• The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released its 2022 Internet Crime Report, which revealed that cryptocurrency investment fraud rose 183% from $907 million in 2021 to $2.57 billion in 2022.
• In response, the FBI issued a public service announcement warning of „a spike in cryptocurrency investment schemes.“
• These schemes typically start with romance or confidence scams and evolve into crypto-investment fraud, with victims aged 30 to 49 being the most targeted group.
FBI Reports Crypto Investment Fraud Rose 183%
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) says cryptocurrency investment fraud rose 183%, from $907 million in 2021 to $2.57 billion in 2022, based on data from its Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). The FBI also warned the public of an increase in crypto investment schemes.
Investment Scams Costliest Scheme Reported
The 2022 Internet Crime Report revealed that investment scams were the costliest scheme reported to IC3, increasing from $1.45 billion to $3.31 billion – an increase of 127%. Within these complaints, crypto-investment fraud was particularly high, leading the FBI to issue a public service announcement warning of this spike.
Common Crypto Investment Scams
The FBI highlighted some prevalent crypto investment scams being experienced in 2022 such as those related to liquidity mining, hacked social media accounts, celebrity impersonation, real estate professionals and employment.
Targeted Age Group: 30-49
Crypto-investment scams have had a massive impact on victims who often assume massive debt in order cover losses incurred through these fraudulent investments – with victims aged 30 to 49 being the most targeted age group when it comes to these types of crimes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the FBI’s report highlights how crypto-fraud is escalating and warns that criminals are increasingly targeting vulnerable individuals – especially those aged between 30 and 49 – through various forms of crypto investment schemes. As such it is important for people to be aware of these threats and take all necessary precautions when investing online or dealing with cryptocurrencies