Crypto investment fraud now accounts for the largest share of American internet crime losses
AR
Amara Remington
crypto IRS ruling · Apr 10, 2026
Source: DojiDoji Data Terminal
Americans lost $11.366 billion to cryptocurrency-related scams in 2025, with crypto investment fraud specifically accounting for $7.2 billion of those losses. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 1,008,597 complaints in 2025, up from 859,532 in 2024. Total reported losses nearing $21 billion were reported by the IC3.
Investment scams typically begin via social media, text messages, advertisements or dating platforms. Scammers introduce victims to investment groups purporting to be knowledgeable industry insiders. Victims send cryptocurrency to fake investment platforms or apps, where they are shown fake profits or offered loans to encourage larger investments. When victims attempt to withdraw their money, scammers charge taxes and fees in a final attempt to exploit them before disappearing with the funds.
To combat this, the FBI launched Operation Level Up to identify and inform victims of cryptocurrency investment fraud. In 2025, the initiative notified 3,780 victims, 78% of whom were unaware they were being scammed. Since its inception, Operation Level Up has reduced losses by over $500 million.
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