Cybercrime is on the rise in Georgia and across the United States, with the FBI's Internet Crime Report for 2024 revealing alarming statistics.

More than 33,000 older individuals reported losses related to cryptocurrency, totaling $2.84 billion, with $1.6 billion attributed to investment scams.

The lack of regulation in the cryptocurrency market and the irreversible nature of transactions make it a prime target for scammers.

Despite efforts to enhance transaction security within the crypto industry, scammers continue to exploit vulnerabilities, underscoring the need for increased protective measures.

Reported loss figures from the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) reflect only known incidents, suggesting that actual losses may be much higher due to unreported cases.

Scammers are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence to impersonate trusted contacts or financial experts, complicating their schemes.

Each statistic in the report represents a victim whose trust has been exploited, emphasizing the personal impact of these cybercrimes.

Fraud emerged as the largest category of reported losses, while ransomware attacks also posed a significant threat, with complaints increasing by 9% from the previous year.

Reid Davis, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia field office, highlighted the ongoing threat of cybercrime, particularly for vulnerable populations like seniors.

B. Chad Yarbrough, the FBI's Operations Director for Criminal and Cyber, noted that cryptocurrencies facilitate fraud by allowing scammers to obscure transactions.

Experts emphasize that education and vigilance are essential defenses against crypto scams, advising individuals to invest only what they can afford to lose.

The FBI's 'Operation Level Up' has successfully prevented an estimated $285 million in potential losses by alerting victims in real time, yet experts predict that scams may continue to rise.