.
Investment scams
Criminals are using AI to generate fake endorsements, videos and even entire online communities that appear to be filled with real investors, helping lure victims into fraudulent platforms.
The report warns that AI is making scams harder to detect and easier to scale.
“Cyber threats and cyber-enabled crime will continue to evolve as the world embraces emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence,” the FBI said.
The best defense is simple: slow down, verify independently and don’t act on urgency — even when it looks or sounds real.
Stay Connected with the National Consumer Unit
Get clear, actionable consumer reporting delivered across platforms.
Follow National Consumer Correspondent Allie Jasinski for real-time updates, myth-busting videos and behind-the-scenes reporting on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
Have a question you’d like us to investigate? Email us at askallie@hearst.com.
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