South Carolinians Lose $264 Million to Cybercrime, According to Newly Released 2025 Annual IC3 Report

Lexington, SC 04/10/2026 - The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has released its 2025 annual report. The 2025 Internet Crime Report combines information from more than one million complaints of suspected internet crime and details reported losses exceeding $20 billion—a 26% increase in losses from 2024.

South Carolina ranked 21st of all states and territories in the number of complaints reported by the public, as well as in the separate 2025 elder fraud report. South Carolinians reported $264 million in losses, compared to $146 million in losses in 2024, a $118 million increase. Those 60 and older submitted the most complaints and suffered the most severe financial losses at $97.3 million. The top three cybercrimes in South Carolina reported by financial losses were: investment fraud ($84.7 million), up from $38.4 million in 2024; business e-mail compromises ($64.5 million), up from $40.8 million in 2024; and tech support scams ($28.8 million), up from $14.5 million in 2024. "Cybercrime isn’t just a growing threat—it’s a constant one,” said Kevin Moore, special agent in charge of the FBI Columbia Field Office.

“As the FBI works tirelessly to dismantle these criminal networks, we call on the public to do their part by adopting strenuous cyber hygiene practices and remaining vigilant in every online transaction.” The FBI urges everyone to “Take a Beat” to identify the red flags of a potential scam. Resist pressure to act quickly and assess the situation before turning over money or personal information. To promote public awareness, IC3 produces an annual report to collect and highlight the data provided by the public. Reporting internet crimes to the IC3 helps the FBI track trends, work with industry experts, and provide law enforcement with the information they need to keep the public safe. IC3 receives nearly 3,000 complaints per day.

If you believe you or someone you know may have been a victim of a fraud or scam, contact your local FBI office or submit a complaint at ic3.gov as soon as possible. You should document the name of the scammer/company, methods of contact, dates of contact, methods of payment, where funds have been sent, and provide a thorough description of the interactions.