Crypto scam losses rise above $11 billion
Scammers keep using crypto rails because fake trust can turn into fast, hard-to-reverse payments.
A fake investment screen can feel like progress. The numbers move. The dashboard looks real. Then the withdrawal never comes.
Reported crypto-linked fraud losses nearly tripled from about $3.86 billion in 2022 to $11.366 billion in 2025.
- fake investment platforms can show fake gains before blocking withdrawals
- crypto payments are fast and difficult for victims to reverse
- romance and friendship scams build emotional trust before asking for money
- AI and automation make personalized persuasion cheaper
When someone pushes you toward crypto, a new wallet, or a fast transfer, the question is not just “is this investment real?” It is “can I get my money back if I am wrong?”
Behind the numbersOpen
Observed values come from FBI IC3 cryptocurrency-related fraud reporting. The FBI’s 2023 cryptocurrency fraud report says losses with a cryptocurrency nexus totaled more than $5.6 billion in 2023, a 45% increase over 2022, implying roughly $3.86 billion in 2022. The 2024 IC3 reporting put cryptocurrency-related losses around $9.3 billion. The 2025 IC3 report put cryptocurrency-related reported losses at $11.366 billion. This metric counts complaints with a cryptocurrency connection; it is not the same as all crypto market losses or all online crime losses.