Cybercrime is draining billions from unsuspecting victims every year, yet it remains under the radar for many policymakers. In 2023 alone, over 880,000 people reported being victimized by cybercrime, collectively losing more than $12.5 billion. And, FTC estimates U.S. losses from cybercrime in 2023 at $158.3 billion, including unreported crimes. Gallup reports 21 million Americans are victimized by cybercriminals annually.
Which data is accurate? Which source should we rely on? Who tracks investigations, prosecutions, and restitution? Is it any wonder there’s confusion?
Despite these staggering numbers, for most victims, filing a report feels like shouting into a void—hopeful that someone will take action, yet often met with silence.
As a victim turned advocate, I’ve experienced this frustration firsthand. Filing a report is meant to spark action, yet the reality is far bleaker: less than 1% of cases result in recovery efforts. This isn’t just a personal issue—it’s a national (global) crisis. Cybercriminals exploit gaps in our systems, leveraging technology and psychological tactics to outpace law enforcement and defraud individuals, families, and businesses.
This article isn’t about pointing fingers—it’s my single voice, on behalf of countless victims, about uncovering critical questions, missed opportunities, and potential solutions to address this escalating crisis. Why are so few cases investigated? Why aren’t reports more transparent about outcomes? How can we disrupt the global criminal networks fueling this epidemic?
Let’s explore what’s missing—and how we can change the narrative.
Together, we can insist on meaningful solutions and send a clear message to criminals: We see you, and we’re closing in.
1. Why Are So Few Cases Investigated?
From IC3’s 2023 data, only 0.34% of reported cases were escalated for financial recovery efforts through the Recovery Asset Team. This means over 99% of cases were not directly pursued.
Cases are likely prioritized based on recoverability, financial thresholds, and actionable details. Resource constraints limit the ability to investigate the majority of cases, leaving many victims without answers or resolution.
Opportunity:
- Could AI-driven tools help triage cases for prioritization?
- Could greater resources enable more investigations, even for smaller cases?
- What would it take to investigate at least 10% of cases instead of less than 1%?
2. Why Don’t Reports Include Metrics on Action Taken?
IC3 reports focus on the number of complaints filed and the staggering financial losses, but they lack transparency on what happens next.
While agencies may internally track investigations and outcomes, the absence of public metrics limits accountability and trust. This gap also makes it harder for victims to feel their reports are part of meaningful action.
Opportunity:
- Mandating transparency could show how many cases are prosecuted, how much money is recovered, and where resources are making the most impact.
- Sharing these outcomes could deter criminals and empower victims to report.
3. Does Grouping Ages 60+ Misrepresent the Problem?
IC3 reports highlight seniors aged 60+ as a highly targeted group in cybercrime. But this category is presented as a single group—differing from all other categories in increments of 10 years—without further breakdowns or context.
Grouping all seniors into one broad category may inflate perceived risks for older populations while masking the nuances of how different age groups are targeted. It also overlooks other vulnerable populations.
Opportunity:
- Breaking this category into smaller age bands (e.g., 60-70, 70-80, 80+) could reveal targeted strategies criminals use for different groups.
- This insight could improve prevention efforts and sharpen educational campaigns.
4. Are We Keeping Pace with Organized Crime?
Cybercrimes like romance fraud, cryptocurrency scams, and sextortion are often orchestrated by global criminal networks. Victims rarely see visible progress in dismantling these operations.
Organized crime rings exploit the same financial systems—cryptocurrency, informal value transfer networks like Hawala, and digital payment platforms—that enable illicit activities like drug trafficking, human trafficking, and terrorism financing. These networks are the lifeblood of global criminal enterprises, allowing stolen funds to be laundered and reinvested with alarming efficiency (UNODC).
Opportunity:
- Strengthening international task forces and agreements, holding platforms accountable, and improving technology to trace transactions could close these gaps.
- Expanding enforcement efforts to address human trafficking tied to scam operations—with an estimated 220,000 trafficked workers forced to commit cybercrime globally—could also make a significant impact.
5. How Are Victims Supported Beyond Reporting?
For victims, filing a report is often the only step they know to take. But for most, that step is met with silence.
Victims are rarely informed about the status of their reports, and existing support systems are insufficient for addressing the financial and emotional aftermath of cybercrime. Stolen identities add a second layer of victimization, creating ongoing legal and credit challenges for identity theft victims.
Opportunity:
- Agencies could create systems for victims to track their case status, similar to package tracking systems.
- Expanding victim support programs, including financial restitution, credit repair assistance, and mental health resources, could help victims recover and rebuild their lives.
A Shared Responsibility
Cybercriminals exploit what they see as weaknesses: overwhelmed systems, broad generalizations, and a lack of follow-up. But these gaps don’t have to remain open.
Unlike other criminal activities, cybercriminals don’t even need to physically cross our borders to access our wealth. With the click of a button, they penetrate our bank accounts, businesses, and personal lives through cyber technology. They rely heavily on social engineering—gaining our trust with elaborate stories, emotional manipulation, and carefully constructed plots designed to deceive. These tactics exploit our confidence, empathy, and willingness to help, turning unsuspecting individuals into victims with devastating ease.
To amplify this message, I am launching a CYBERJUSTICENOW grassroots campaign encouraging victims, advocates, cybercrime fighters, and citizens to take action. This initiative calls on everyone to disseminate a letter to federal and state legislators, urging greater urgency in combating cybercrime and ensuring it remains on Congress's radar as they transition to a new legislative session. Below, you’ll find an outline to personalize or simply copy and paste, along with a website to easily locate contact information for your senators and congressional representatives.
Together, we can—must!—amplify this conversation and insist on meaningful solutions.
Cybercrime siphons billions from unsuspecting individuals, funding transnational criminal enterprises. Yet, it doesn’t make the nightly news. It wasn’t raised during the recent presidential election, suggesting it’s not top of mind for those in power. But shouldn’t it be? What other crimes rise to the level of economic harm and security risk caused by this global theft?
It’s time to make cybercrime a national priority. By rallying our voices, we can bring this issue into the spotlight, demand accountability, and help ensure that victims’ voices are heard.
Join me in this campaign to drive change—because this isn’t just about cybercrime, it’s about protecting our families, our economy, and the integrity of our nation.
Let’s take action together.
CYBERCRIME.JUSTICE.NOW Grassroots Campaign
How to Use This Letter:
- Copy and paste the letter into the Congress.gov Contact Page.
- Personalize it as needed to reflect your own experience or specific concerns.
- Submit it to your state senators and congressional representatives.
Subject: Urgent Action Needed to Address Escalating Cybercrime
Dear [Senator/Congressperson],
I am writing to express my deep concern about the growing threat of cybercrime and its devastating impact on individuals, families, and the U.S. economy. In 2023 alone, over 880,000 people reported being victimized by cybercrime, with losses exceeding $12.5 billion. Despite the staggering scale of this issue, many victims feel unheard and unsupported, as less than 1% of reported cases result in recovery efforts.
FTC estimates U.S. losses from cybercrime in 2023 at $158.3 billion, including unreported crimes. Gallup reports 21 million Americans are victimized by cybercriminals annually. Which data is accurate? Which source should we rely on? Who tracks investigations, prosecutions, and restitution? Is it any wonder there’s confusion?
Unlike other crimes, cybercriminals don’t even need to physically cross our borders to commit these offenses. Through sophisticated cyber technology, they access our bank accounts, personal data, and businesses, siphoning billions of dollars from unsuspecting Americans. These stolen funds flow out of the U.S., fueling transnational criminal enterprises that perpetuate other crimes, such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, and terrorism.
Cybercriminals also exploit stolen identities, creating fake profiles to deceive and defraud others. This practice victimizes not only those targeted by the scams but also the individuals whose identities are stolen, leaving them with damaged credit, legal complications, and emotional trauma. Each act of cybercrime compounds the suffering of innocent people, creating a ripple effect of harm across society.
Additionally, transnational crime rings often rely on human trafficking to sustain their operations. An estimated 220,000 trafficked workers globally are forced to commit cybercrime, trapped in scam operations under coercion and abuse. By addressing the financial infrastructure enabling these networks, Congress has the opportunity to combat not only cybercrime but also the exploitation of trafficked individuals, delivering justice and restoring dignity to countless victims.
This is not just a personal issue—it’s a national and international crisis. Yet, cybercrime remains largely absent from national conversations and legislative priorities. This does not make the nightly news nor was it part of any conversation during the presidential election. Victims are begging for meaningful action.
I urge Congress to prioritize the following actions:
- Increase Transparency: Mandate that agencies like the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) report on case outcomes, including investigations, prosecutions, and funds recovered.
- Expand Victim Support: Develop systems for victims to track the status of their reports and access financial restitution, credit repair, and mental health resources.
- Strengthen International Collaboration: Enhance partnerships with international law enforcement to dismantle transnational crime rings responsible for these schemes.
- Hold Enablers Accountable: Ensure platforms, payment processors, and financial institutions implement robust fraud prevention measures.
- Allocate More Resources: Invest in law enforcement and technological tools to increase the investigation rate, targeting at least 10% of cases rather than less than 1%.
Cybercrime is draining billions of dollars from our nation’s economy while reinforcing the global networks responsible for human suffering and other illegal activities. Every day of inaction signals to criminals that the U.S. is a vulnerable target. By addressing these gaps, Congress can protect victims, dismantle criminal networks, and safeguard our economy from further harm.
I urge you to bring this issue to the forefront of legislative discussions and make cybercrime a national priority. Together, we can ensure that victims’ voices are heard and that criminals are held accountable for their actions.
Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Information]
# # #
Uncover More: Debbie Fox’s Advocacy for Change and Justice
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