FBI: Cryptocurrency fraudsters caused billions of dollars in losses in 2023

According to a recent report by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), losses from crypto investment fraud in the US increased by 53% in 2023 to reach $ 3.94 billion. This is 53% more than the previous year ($ 2.57 billion), Coindesk reports.

The report also notes that the total volume of investment fraud increased by 38%, reaching $ 4.57 billion.

The FBI report states: «Fraudsters are increasingly using custodial accounts opened with financial institutions for cryptocurrency exchanges or third-party payment processors. They also force victims to send funds directly to platforms where they are quickly distributed.»

According to the bureau’s report, in 2023, investment fraud dominated the Internet crime segment, accounting for more than a third of the total losses of $ 12.5 billion.

This year, in January, Germany seized more than $ 2 billion in bitcoins from the proceeds of piracy, the largest seizure of bitcoins by law enforcement agencies in the country. The operation was conducted in cooperation with the FBI. Earlier in the month, the US government announced its intention to sell $ 132.5 million in bitcoins to BTC $95,982.38 Bitcoin -1.27% Market capitalization $1.9 trillion VOL. 24 hours $1.7 billion , which were seized in connection with the Silk Road scam investigation.

In addition, last September, JP Morgan Chase & Co. decided to stop cryptocurrency transactions for its British clients, which indicates the growing concern of financial institutions about crimes related to virtual assets.