Cryptocurrency Scam Statistics
Cryptocurrency-related fraud losses reported to the FBI IC3 reached $11.366 billion across 181,565 complaints in 2025, a 22% increase in losses over 2024.
Last reviewed: 7 July 2026
Cryptocurrency scams exploit the speed, irreversibility, and pseudonymity of digital asset transactions. Fraudsters use crypto as both a payment method and a lure, promising extraordinary returns through fake trading platforms. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center recorded $11.366 billion in cryptocurrency-related losses across 181,565 complaints in 2025 — a 22% increase in losses over 2024.\n\nOfficially recorded figures almost certainly understate the true scale. Many victims do not report because they feel shame, do not know where to report, or simply do not realise they have been defrauded until long after their funds have been moved through multiple wallets and become practically unrecoverable. Blockchain analytics firms consistently find that on-chain data shows far higher flows to fraud addresses than official complaint figures suggest. All amounts are US dollars as reported to the FBI IC3.
Key figures
$11.366 billion across 181,565 complaints in 2025 — a 22% increase in losses over 2024
Total losses involving cryptocurrency reported to FBI IC3 (US)
Source: FBI IC3 2025 Annual Internet Crime Report (2025)
$7.228 billion in losses across 61,559 complaints in 2025 — a 48% increase in complaints and a 25% increase in losses over 2024
Crypto investment fraud losses reported to FBI IC3 (US)
Source: FBI IC3 2025 Annual Internet Crime Report (2025)
People aged 60 and over reported $4,347,081,557 in cryptocurrency-related fraud losses across 42,271 complaints in 2025
Older adults and crypto fraud losses (US)
Source: FBI IC3 2025 Annual Internet Crime Report (2025)
$11,366,669,732 in losses across 181,565 cryptocurrency-related complaints in 2025
Exact FBI IC3 cryptocurrency-descriptor losses (US)
Source: FBI IC3 2025 Annual Internet Crime Report (2025)
$4,347,081,557 lost in 2025, up from $2,839,333,197 in 2024 and $1,653,484,444 in 2023
Older adults (60+) crypto fraud losses, three-year trend (US)
Source: FBI IC3 2025 Annual Internet Crime Report (2025)
Tech/Customer Support was the second-largest crypto-nexus loss category at $1,226,298,080 in 2025, behind Investment fraud
Second-largest crypto-linked IC3 loss category (US)
Source: FBI IC3 2025 Annual Internet Crime Report (2025)
The 40-49 age group reported $1,552,700,119 in cryptocurrency-related losses in 2025
Ages 40-49 crypto-related fraud losses (US)
Source: FBI IC3 2025 Annual Internet Crime Report (2025)
13,460 complaints and $389 million in losses in 2025 — a 23% increase in complaints and a 58% increase in losses over 2024
Cryptocurrency ATM and kiosk fraud reported to FBI IC3 (US)
Source: FBI IC3 2025 Annual Internet Crime Report (2025)
10,516 complaints and $1.4 billion in losses to recovery scams in 2025, where criminals target earlier fraud victims by impersonating government officials and recovery firms
Cryptocurrency recovery scams reported to FBI IC3 (US)
Source: FBI IC3 2025 Annual Internet Crime Report (2025)
Over 56% of the record $16.6 billion in total reported 2024 IC3 losses involved cryptocurrency
Share of total 2024 IC3 losses attributable to crypto-related fraud
Source: FBI IC3 2024 Annual Internet Crime Report (2024)
Key takeaways
- Americans reported $9.3 billion in cryptocurrency-related fraud losses to the FBI IC3 in 2024 — the highest ever recorded and a 66% jump over 2023.
- Crypto investment fraud, often using pig-butchering tactics, accounted for $5.8 billion of those losses across more than 41,000 complaints.
- Older adults aged 60 and over bear a disproportionate share of losses, accounting for nearly $5 billion in reported crypto fraud.
- Because cryptocurrency transactions are largely irreversible, recovery rates for victims are extremely low, and significant under-reporting is assumed by researchers.
Frequently asked questions
Why are cryptocurrency fraud losses rising so fast?
Several factors drive the rapid increase: the irreversibility of most crypto transactions gives fraudsters an advantage; sophisticated pig-butchering operations run by organised crime have scaled dramatically; and crypto allows cross-border transfers that complicate law enforcement recovery. The FBI IC3 reported a 66% year-on-year jump to $9.3 billion in 2024.