#CryptoScamSurge

Crypto-related fraud is escalating rapidly in 2025. Global scam revenues rose to $4.6 billion in 2024, driven by AI‑powered deepfake scams, phishing, and rug pulls nypost.com+15cryptonews.com+15forbes.com+15. In Q1 2025 alone, consumers lost $472 million to crypto investment scams, up from $336 million a year earlier; total crypto‑theft losses already exceed $2.17 billion fool.com+1heraldsun.com.au+1. NASAA flagged crypto and social media scams as top investor risks in 2025, with roughly a third of scams originating on platforms like Telegram, X, and WhatsApp cryptoslate.com+2crypto.news+2cryptonews.com+2. Pig‑butchering scams targeting seniors and romance victims remain prevalent, with multibillion-dollar costs coinledger.io+15forbes.com+15wsj.com+15.