Crypto Scams Cost Americans $80.7B in 2025, CFA Estimates

The next test, the report said, is whether updated reporting and enforcement data narrow the gap between estimated and reported losses. The scale of the problem has drawn attention from regulators and lawmakers, a topic covered in our broader crypto market analysis.

No single exchange or token was singled out in the study. The losses spanned fake investment platforms, phishing schemes, wallet drainers, and social engineering attacks. CFA urged consumers to verify any crypto-related offer through official channels and to report suspicious activity to the FBI's IC3.

Wilkins, 21, of North Lauderdale, was arrested Tuesday after FBI agents accused him of joining a video game malware conspiracy that drained $220,000 from wallets. The case is separate from the CFA study but illustrates the targeted methods scammers use.

The DOJ has also opened a portal for OneCoin fraud victims to file claims, and earlier this week seized a cloud account supporting Huione Group's infrastructure, accusing the firm of enabling crypto laundering. Separately, fake Grand Theft Auto 6 early access sites are asking victims for $250 or more in Bitcoin, Tether, or Ether, with Rockstar's official preorders set to begin June 25.

CFA's estimate does not include losses from these individual cases. It is a top-down projection based on survey data and FBI figures. The federation said closing the reporting gap requires better coordination between federal agencies, exchanges, and consumer protection groups.