We estimate $17B was stolen in crypto scams and fraud in 2025 — as impersonation scams show massive 1400% year-over-year (YoY) growth. AI-enabled scams were 4.5 times more profitable than traditional scams.
Major scam operations became increasingly industrialized, with sophisticated infrastructure, including phishing-as-a-service tools, AI-generated deepfakes, and professional money laundering networks.
Strong connections to East and Southeast Asian crime networks were identified, particularly through forced labor compounds in Cambodia, Myanmar, and other regions, where trafficking victims are forced to operate scams.
Law enforcement made record-breaking seizures, including a 61,000 bitcoin recovery in the UK and a $15…
