The FBI stopped $679 million from falling into the hands of fraudsters last year, acting quickly on scam victim tips. Victims reported about $1.2 billion in cases that met the FBI's criteria, resulting in a 58% freeze rate on those questionable funds.
The agency’s recovery team works side by side with banks to identify and block suspicious wire transfers before scammers can access the cash. Prompt reporting is key: victims who alert their banks immediately and file complaints at IC3.gov within 48 hours give the FBI the best chance to intercept stolen money.
Last year, complaints about cybercrime topped 1 million, with total losses nearing $21 billion according to the FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Report. Cryptocurrency scams led the pack in individual losses, exceeding $11 billion, while investment fraud accounted for nearly half of all scam-related damage.
The FBI urges victims to contact their bank first, then local offices, without hesitation even embarrassment can cost you. Delays allow scammers to move funds across borders and multiple accounts, making recovery harder.
