Older Americans Bear Brunt of Crypto Scams as FBI Reports $2.8 Billion in Losses
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has unveiled a troubling surge in cryptocurrency-related fraud cases in its 2024 annual report. Over 140,000 complaints tied to digital assets resulted in $9.3 billion in losses, marking a 66% increase from 2023’s $5.6 billion figure.
Americans aged 60 and older emerged as particularly vulnerable, submitting approximately 33,000 complaints and absorbing $2.8 billion in damages. This demographic experienced the most pronounced growth in both reported incidents and financial impact.
Investment scams involving cryptocurrencies constituted the primary threat vector. The dramatic year-over-year escalation highlights the growing sophistication of bad actors targeting retail investors in digital asset markets.
