PORTLAND (WGME) — Mainers lost more than $31 million to internet-enabled scams last year, according to a newly released report from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). That’s a 65% increase compared to 2023, when data show Mainers lost nearly $19 million.
The average loss per Mainer reporting a cybercrime was around $14,725—below the national average, but still a significant hit for many individuals and small businesses.
Older Mainers Hit Hardest
As in previous years, older adults in Maine were disproportionately impacted. Residents aged 60 and older accounted for 608 of the state’s complaints, with losses totaling nearly $13 million — more than 40% of all reported cybercrime losses in Maine.
That mirrors a national trend: across the country, Americans over 60 lost nearly $4.9 billion to online scams last year. The FBI says this age group is often targeted by tech support scams, government impersonation, and investment fraud.
National Cybercrime Losses Reach Record High
The report highlights the growing sophistication of online schemes and the rising cost to victims.
According to the IC3, 2024 was the costliest year for cybercrime in U.S. history, with total reported losses soaring to $16.6 billion—a 33% increase from 2023. That’s the largest single-year jump in the center’s 25-year history.
One of the fastest-growing threats involves cryptocurrency scams, which accounted for over $9.3 billion in losses nationwide. Victims over 60 — including many in Maine — were the most affected group.
IC3 Director B. Chad Yarbrough noted the digital nature of today’s scams makes them more difficult to detect and more devastating in scope.
“The criminals Americans face today may look different than in years past,” he said, “but they still want the same thing: to harm Americans for their own benefit.”+
How to Report a Scam
The FBI encourages anyone who believes they’ve been targeted by an internet-enabled scam to file a complaint at www.ic3.gov.
You can also contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833–FRAUD–11 (833–372–8311), Department of Justice Elder Justice Initiative or the Federal Trade Commission.
Reporting helps federal investigators track patterns, freeze fraudulent transactions, and warn others before they fall victim.
Have a consumer issue you’d like the I-Team to investigate, call 228-7713 or email tips@wgme.com
Click Here For The Original Source.
