Cleated fraud operations, pigs and cyber devices from the latest report of the Federal Investigation Office

Internet crimes and encryption fraud have become more common. I will never forget the call from my friend’s uncle. It is the type that maintains the exact data schedules for everything – action lists, travel budgets, and even holiday gifts. So when he told me that he had taken more than $ 20,000 when he thought it was a safe investment for the encrypted currency, I was shocked.

It was targeted by deceptions that took time to build a relationship. Over a few weeks of LinkedIn messages and the text, they presented a “low -risk” opportunity through a professional site that mimics the exchange of legal encryption. Everything looked over the council – until he tried to withdraw his money. This is when the truth was struck. There was no investment. Just convincing fraud.

The most difficult part was just the loss – it was shame. For a man who was always making smart financial decisions, this was felt by personal failure.

That call was the beginning of the deeper diving in Internet crimes. I always assumed that fraud operations occurred for people who clicked on suspicious links or ignored the basic safety advice. But I was wrong.

The annual report of the online crime complaints Center (IC3) He explains: Internet crimes are no longer marginal. It is the dominant, developed, and deep personality.

What is the online crime center report?

The Internet Crime Complaints Center of the Federal Investigation Office, or IC3, brings together reports of Internet fraud and digital threats from individuals and companies across the United States in the 2024 report, which extends to its twenty-fifth year. The Americans filed more than 859,000 complaints of electronic crimes last year, which led to a Record of 16.6 billion dollars In losses, an increase of 33 % from 2023.

It is not only the disturbing scale – it’s targeting. The elderly, encryption investors and even real estate buyers are now on the front lines of digital deception.

When electronic crimes become personal with encryption

My friend’s uncle was not an anomaly. In 2024, people between 60 years old and more than 14,7127 have reached electronic crime complaints – and lost $ 4.9 billion, with an average loss of $ 83,000 per person. This age group has become a major goal, not because it is indifferent, but because it often has savings and confidence institutions, and it may be less familiar with emerging technology such as encryption portfolios or fake trading platforms.

We reported my friend’s uncle’s incident to the FBI through IC3. No, we did not review the money – but the operation was prepared for him. He contributed to something greater. His story has become a much larger data point – which led to FBI, disruption, and dismantling the networks that deceived him.

Five lessons from the IC3 report on Internet crimes and encryption fraud

1. Electronic crimes are large businesses with encryption fraud, being at the top of the graph

With 16.6 billion dollars of losses and average of more than 2000 complaints that were submitted daily, online fraud has become a global institution on an industrial scale. This is no longer related to one-time email letters-it is related to international fraud and theft of identity driven by artificial intelligence and investment plans such as VC startups. These operations are professional, with dedicated “customer service” representatives, social media teams, and even performance rewards for those who have reached financial goals.

What is more concerned is how these networks develop faster than most companies can defend against them. They take advantage of market news in actual time, simulate reliable financial institutions, and even use Deepfake videos to the personality of executives or their loved ones. With tools such as the Touly AI, criminals can now create a large -scale convincing content – or geography, language and even character type.

In short, electronic crimes have become one of the most profitable and flexible industries in the world, and it is coming to anyone with a phone, wallet or moment of confidence.

2. The elderly are goal No. 1

The elderly suffered from the losses of any group – to a large extent. More than 7,500 victims between the ages of 60 years have lost more than 100,000 dollars each, often through technical, romantic support or encrypted investments. These are not isolated incidents – they are part of the systematic targeting of the weak population.

What makes this more worrying is the extent of these tricks. Approachs often use emotional manipulation, impersonation of reliable institutions such as Medicare or the Tax Authority, or simulating emergency situations that include their grandchildren to cause panic and urgency. Many frauds are designed to isolate victims, urge confidentiality or manufacture legal consequences to prevent them from seeking help. Although technology has become more complicated and fraudulent fraud, the elderly faces a uniquely dangerous mixture of high financial risks and low digital defense. It is a crisis of confidence – and it grows.

3. Crypto is the new fraud field

The report notes a 66 % increase in CodedAttached losses, which total $ 9.3 billion. The most affected group? the elderly. From fake exchanges to fraud, “swine slaughtering” – a term that arose in China to describe a long deception where the victims are “giving” affection, confidence and common gains before the financial plans are “slaughtered” – these romantic plans, social engineering and investment are mixed to the devastating effect.

What makes these fraud in particular dangerous is the illusion of legitimacy. Many fraudsters are now victims through stain platforms that mimic real encryption exchanges, with the completion of information boards, “investment advisers”, and simulation gains. Victims often believe that they see profits in the actual time and are encouraged to re -invest in larger sums. By the time they try to spend, it is too late – the site disappears or stops responding, which leaves them only with digital dust.

The issue doubles is the irreversible nature of Blockchain transactions. Once the money is transferred, there is no decline button. The fraudsters take advantage of his identity and the global access to encryption to the stolen assets quickly, which makes almost impossible to track or recover money without rapid intervention. The FBI warns that without public vigilance and proactive reporting, this wave of encryption deception will not accelerate only-especially because artificial intelligence tools make frauds more customized, and deep sounds or deities are used to impersonate the loved ones or financial professionals.

We will also have to think about artificial intelligence agents Artificial intelligence agents have a cervical portfolio also!

4. Investment fraud tops the list

There is no type of fraud that caused greater damage in 2024 of investment fraud, which represents amazing losses of $ 6.57 billion. These often begin with social media fraud, correspondence platforms or dating applications, as fraudsters build confidence slowly through daily conversation and emotional communication. Once the victim is comfortable, the deception provides an “indifferent” investment opportunity-often involves encryption, real estate or exclusive trading platforms. Victims are displayed in information panels or false returns for their temptation by depositing more. Ultimately, when they try to withdraw their money, they meet the delay, and demand more fees – or complete silence.

What is particularly dangerous is how this professional and personal fraud has become. Successive project -holders or specialists in finances, using terminology, fake accreditation data, and even LinkedIn profiles made from PhD to build credibility. In some cases, it includes many partners to simulate a prosperous larger company.

Emotional grooming along with the victims of the wrong financial verification in a course of deep commitment, making it difficult to get away. Because many people feel embarrassed or shame, they do not feel reported – they allow these operations to continue the scaling without deterrence.

5. The FBI interventions are working – but we need to report

There is good news. The FBI’s operation has helped upright more than 4,300 victims of coding, providing nearly $ 286 million. It also closes the main infrastructure used by ransom gangs. But these successes depend on one decisive input: our willingness to report.

What can you do about Internet crimes and encrypted fraud?

In chatting with Charles Guillemet, CTO OF LEDGER, put it as in a consumable way.

“The recent FBI report that shows that encryption crimes represents $ 9.3 billion of losses in 2024 represents a deep increase in 2023. These statistics are not just a number – it is a blatant reminder that with the growth of our industry, the development of threats targeting users is never fixed.

In Leidger, we have constantly emphasized that security is not optional in the ecosystem for encryption – it is essential. These numbers confirm why we have built our entire work on safe self -object solutions.

To avoid becoming part of these statistics, people must consider a number of things.

First, define the priorities of the safety of the devices. The Internet -related software governor remains at risk, while the author of the devices is a decisive safety barrier against remote attacks.

Second, education is necessary. Many of the victims, especially the weak population, such as the elderly who have lost more than $ 2.8 billion, often do not realize that they are targeted until it is too late. They understand common fraud patterns and non -negotiable verifications. Ledger Academy It contains a library of information that can help you protect yourself from fraud and breakthroughs.

Third, check the utmost importance. Always check the transactions on a reliable device, never share special keys, and are very skeptical of the opportunities for the promising of guaranteed returns.

Finally, security is not just a problem for individuals. Institutions, companies, government entities that control the assets of encryption, etc., must update and improve the preparation of security for them as well. It is necessary for these entities to use solutions at the level of institutions to secure their money and ensure that they are compatible, which in turn will protect user boxes.

The industry should raise security standards collectively while making it accessible to ordinary users – which guarantees LEDGER Flex and Stax by making it easy to use for encryption holders of each generation. These FBI statistics are not just a challenge – it is an invitation to work to build a safer environmental system. “

In general, the report urges the following procedures:

1. Talk to your parents. Or your grandparents. Or anyone in your circle may be targeted. Do a real conversation on investment fraud and digital fraud.

2. Reference IC3.gov And do not hesitate to report anything suspicious. It is fast and safe, and the FBI helps connect points via accidents.

3. Watch the emotional manipulation. Several frauds – especially romance and emergency fraud – are designed to bypass logic and prey on urgency or unity.

4. Do not assume that you are very smart so that it is not possible to fall. My uncle is sharp, educated and directed towards the details-and it is still arrested. These fraud are designed by professionals, not amateurs.

5. If you or any person you know have been deceived, do not remain silent. Shame is the strongest deceptive weapon. The more we talk, the more we remove it.

What is the next for those who want to avoid Internet crimes and encrypted fraud

The encryption fraud is not just a side effect of digital life – it is a specific threat to our time. The IC3 report is not just a government document. It is a warning snapshot – an invitation to work.

Because it is behind every real person’s data point. dad. friend. A future could be protected, if we only knew what we are looking for.

Let’s make sure that next year’s report tells a better story.

We enter a new era where digital confidence is the safety currency. Whether this is the way we invest, communicate or protect our identities, the options we make now will determine whether we are a victim – or we are able to empower. This means clicking on more intelligent security tools, demanding transparency from platforms, and staying on alert for advanced threats. This also means building a culture that does not talk about fraud processes is forbidden, but it is necessary.

Because in the end, the battle against Internet crimes and encryption fraud is not just a technique – it is a deep humanity, so let’s lead to awareness, sympathy and action.