The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has disclosed that Americans lost a staggering $5.6 billion to cryptocurrency-related fraud in 2023.
What Happened: This figure, released in the FBI’s 2023 Cryptocurrency Fraud Report, marks a 45% increase from the previous year, highlighting the growing sophistication of cybercriminals in the digital asset space.
The report details that while cryptocurrency-related complaints accounted for only 10% of all financial fraud reports, they represented nearly half of the total financial losses, highlighting the high-stakes nature of cryptocurrency scams.
Investment fraud emerged as the dominant form of cryptocurrency-related crime, accounting for 71% of all losses.
The FBI noted a particular increase in “confidence-enabled cryptocurrency investment fraud,” where criminals build trust with victims through dating apps, social media, or professional networking sites before introducing fraudulent investment opportunities.
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“Criminals exploit the decentralized nature of cryptocurrency, the speed of irreversible transactions, and the ability to transfer value around the globe,” said Michael D. Nordwall, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “This creates significant challenges in recovering stolen funds.”
The report also highlighted an alarming trend of labor trafficking connected to cryptocurrency scams, with individuals lured overseas by false job advertisements and forced to participate in fraudulent operations.
Interestingly, the age group reporting the highest losses was those over 60, with more than $1.24 billion in reported losses, despite younger age groups filing more complaints overall.
What’s next: In light of these findings, the upcoming Benzinga Future of Digital Assets event on Nov. 19 takes on added significance as a platform to discuss the advantages and drawbacks of building a cryptocurrency-based financial system.
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