Scams are becoming smarter. Here’s how you can outsmart them.

(July 29, 2026) - Every year, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) publishes an annual report that provides one of the most comprehensive snapshots of online crime in America. The recently released 2025 report reveals a troubling reality: cyber-enabled scams are no longer isolated incidents affecting only a handful of victims.

Scams have become a nationwide epidemic, costing Americans more than $20.8 billion in reported losses in 2025, a 26% increase over the previous year and the highest amount on record. More than 1 million complaints were filed with the FBI, averaging nearly 3,000 reports per day.

While these numbers are alarming, the data reveals three key takeaways. Just as importantly, it offers an opportunity to better understand the risks, spot the scams, and learn how to protect yourself and your family.

One: Older Americans continue to suffer the greatest financial losses.

Adults age 60 and above filed over 201,000 complaints in 2025, making up roughly 20% of all reports received by the FBI. Alarmingly, this group reported losses of $7.75 billion, which accounts for more than a third of the total money lost to internet crime in the United States. No other age group shows similar figures.

Kentucky, where Connected Nation’s (CN) home offices are based, mirrors this concerning trend. The Kentucky IC3 report indicates 2,127 victims over age 60, with losses exceeding $64.4 million in 2025.

This amount surpasses the combined losses of several younger groups, showing that scammers persistently target older adults with notable success. It’s not that seniors are less intelligent or less adept with technology. Instead, criminals exploit their circumstances: seniors tend to have more money.

Above table: IC3 Complaints in 2025 by Age Group.

Many have retirement savings, own homes, and have good credit. They’re also more likely to answer calls, trust authority figures, and respond to those seeming to need help. Understanding human psychology well, scammers exploit these tendencies far more than most realize.

There is one important data point that has nothing to do with age. The FBI estimates that only 1 in 40 victims reports a scam, as many people are too embarrassed, ashamed, or frightened to come forward.

If we want to address the growing scam epidemic, we must remove the stigma around being targeted. Anyone can become a victim.

Two: Investment scams remain the largest risk.

Investment fraud remains the top financial threat nationwide. In 2025, Americans reported losing $8.6 billion to investment scams.

These schemes often begin with simple messages, social media connections, or online ads. Criminals spend weeks or months building victims' trust before persuading them to invest in fake cryptocurrency sites or bogus investment opportunities.

Victims typically see impressive yet entirely fake profits on professional-looking websites until they try to withdraw their money, at which point the scammers have vanished.

Tech support scams are also common, especially among older adults. Perpetrators tell victims their computers are infected or that their bank accounts are compromised. They then persuade victims to install remote access software or transfer funds to "secure" accounts.

In 2025, reported losses from tech support scams exceeded $2.1 billion nationwide, with nearly $20 million lost in Kentucky alone. 

Three: AI is adding another dangerous dimension to the threat.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is adding another layer to the increasingly complex cyber-scam landscape. The FBI reported more than 22,000 AI-related complaints in 2025, with nearly $900 million in losses tied to crimes involving AI.

Criminals are now using AI to craft convincing emails, clone voices, produce fake videos, and generate highly personalized phishing attacks.

As these tools become more sophisticated, distinguishing legitimate communications from fraudulent ones is increasingly difficult.

The bad guys are getting caught IF they are reported. 

Despite these troubling trends, there is encouraging news.

In 2025, the FBI's Recovery Asset Team froze around $679 million in stolen funds, with a 58% success rate when victims reported fraud promptly.

This is a good reminder that quick action is crucial. Delaying even a few hours can greatly decrease the likelihood of recovering stolen money.

The best protection is information.  

Protecting yourself and others from scams requires education, communication, and cooperation.

Adult children need to regularly discuss online safety with aging parents and grandparents – letting them know it’s OK to ask questions. Families should be open about the risks of internet scams, fake callers, and fraudulent accounts. Even children, who are often targeted via social media, need to understand online dangers.

All of us should pause before making large financial decisions, especially if pressured to act immediately, asked to keep secrets, requested to pay via cryptocurrency or gift cards, or if someone seeks remote access to your computer.

You don’t have to have all the answers on your own. There are resources to keep you up-to-date on how to protect yourself and loved ones.  

CN is a national nonprofit working to expand the access, adoption, and use of high-speed internet to all people, but the organization recognizes that the opportunities access can provide bring risks.

That’s why, since 2022, CN has ramped up its training on cybersecurity by hosting more than 750 workshops on internet safety. You can view the latest digital skills training numbers here.  

These programs are available for free as virtual or in-person courses. Simply email CN at info@connectednation.org to start the process of bringing a free workshop to your church, community center, or organization, or learn more on CN’s Digital Literacy and Learning webpage.

In addition, CN partners with organizations across the United States to provide additional training. AT&T is one of those longtime partners. The company offers many free online courses, including two you can access today: protecting yourself from online frauds and scams and covering the basics of creating stronger online accounts and passwords.

Here’s what to do if you’re a target of cybercrime.

If you suspect you've been targeted by an online scam, act quickly. Contact your bank or financial institution to report any unauthorized transactions and ask for fraudulent transfers to be halted or reversed.

Follow up by reporting the incident to the proper authorities. Reporting scams enhances the likelihood of recovering stolen funds and assists investigators in identifying criminal groups, helping to prevent future victims.

Remember: It’s not a victim’s fault they were targeted. Anyone can fall prey to a scam, and no one should feel ashamed for seeking help.

For those seeking assistance, the list below offers guidance on how to stay safe and report a crime.

• Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) – http://www.ic3.gov/ – Use this website to report any suspected crime against yourself.
• FBI Elder Fraud Program – https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/elder-fraud – Information about common scams targeting older adults and how to report them.
• AARP Fraud Watch Network – www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network – AARP’s Fraud Watch provides a wealth of information to AARP members and nonmembers, including a free hotline that individuals can call to ask for help.
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Report Fraud – https://reportfraud.ftc.gov – Report scams, identity theft, and deceptive business practices.
• IdentityTheft.gov – https://www.identitytheft.gov – A step-by-step recovery website for victims of identity theft.

Today's scammers are organized, well-funded, and increasingly sophisticated. They operate internationally, leveraging advanced technology and psychological tactics. However, an informed public remains one of their biggest weaknesses.

The 2025 IC3 report offers more than just statistics. It serves as a reminder that cybersecurity now encompasses protecting individuals, not just computers.

By raising awareness, fostering open dialogue, and reporting suspicions promptly, communities can help reduce the number of families falling victim to these crimes. The best defense against scammers today isn’t just better technology. It’s better education.