Crypto analytics firm Chainalysis says impersonation, AI crypto scams stole $17 billion last year

2026-01-14 16:57:36

Source: CryptoNewsNet Original Title: Crypto analytics firm Chainalysis says impersonation, AI crypto scams stole $17 billion last year Original Link: As much as $17 billion in crypto was lost to scams and frauds in 2025, crypto analytics firm Chainalysis said in its latest report.

Criminals leaned into impersonation tactics and artificial intelligence to industrialize the way they hunt victims, the 2026 Crypto Crime Report, published Jan. 13, said. Impersonation, crypto exchange impostors and AI-generated scams against individuals are gradually overtaking losses to cyber-attacks as the leading methods malicious actors use to steal funds.

In one example, a man in the U.K. lost nearly $2.5 million to a bitcoin scam in 2025 that involved what police called “a disturbing new trend,” where scammers exploit “fear” and “panic,” crafting sophisticated social engineering schemes that can trick even diligent holders, North Wales police told the BBC.

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