Investment & Crypto Scam Statistics
Reported losses to fraudulent investment schemes and cryptocurrency scams, from FBI IC3, FTC, and ACCC official reports.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Investment fraud — including cryptocurrency-based schemes — has become the single costliest category of consumer fraud by reported dollar losses in the United States and Australia. Criminals typically pose as legitimate brokers or use fake trading platforms, often after building trust through romance scams or unsolicited social-media contact.
Figures below come from named official reports for the years stated. Cryptocurrency losses are particularly hard to recover once transferred, and under-reporting is high because many victims only realise they have been defrauded when they try to withdraw funds.
Key figures
$5.7 billion in 2024 — the largest FTC fraud category
Reported investment fraud losses (US, FTC)
Source: FTC Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2024 (2024)
Over $6.5 billion in 2024
Reported investment fraud losses (US, FBI IC3)
Source: FBI IC3 2024 Annual Internet Crime Report (2024)
$9.3 billion across nearly 150,000 complaints in 2024 — a 66% increase on 2023
Reported losses in complaints involving cryptocurrency (US, FBI IC3)
Source: FBI IC3 2024 Annual Internet Crime Report (2024)
$945 million in 2024
Reported investment scam losses (Australia)
Source: ACCC / NASC Targeting Scams Report 2024 (2024)
Key takeaways
- Investment fraud is the costliest reported fraud category in both the US (per FTC and FBI IC3) and Australia (per ACCC).
- According to the FBI IC3, reported cryptocurrency-related fraud losses reached $9.3 billion in 2024 — a 66% increase from 2023.
- Pig-butchering scams — where criminals cultivate fake relationships before introducing fraudulent crypto platforms — are a major driver of these losses.
- Losses are largely unrecoverable once cryptocurrency is transferred; victims should treat any unsolicited investment opportunity as high-risk.
Frequently asked questions
Why do the FTC and FBI IC3 give different investment fraud totals?
They use different reporting populations and category definitions. The FTC's Consumer Sentinel Network and the FBI's IC3 are separate systems; a victim may report to one, both, or neither. Neither total represents the full scale of investment fraud in the US.
What are the most common investment scam tactics?
According to the FBI IC3, pig-butchering schemes — where criminals build a fake relationship before introducing a fraudulent cryptocurrency trading platform — account for a large share of reported losses. Other common tactics include fake ICOs, pump-and-dump schemes, and impersonation of legitimate brokers.
Can cryptocurrency fraud losses be recovered?
Rarely. Once cryptocurrency is transferred to a scammer-controlled wallet, recovery is extremely difficult. The FBI and FTC both advise reporting immediately to IC3.gov and the relevant financial institution, but most victims do not recover their funds.