# FBI: Crypto and AI Scams Cost Americans Billions

**Published:** 2026-04-06T07:00:00.000Z  
**Topic:** Crypto Scam  
**Sentiment:** neutral  
**Publisher:** TrendWatcher — https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/1e997795-bc4a-4bc0-9fdb-c743226714f6

The FBI reports Americans lost nearly $21 billion to cybercrime in 2025, with cryptocurrency and AI-powered fraud driving record losses.

Americans reported nearly $21 billion in losses from cybercrime in 2025, the highest total recorded by the FBI in more than two decades of tracking internet crime [1]. The agency’s annual report highlights a surge in fraud involving cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence, with investment scams remaining the costliest category [2].

**Key takeaways**
*   Total cybercrime losses reached nearly $21 billion in 2025, a record high [1].
*   Cryptocurrency-related fraud accounted for more than $11 billion in losses [2].
*   AI scams were tracked for the first time, resulting in roughly $893 million in losses [1].
*   Victims aged 60 and older reported more than $7.7 billion in losses [3].

## Cryptocurrency drives record financial losses
Cryptocurrency-related fraud accounted for the largest share of financial losses, totaling more than $11 billion, according to the FBI [2]. Investment scams, which often involve building trust over time before disappearing with funds, caused $8.6 billion in damage, with cryptocurrency making up almost three-quarters of these incidents [2]. Business email compromise schemes, where criminals pose as trusted vendors or executives to divert payments, also contributed significantly, costing at least $3 billion in 2025 [2].

## Artificial intelligence amplifies deception
For the first time, the FBI formally tracked AI-related fraud, documenting more than 22,000 complaints and approximately $893 million in losses [1]. Scammers are utilizing the technology to clone voices, generate convincing emails, and create fake profiles or videos to sell fraudulent investments [1][2]. Special Agent Dominique Evans of the FBI Norfolk Field Office noted that while criminals can clone voices or images, there are often "strange nuances" that can alert victims [4]. The agency warns that AI is making traditional red flags harder to spot and allows fraud to scale more easily [3].

## Why it matters
The FBI warns that cyber threats will continue to evolve as emerging technologies like AI become more integrated into daily life [3]. Older adults reported the highest losses of any demographic, underscoring the vulnerability of specific populations to sophisticated schemes [1][3]. Law enforcement agencies urge victims to report incidents quickly through the Internet Crime Complaint Center to aid in potential recovery efforts [2].

## Sources
1. Government Technology — [The FBI Is Now Tracking AI Scams, and the Losses Are Huge](https://www.govtech.com/artificial-intelligence/the-fbi-is-now-tracking-ai-scams-and-the-losses-are-huge)
2. Government Technology — [FBI: Crypto, AI Scams Drove Billions in Losses in 2025](https://www.govtech.com/security/fbi-crypto-ai-scams-drove-billions-in-losses-in-2025)
3. WCVB Channel 5 Boston — [FBI: Nearly $21B lost to cybercrime in 2025 as crypto scams dominate and AI scams rise](https://www.wcvb.com/article/fbi-cybercrime-report-2025-ai-crypto-scams-losses/71054092)
4. WVEC — [AI scams stole hundreds of millions in 2025, FBI says](https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/crime/ai-scams-stole-hundreds-of-millions-in-2025-fbi-says/291-cf84daae-7291-407c-8b7c-e3afc1bee4a0)

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Cite as: TrendWatcher, "FBI: Crypto and AI Scams Cost Americans Billions", https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/1e997795-bc4a-4bc0-9fdb-c743226714f6