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Cybercrime reached unprecedented levels in the United States in 2024. According to the FBI’s latest annual report, online scammers stole a record $16.6 billion, a dramatic 33% increase over the previous year. This explosion in cyber scams was accompanied by an impressive number of complaints: nearly 860,000 reports were filed, averaging more than 2,000 per day.
Rapid Growth in Cybercrime Losses
The report, published by the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), highlights an alarming increase in financial losses. In 2023, losses already amounted to $12.5 billion, but 2024 saw an unprecedented jump to $16.6 billion. This surge is largely due to the widespread use of digital tools and the increasing sophistication of attacks, often facilitated by advances in generative artificial intelligence.
The Most Common Forms of Cybercrime
- Investment fraud (especially in cryptocurrency): over $6.6 billion in losses in 2024.
- Phishing and spoofing: the most frequent techniques in terms of complaints.
- Romance scams and AI-driven identity theft: a sharp increase in so-called “pig butchering” scams.
- Ransomware attacks: a 9% increase in complaints in 2024.
Seniors: Main Victims of Cyber Scams
People over the age of 60 are the hardest hit, losing more than $4.8 billion in 2024. This age group is particularly targeted by investment scams and cryptocurrency fraud: $2.8 billion in crypto-related losses involved seniors. “Pig butchering scams” have become a scourge for this population, with some retirees losing their entire life savings.
Worrying New Trends
Artificial intelligence now plays a major role in the proliferation and sophistication of attacks. Cybercriminals use AI tools to automate phishing, generate deepfakes, and personalize scams, making them harder to detect.
Among new scams, fake toll road schemes have multiplied: 58,271 complaints were filed for this type of fraud, often orchestrated by international criminal groups, notably via platforms like Telegram.
An Underestimated Phenomenon
The FBI emphasizes that these figures likely underestimate the true scale, as they only account for reported cases. Many victims do not file complaints, either out of ignorance or shame, suggesting the real damage is much greater.
Measures and Outlook
“Since 2020, the virtualization of our lives has greatly expanded the attack surface, and we are seeing criminals move from the physical to the digital world,” said Cynthia Kaiser, Deputy Assistant Director for Cyber at the FBI.
Faced with this explosion in cybercrime, the FBI is stepping up efforts to raise public awareness, strengthen international cooperation, and dismantle criminal networks. In 2024, the agency notably struck a serious blow against certain ransomware groups and recovered decryption keys to help victims.
Summary Table: Key Cybercrime Figures in the U.S. (2024)
| Indicator | 2024 value | Change vs 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Number of complaints | 859 532 | +33 % |
| Total financial losses | $16,6 billion | +33 % |
| Losses among seniors (>60) | $4,8 billion | +43 % |
| Crypto fraud losses | $6,6 milliards | +43 % |
| Complaints per day | >2 000 | – |
Conclusion
Cybercrime continues to grow at a rapid pace in the United States, driven by technological innovation and the widespread adoption of digital tools. Financial losses have reached record levels, with seniors increasingly vulnerable and fraud techniques diversifying. The FBI urges vigilance and cooperation from all to curb this phenomenon, which shows no sign of slowing down.