The FBI has a Christmas warning: Don't get cyber scammed.
In fact, the problem is so serious that officials are urging families to talk about scammers and the ways technology is used for fraud.
"Cyber-enabled fraud dominates the scam landscape, accelerated by artificial intelligence (AI). In the first seven months of 2025, AI accounted for more than 9,000 complaints to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), and those AI complaints spanned all types of scams. Fraudsters use technology to create fake social media profiles, voice clones, identification documents, and videos with believable depictions of public figures or even loved ones," according to a FBI release.
"If you feel pressured to act fast, pay money, or turn over personal information—take a beat. Stop and assess if what you're being told is real. Talk to your families. Protect each other from scams," said FBI Director Kash Patel. "Scammers are banking on the fact that you'll feel too embarrassed to come forward and report the crime to the FBI. Don't let them win."
The FBI specifically urges people not to share sensitive or personal information with people they have met only online or over the phone. They also should not send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or other assets to people.
According to the FBI, the IC3 (the FBI tip line) received 535,314 complaints reporting $13.7 billion in losses last year, an average loss of $25,700 per victim.
Between 2020 and 2024, a total of $50.5 billion in losses were reported to IC3.
People over 60 suffered the most losses and submitted the most complaints.
Victims over 60 who need assistance filing an IC3 complaint can contact the DOJ Elder Justice Hotline, 1-833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311). Learn more about scam prevention at fbi.gov/takeabeat.
Tipsters should include information such as:
- identifying information about the person or company which contacted them
- methods of communication used, to include websites, emails, and phone numbers
- financial transaction information, such as the date, type of payment, amount, account numbers involved, the name and address of the receiving financial institution, and receiving cryptocurrency addresses
- description of the interaction with the fraudster
AI?
The FBI states that criminals use AI-generated text to appear believable to a reader in social engineering, spear phishing, and financial fraud schemes.
Scammers go for the ego when they scam. They promose romance if you are lonely, investment if you need money, and other "confidence schemes."
The FBI warned that the sophistication of AI will only enhance criminals' abilities to scheme.
"As technology continues to evolve, so do cybercriminals' tactics. Attackers are leveraging AI to craft highly convincing voice or video messages and emails to enable fraud schemes against individuals and businesses alike,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp.” These sophisticated tactics can result in devastating financial losses, reputational damage, and compromise of sensitive data."
