IRS says AI is turbocharging cryptocurrency scams; one victim lost everything

U.S. authorities say artificial intelligence is supercharging cryptocurrency scams, helping criminals script personalized pitches and target prior victims with alarming precision. The FBI estimates Americans lost about $20 billion to cyber theft in 2025, with more than half tied to crypto schemes. A New York IRS Criminal Investigation team traced one case in which a 73-year-old woman’s $300,000 was funneled through multiple wallets and off-ramped via an exchange alongside millions from other victims. Investigators warn that scammers leverage dark-web data and AI to scale social engineering, urging consumers to slow down, verify communications, and report quickly, even as perpetrators often operate beyond U.S. borders.

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