Americans reported unprecedented losses tied to cryptocurrency-related fraud in 2025, with total damages climbing to more than $11.3 billion as complaints tied to digital assets continued to rise sharply, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center report.
The data released on Tuesday shows 181,565 complaints involving cryptocurrency, marking a 21% increase from the previous year, alongside a 22% rise in losses.
Investment Scams Drive Majority Of Losses
Cryptocurrency investment fraud accounted for the largest share of losses, totaling $7.2 billion in 2025, making it the single biggest driver of financial damage among crypto-related crimes.
The report describes these scams as long-term schemes that rely on psychological manipulation and false promises of high returns. Victims are often contacted through social media, messaging platforms, or dating apps and directed to fraudulent investment platforms that display fake profits to encourage larger deposits.
In many cases, victims are asked to pay additional fees or taxes when attempting withdrawals, before scammers disappear with the funds.
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Older Americans Bear The Heaviest Losses
Losses were concentrated among older age groups, with individuals aged 60 and above reporting the highest financial damage across multiple crypto fraud categories, including investment scams and ATM-related fraud.
The average loss per complaint reached $62,604, while 18,589 victims reported losing more than $100,000.
New Fraud Channels Expand Through ATMs And Recovery Scams
The report highlights a rise in scams involving cryptocurrency ATMs and QR codes, with 13,460 complaints and $389 million in losses, representing a 58% increase in losses from 2024.
Recovery scams also emerged as a significant category, generating $1.4 billion in losses as fraudsters targeted victims already affected by previous crypto schemes.
Across categories, investment fraud, extortion, and impersonation schemes were among the most common crime types linked to cryptocurrency activity in 2025.
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