{
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        "rendered": "Americans lost $11B to crypto scams in 2025, says FBI"
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        "rendered": "<p data-testid=\"post-description\">According to the bureau, a large number of minors aged 17 and younger were included in complaints related to crypto or crypto ATMs, resulting in more than $5 million in losses.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div data-testid=\"html-renderer-container\">\n<p>The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported that Americans\u2019 losses from crypto-related scams increased to more than $11 million in 2025.<\/p>\n<p>In its annual internet crime complaint report released on Monday, the FBI <a title=\"https:\/\/www.fbi.gov\/news\/press-releases\/cryptocurrency-and-ai-scams-bilk-americans-of-billions\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fbi.gov\/news\/press-releases\/cryptocurrency-and-ai-scams-bilk-americans-of-billions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">said<\/a> that cryptocurrency and AI-related scams were \u201camong the costliest\u201d for Americans in 2025, with 181,565 complaints totaling more than $11 billion. According to the bureau, it received more than one million complaints in 2025 reporting losses of about $21 million due to cyber-enabled crimes.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"FBI, Fraud, United States, Crimes, Scams\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.cointelegraph.com\/uploads\/2026-04\/019d695f-2420-73be-8819-c0579c29d65c.png\"><figcaption><em>Crypto complaints and financial losses have risen sharply in recent years. Source: <\/em><a title=\"https:\/\/www.ic3.gov\/AnnualReport\/Reports\/2025_IC3Report.pdf\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ic3.gov\/AnnualReport\/Reports\/2025_IC3Report.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><em>FBI<\/em><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The FBI\u2019s Internet Crime Complaint Center reported that investment scams resulted in the highest percentage of victims reporting losses in crypto as opposed to cash, debit cards, gift cards and other media of exchange. In addition, about 10% of the 13,168 complaints involving cybercrimes targeting minors aged 17 and younger were related to crypto or crypto ATMs, resulting in more than $5 million in losses.<\/p>\n<p>The complaints the FBI received were despite the bureau\u2019s efforts to \u201cidentify and notify people who are currently falling victim to cryptocurrency investment fraud\u201d through its Operation Level Up in 2024. Globally, blockchain analytics platform Chainalysis <a title=\"https:\/\/www.chainalysis.com\/blog\/crypto-sanctions-2026\/\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chainalysis.com\/blog\/crypto-sanctions-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">reported <\/a>in March that illicit addresses received $154 billion in 2025, driven in part by sanctions evasions.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Related: <\/strong><\/em><a title=\"https:\/\/cointelegraph.com\/news\/cambodia-law-prison-crypto-scammers\" href=\"https:\/\/cointelegraph.com\/news\/cambodia-law-prison-crypto-scammers\"><em><strong>Cambodian lawmakers propose severe prison time for crypto scammers<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Scammers use Tron blockchain token to con users using FBI<\/h2>\n<p>According to the FBI report, there were 32,424 complaints involved in impersonation of government officials, resulting in about $800 million in losses. However, the report did not mention bureau officials issuing a March notice <a title=\"https:\/\/cointelegraph.com\/news\/fbi-warns-phishing-scam-tron-blockchain\" href=\"https:\/\/cointelegraph.com\/news\/fbi-warns-phishing-scam-tron-blockchain\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">warning Americans that a token<\/a> on the Tron blockchain was impersonating the FBI with the goal of obtaining personal information.<\/p>\n<p>Tron users reported receiving a token with the FBI logo claiming that their wallet was \u201cunder investigation.\u201d The users were then prompted to enter personal information under the guise of an FBI anti-money-laundering verification to avoid their accounts being frozen.<\/p>\n<p><iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/t06mVWz6ngM?start=\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Magazine: <\/strong><\/em><a title=\"https:\/\/cointelegraph-magazine.com\/are-defi-devs-liable-illegal-activities-platforms\/\" href=\"https:\/\/cointelegraph-magazine.com\/are-defi-devs-liable-illegal-activities-platforms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><em><strong>Are DeFi devs liable for the illegal activity of others on their platforms?<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p><template data-type=\"markets_outlook\" data-name=\"subscription_form\" data-label=\"Subscription Form: Markets Outlook\"><\/template><\/div>\n<p>Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph\u2019s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently. Read our Editorial Policy <a href=\"http:\/\/cointelegraph.com\/editorial-policy\">https:\/\/cointelegraph.com\/editorial-policy<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>",
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        "rendered": "<p>According to the bureau, a large number of minors aged 17 and younger were included in complaints related to crypto [&hellip;]<\/p>",
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