Online fraud and cyberattacks cost Americans more last year than at any point in the FBI’s tracking history. The bureau’s Internet Crime Complaint Center published its 2025 figures in April 2026, and the totals show how quickly digital scams have grown. The losses reported to the agency reached roughly $20.9 billion, and the number of complaints passed one million. Behind those totals are individuals, families, and businesses that often find out too late that they were targeted.
A record year measured in complaints and dollars
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, known as IC3, recorded ([1])1,008,597 complaints in 2025 and about $20.9 billion in reported losses. That amount was a 26 percent increase over 2024. That represents a 26% increase year over year and the highest total the FBI has recorded since it began tracking this data. ([2])
The complaint count also marked a milestone. For the first time in the IC3’s 25-year history, complaints surpassed one million in a single year. ([3]) Officials have long warned that the agency’s data captures only part of the picture. It counts complaints submitted voluntarily by victims or their representatives, so it reflects reported internet crime and fraud, not all of it. ([4])
Investment scams drove the largest losses
The biggest financial damage did not come from the most technically advanced attacks. Investment fraud led the categories by a wide margin, and much of it involved digital assets. Investment fraud, largely cryptocurrency-related, accounted for the greatest financial losses at over $8.6 billion. Business email compromise also stood out, with reported losses of about $3 billion.
Older adults were hit especially hard. The FBI’s figures show that people aged 60 and over reported losses of roughly $7.7 billion. Scams that promise quick returns, often tied to cryptocurrency, tend to draw in victims who have savings to protect.
Key figures from the 2025 IC3 report:
- About 1,008,597 complaints filed in 2025
- About $20.9 billion in reported losses, up 26 percent from 2024
- Roughly $8.6 billion lost to investment fraud
- Roughly $7.7 billion reported by victims aged 60 and over
Charges that follow an online investigation
Behind the statistics are cases that move through the justice system. Internet crime can cover identity theft, phishing, hacking, cyberstalking, and other offenses. Investigations often begin in unexpected ways, such as a bank fraud alert or an undercover officer posing as a minor in an online chat. Because online activity crosses state lines, local police, state prosecutors, and federal agencies can all become involved in the same matter.
Penalties depend on the offense and the circumstances. They may include fines, court-ordered restitution, prison time, or community supervision. Defense lawyers in these cases often focus on how evidence was gathered, whether the technical record actually links a specific person to a device, and whether the government can prove the accused acted intentionally.
Digital records can look more certain than they are. An IP address shows which internet connection was used, not necessarily who sat at the keyboard. Malware can also move files from one computer to another without the owner’s knowledge, and timestamps or cloud syncing can create misleading trails.
Why the numbers matter beyond the headlines
The scale of losses has made online fraud a concern for consumers, employers, and insurers alike. Investigators have pointed to growing use of artificial intelligence in scams, which the FBI tracked as a separate category for the first time in 2025. Still, the agency’s figures suggest that many of the costliest schemes depend on persuasion and deception more than on sophisticated hacking.
For ordinary users, the lesson is practical. Verifying investment offers, questioning unexpected requests for money or account access, and reporting suspicious contacts to the IC3 can reduce exposure. Anyone who learns of a federal investigation should also take the matter seriously and seek legal guidance early, since the choices made in those first days can shape how a case unfolds.
