The FBI has released its 2024 Internet Crime Report, compiled by its Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). According to the report, IC3 received a total of 149,686 crypto-related complaints in 2024, with estimated losses reaching $9.3 billion—a 66% increase from the previous year.
The states with the highest number of complaints were California, Texas, and Florida (notably also the most crypto-friendly states), followed by New York.
Seniors Over 60: Most Targeted Group in Crypto Scams
Among the complaints filed, those aged 60 and older submitted the most cases—33,369 reports, while individuals under the age of 20 filed the fewest, with only 1,819 cases. This trend suggests that older Americans are more likely to view cryptocurrency as an investment tool—and more likely to fall victim to scams—whereas younger users are comparatively less susceptible.
The full report is available on the IC3 website.
The over-60 age group also suffered the largest financial losses, with reported damages totaling $2.84 billion. The next highest group was those aged 40 to 49, with $1.46 billion in losses.
Top Crime Types for Seniors in Crypto Scams
For Americans aged 60+, the top three types of crypto-related cybercrimes were:
- Phishing: 193,407 cases
- Extortion: 86,415 cases
- Personal Data Breach: 64,882 cases
When ranked by actual dollar losses, the most financially devastating scam types were:
- Investment fraud – $1.83 billion
- Tech support scams – $982 million
- Romance scams (Pig-butchering schemes) – $389 million
FBI Warns Web3 Firms About North Korean Hackers
FBI Commander Kash Patel stated during a press briefing on Wednesday that IC3 is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and that the center’s effectiveness relies heavily on data and timely public reporting. He encouraged citizens to promptly report any suspicious cyber activity to the FBI.
While seniors remain easy targets due to their lack of tech-savviness, employees within the crypto industry are also becoming primary targets for North Korean hackers.
In 2024, the FBI issued public warnings against crypto scams targeting both individuals and companies, especially Web3 companies, whose employees are frequently targeted by North Korean cyber actors. These attackers use advanced social engineering tactics to infiltrate companies and steal funds—gathering data from social networks, public sources, and personal information to breach defenses.
According to The Block, the FBI previously warned U.S. citizens in April last year against using unlicensed crypto money transfer services, and urged people to verify platforms with official tools before engaging in crypto-related activities to avoid falling victim to fraud.
