Americans lost over $20 billion to one type of crime. Here’s how we can fight it

Almost all kinds of crime, from homicide to car theft, are down, according to the latest FBI data. That’s great news, but one type of less-reported crime is up — way up.

Americans reported losing $20.9 billion to internet-enabled crime in 2025, 26% higher than the year before and the highest figure ever recorded by the FBI. Folks over 60 reported $7.7 billion of it, averaging $38,500 apiece. The real toll is even higher, since the Federal Trade Commission notes that most victims never make a report.