Trust Is the New Target as Impersonation Scams Surge 1,400% in 2025

Chainalysis reports that 2025 was a record year for crypto crime, with estimated losses potentially surpassing $17 billion, up from initial reports of $14 billion. A particularly alarming trend is the 1,400% year-over-year surge in impersonation scams, where fraudsters pose as trusted entities to deceive victims, with the average payment severity in these scams increasing by over 600%. While high-yield investment programs and "pig butchering" remain dominant, scammers are increasingly blending tactics, leveraging AI tools, sophisticated SMS phishing, and complex money-laundering networks. Furthermore, AI integration significantly boosts scam efficiency; AI-linked operations generated an average of $3.2 million per operation compared to $719,000 for non-AI scams, suggesting AI is enabling broader victim reach and more persuasive fraud.

(Source：BeInCrypto)