By Ciara Perez, Senior Multimedia Correspondent
iSkyNews.com (ISN) – Published April 22nd, 2026
FBI Report: Crypto and AI Scams Fuel Record-Breaking $21 Billion in Cyber Losses
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FBI has released its 2025 Internet Crime Report, revealing a staggering surge in cyber-enabled crime that defrauded Americans of nearly $21 billion over the past year. The data, compiled by the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), highlights a landscape where cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence (AI) have become the primary tools for high-stakes theft.
The IC3 received over 1 million complaints in 2025, a significant jump from the 859,532 reported in 2024. While phishing, extortion, and investment schemes remain the most common tactics, the financial impact has reached unprecedented levels.
The Rise of AI and Crypto Fraud
For the first time in the report's 25-year history, a dedicated section was included for Artificial Intelligence. Scammers are now leveraging AI to create voice clones, deepfake videos of loved ones or public figures, and incredibly realistic fake social profiles.
🌟 AI Impact: 22,364 complaints resulting in nearly $893 million in losses.
🌟 Crypto Dominance: Cryptocurrency-related complaints accounted for the highest financial hit, with losses exceeding $11 billion across 181,565 reports.
🌟 Investment Fraud: This remains the leading driver of total losses, making up nearly 49% of all scam-related financial damage.
Seniors Targeted
The report highlights a devastating trend for older Americans. Those over the age of 60 reported approximately $7.7 billion in losses, a 37% increase from the previous year. Common tactics targeting this demographic include tech support fraud, personal data breaches, and compromised corporate emails.
FBI Response: Operations Level Up & Winter SHIELD
In response to the crisis, the FBI has intensified its proactive measures:
🌟 Operation Level Up: A specialized initiative that identifies and notifies active victims of crypto fraud. To date, it has notified over 8,000 victims and prevented more than $500 million in additional losses.
🌟 Operation Winter SHIELD:Launched in early 2026, this program provides organizations with concrete steps to bolster digital security against evolving AI threats.
"Take a Beat" — The FBI’s primary advice for the public. Investigators urge citizens to resist the pressure to act quickly and to carefully assess any request for money or personal information.
How to Report a Scam
The IC3 currently receives nearly 3,000 complaints per day. If you or someone you know has been targeted, the FBI recommends documenting the following:
🌟 Scammer or company names
🌟 Methods and dates of contact
🌟 Payment methods and destination of funds
🌟 A thorough description of all interactions
Victims should contact their local FBI office or submit a formal complaint at
iSkyNews.com — Safety Creator and Contributing Journalist for Citizen
📲 Join and follow iSkyNews on Citizen:
Follow iSkyNews.com for breaking news, public safety updates, and community alerts across Florida and Arizona.
💬 See something we missed? If you spot an error or have additional information, please reach out: support@iskynews.com
© 2026 iSkyNews.com — All rights reserved. Unauthorized use, copying, or redistribution of this content is strictly prohibited.
.jpeg)
0 Comments