President Donald Trump is set to address the administration's efforts against foreign criminal networks targeting Americans through fake cryptocurrency investments. The announcement will occur during a White House event focused on cybercrime prevention, featuring key officials including FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Todd Blanche.
Data from the FBI indicates that Americans reported over one million internet scam complaints in 2025, marking a 17% increase from 2024. Cryptocurrency fraud represented the largest share of these losses, totaling $11.366 billion. Specifically, crypto investment scams accounted for $7.2 billion of that figure.
The FBI identifies organized criminal groups in Southeast Asia as primary actors, often utilizing forced labor to operate scam compounds. Victims are typically contacted via social media or dating apps and directed to fraudulent platforms. Losses for Americans aged 60 and older reached $4.43 billion, while crypto ATM scams rose 58% to $389 million.
Global illicit crypto activity saw a significant surge in 2025, with illicit addresses receiving at least $154 billion, a 162% increase from 2024. North Korea-linked hackers were responsible for $2 billion in thefts, including the record-breaking $1.5 billion Bybit exploit. Meanwhile, the FBI's Operation Level Up saved an estimated $225.8 million for victims.
