Cybercriminals have been keeping busy. The 2025 Internet Crime Report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) shows a continued rise in internet crime complaints, with officials receiving more than 3,000 per day and the annual total surpassing 1 million for the first time. (And that figure is likely far below the actual total, since many victims never report these crimes.)
Reported losses tied to online criminal activity topped $20 billion last year, despite federal officials’ efforts to combat it. That’s more than $4 billion higher than the 2024 total and more than double the amount reported just four years ago.
The report highlighted several notable trends in the cybercrime landscape. Here are a few to watch.
AI-driven crimes are exploding
Advances in artificial intelligence are giving hackers and other cybercriminals a host of new tools, which they’re eagerly embracing. Last year, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received 22,364 complaints of AI-related cybercrimes, which resulted in more than $893 million in losses.
Criminals have long used altered videos and images to blackmail victims, but AI can now generate far more convincing fakes that are increasingly difficult to spot. At the same time, the tools needed to create those deepfakes are becoming more accessible.
AI-powered chatbots can also mimic corporate executives, tricking employees into wiring money or clicking phishing links. Romance scammers, too, are increasingly turning to AI to deceive victims.
It’s a trend that’s likely to continue escalating at a rapid clip in years to come.
Beware phishing and crypto
Of all the internet crimes tracked by the FBI, phishing and spoofing generated the highest number of complaints last year, with nearly 192,000 victims reporting losses. Those crimes accounted for more than $215 million in losses. That figure pales in comparison to investment scams, however. Although the FBI received far fewer complaints in that category, just under 73,000, the schemes resulted in $8.6 billion in losses in 2025.
Complaints involving cryptocurrency, meanwhile, were up 21% from 2024, hitting 181,565. That resulted in $11.4 billion in losses, a 22% increase. People 40 and up were especially vulnerable to these scams.
Targeting the young
Traditionally, younger internet users have not been a primary focus for cybercriminals. That’s beginning to change. “Recent trends indicate a serious rise in cybercrimes targeting minors (17 years old or younger), driven by sextortion, cyberbullying, and online grooming,” the report reads.
Last year saw more than 13,000 complaints and almost $13 billion in losses, with an average loss of $986. Of particular interest to the FBI is an online group called “764,” which coerces children into engaging in self-harm, animal cruelty, and suicidal acts on live stream.
Those numbers come as the number of teenage hackers is on the rise as well.
Growing threats
A look at the dollar losses of the FBI’s categories from the past three years underlines which types of crimes are becoming more lucrative for criminals.
Investment scams posted some of the biggest growth , rising from $4.6 billion in losses in 2023 to $8.6 billion last year. Lottery, sweepstakes, and inheritance scams more than doubled over that same period, climbing from $94 million to $194 million. Tech support and customer support scams brought in $2.1 billion last year, a 131% increase from 2023.
Elder fraud
While younger people are being targeted more frequently, seniors remain cybercriminals’ preferred target.
The number of complaints to the FBI from people over the age of 60 were up 37% last year to more than 201,000. And losses from that demographic topped $7.7 billion, a 59% increase from 2024. Three years prior, the total was less than $3 billion.
Investment scams accounted for the largest share of losses, with more than $3.5 billion stolen. Fake tech and customer support outreach schemes cost seniors another $1 billion.
Virtually every category the FBI tracks saw an increased number of complaints from people over 60 last year, with the biggest leaps in confidence/romance scams, government impersonation, investment scams and phishing.
