FBI Reports Scams Increasing

A new report from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) cyber crime has increased by 33% and shows just how much damage cyber criminals are doing across the country. The IC3 is the central hub for reporting cyber-enabled crime. It is run by the FBI, the lead federal agency for investigating crime.

According to the report, over 859,000 Americans filed complaints with the FBI’s IC3 about internet-related scams in 2024. A staggering $16.6 billion in total losses were reported—a 33% increase over the previous year.

There are many scams you could be faced with. These scams can be initiated by phone, email or even text message. Some of these include:

• Investment scams
• Business email compromise scams
• Tech support virus or security breach scams
• Call center scams
• Government officials calling for warrant fees, missed jury duty, etc.
• Loved one stuck in a foreign country (Grandparent scam)
• Toll scams

The biggest financial losses came from investment scams, which cost Americans $6.5 billion. These schemes often lure victims with promises of high returns, but the only people getting rich are the scammers.

Business email compromise scams, where attackers pose as executives or vendors to trick employees into wiring money, raked in $2.7 billion in stolen funds.

Tech support scams are also on the rise, especially among older Americans. These scams often start with a pop-up warning about a “virus” or “security breach,” followed by a phone number to call for “help.” Victims may be tricked into giving remote access to their computer or paying for fake services. In total, tech support scams cost Americans $1.4 billion last year.

Among seniors 60 and older, tech support scams were the second-highest cause of losses, totaling nearly $1 billion.

Americans aged 60+ lost $2.5 billion to internet scams in 2024. The elderly are frequent targets for several reasons: they tend to be more trusting, often have retirement savings, and may not be as familiar with digital security threats.

The FBI also warned about a major increase in call center scams, which led to $1.9 billion in losses. Many of these scams originate overseas and involve callers impersonating government officials, tech support agents, or even family members.

The “grandparent scam” continues to grow as well. These theives call pretending to be a grandchild in trouble, desperately needing money to get out of jail or a foreign country.

And then there are toll scams—a newer scheme where victims receive fake notices about unpaid tolls or parking violations. Total losses in 2024? Just over $129,000, but the number of cases is climbing.

The best protection is awareness and education. If something sounds too urgent or too good to be true, it probably isn’t. Don’t click on suspicious links, don’t give control of your computer to someone you don’t know, and NEVER send money or gift cards to someone you’ve only spoken to online or over the phone.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of online fraud, don’t just let it slide. You need to report it, first to your local police and then to the FBI’s IC3 at www.ic3.gov.