Do you think the crypto world is just a game for young people? Then why are the most significant losses this year among those in your parents' age group?
In 2024, a 'black swan' in the cryptocurrency world will not come from a price crash or a public chain collapse, but from—scams!
The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) of the FBI released an annual report on April 23, revealing a shocking set of data: **In the past year, there were over 140,000 complaints involving cryptocurrency scams, with total losses reaching $9.3 billion!** Even more distressing is that the most severely affected group is the elderly over 60. They submitted about 33,000 related complaints, with cumulative losses of $2.8 billion, becoming the primary target of scam groups 'reaping the benefits.'
And this is not all. Throughout 2024, IC3 received reports of internet crime losses totaling $16.6 billion, with cryptocurrency scams becoming the fastest-growing sector. Compared to $5.6 billion in 2023, this represents an increase of nearly 66% within a year. This is a blatant data storm and a manifestation of a trust crisis—the 'digital pension crisis' may be quietly approaching.
A shadow war of AI + scams: generative AI becomes a tool for crime.
According to research by blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis, in 2024, the total amount of illegal cryptocurrency transactions worldwide reached $41 billion, with about a quarter related to hacking, extortion, drug trafficking, and scams.
Past scams required time and skill, but today, with AI technology, especially generative AI, the 'threshold' for scams has been greatly lowered. Criminals can use AI to mass-produce phishing emails, forge contracts, impersonate customer service, and even disguise themselves as acquaintances for voice and video calls. Especially in 'sextortion' scams, AI synthesis technology is widely used to create false explicit images, pressuring victims through their sense of shame.
This is not just a technological revolution; it is also an information war.
Scammers' methods are becoming increasingly 'realistic,' making it more difficult for ordinary people to distinguish between true and false. This is especially true for the elderly, who have a relatively weak understanding of technology and a limited information source, making them more susceptible to scams.
The 'new hunting ground' for the elderly: Why have they become the largest victim group of cryptocurrency scams?
The IC3 report shows that **losses from cryptocurrency scams among people over 60 are far ahead of all age groups.** Why has this generation become the main victim force in the 'digital age'?
Those with substantial wealth become targets for scams: this generation is typically retired or nearing retirement, possessing pensions, savings, and properties, making them the 'easiest prey' for scammers.
Weak understanding of cryptocurrency technology: Insufficient knowledge of wallet addresses, smart contracts, and on-chain transfers makes them easily deceived by 'fake customer service,' 'high-yield projects,' and 'quick return' schemes.
Loneliness and social needs are exploited: some 'emotional + cryptocurrency investment' scams gain trust through friendships and referrals, then induce money transfers.
Closed information channels and lack of risk warning mechanisms: Lack of understanding of industry insiders and timely warning information leads to low scam identification ability.
This is not only a scam but also a social issue brought about by the generational digital divide.
How should the cryptocurrency industry fight back? With tools, with education, and more importantly, with intelligent decision-making.
In the face of the 'scam industry upgrade' empowered by AI, how should ordinary users protect themselves? Although regulation is gradually intervening and the FBI is conducting 'upgrading operations,' recovering about $285 million for potential victims within 2024, this is clearly just a drop in the bucket.
At this time, it is even more necessary to rely on investment research assistants like Mlion.ai, which have AI emotion recognition and risk signal capture capabilities, to build the first line of defense for users.
Mlion.ai can help users:
Real-time monitoring of high-risk wallet addresses and suspicious projects, providing early warnings;
Analyzing the on-chain and off-chain data matching of airdrops and investment projects to identify 'fake high-yield' traps;
Through the AI research report system, identify whether it is a typical scam project;
Provide intelligent Q&A and scam case teaching to enhance users' 'information immunity.'
Not only for individual investors, but for the elderly, financial practitioners, and even regulatory agencies, tools like Mlion.ai that integrate AI with on-chain data are becoming key technological forces in the fight against the wave of scams.
Will tomorrow be safer? Or harder?
It is worth noting that Chainalysis has already warned: 2025 may be the year with the most cryptocurrency scam cases in history.
This is a process of 'spiral malignant evolution'—technological development has brought convenience but also given criminals unprecedented capabilities. Especially in the context of the further popularization of AI large models and significant cost reductions, any criminal only needs to subscribe to a few AI tools and copy a few scripts to operate scam businesses in bulk.
And this is precisely the most severe test for our industry.
Conclusion:
$9.3 billion in losses is not just a cold number; it represents countless families' hard work, the dignity of the elderly in their later years, and a wake-up call for the entire cryptocurrency industry's 'trust crisis.'
Don't wait until you've been scammed to realize it; the storm has already come.
Only through proactive warnings from AI technology, in-depth monitoring of on-chain data, and comprehensive improvement of investor education can we truly safeguard trust, protect assets, and secure the future in this rapidly evolving cryptocurrency battlefield.
Disclaimer: The above content is for information sharing only and does not constitute any investment advice. The market has risks, and investment should be done cautiously.