En 2025, los fraudes vinculados a criptomonedas causaron las mayores pérdidas económicas denunciadas ante el Buró Federal de Investigaciones (FBI) en la historia de Estados Unidos, según el informe anual de la unidad especializada del FBI, el Centro de Denuncias de Crímenes en Internet (IC3). Miles de personas en el país denunciaron pérdidas que superaron los USD 11.300 millones, de acuerdo con los datos institucionales. El reporte atribuye el incremento a la diversificación de esquemas fraudulentos y al uso de plataformas digitales para captar víctimas.

De acuerdo con el documento oficial, el Centro de Denuncias de Crímenes en Internet (IC3) recibió 1.008.597 denuncias por delitos cibernéticos en 2025, una cifra superior a los 859.532 casos reportados en 2024. Más de la mitad de los USD 20.877 millones perdidos estuvieron relacionados con fraudes en inversiones con activos digitales, según lo difundido por el Buró Federal de Investigaciones (FBI). El principal organismo federal de investigación de Estados Unidos explica que el auge de estas estafas responde a la expansión en el uso de criptomonedas, la sofisticación de los métodos empleados y la dificultad de rastrear las operaciones.

El crecimiento acelerado del mercado digital y el aumento de nuevas plataformas de inversión crearon condiciones para el desarrollo de esquemas fraudulentos. Las autoridades federales advierten, según el informe, que el impacto de estos delitos se extiende más allá de las víctimas individuales, ya que representa un desafío para la seguridad financiera y la confianza en los sistemas digitales. La respuesta institucional incluyó la implementación de programas de prevención y la coordinación con agencias internacionales.

Fraudes comunes y modalidades de estafa

El informe del Buró Federal de Investigaciones (FBI) detalla que los fraudes de inversión en criptomonedas constituyeron la modalidad más costosa para los usuarios estadounidenses en 2025. Estos esquemas suelen iniciar con el contacto de supuestos expertos en inversiones a través de redes sociales, aplicaciones de mensajería o plataformas de citas. Los estafadores simulan pertenecer a grupos profesionales y persuaden a las víctimas para transferir fondos a sitios web o aplicaciones que aparentan ser legítimas, pero en realidad carecen de respaldo financiero.

Según el reporte, las víctimas observan supuestas ganancias en sus cuentas y, en ocasiones, reciben ofertas de préstamos para incrementar sus inversiones. Cuando intentan retirar el dinero, se les exige el pago de impuestos o comisiones inventadas, tras lo cual los estafadores se quedan con los fondos. El Buró Federal de Investigaciones (FBI) identificó también el fenómeno de los “recovery scams”, donde delincuentes ofrecen servicios para recuperar inversiones perdidas a cambio de nuevos pagos, agravando las pérdidas.

Denuncias y cifras principales

De acuerdo con el Centro de Denuncias de Crímenes en Internet (IC3), en 2025 se reportaron 181.565 denuncias específicamente relacionadas con criptomonedas. El fraude de inversión en este rubro generó pérdidas de USD 7.200 millones, ubicándolo en el primer lugar entre todas las modalidades de delitos digitales. El volumen total de pérdidas por delitos informáticos casi se triplicó en los últimos cinco años, debido a la rápida adopción de plataformas digitales, según el reporte.

Entre los afectados hay desde pequeños ahorristas hasta personas que retiraron fondos de jubilación, vendieron propiedades o solicitaron préstamos bancarios para invertir en estos esquemas fraudulentos. El Buró Federal de Investigaciones (FBI) cita como ejemplos la intervención para evitar que un usuario retirara USD 750.000 de su plan de retiro, que una víctima vendiera su vivienda por USD 500.000, y que otra solicitara un crédito de USD 400.000 con el mismo fin.

Respuesta institucional del FBI

La respuesta institucional incluyó la creación de la Operation Level Up en 2024, una iniciativa para identificar y alertar proactivamente a víctimas potenciales de fraudes de inversión en criptomonedas. Durante 2025, esta operación permitió notificar a 3.780 personas y, según el Buró Federal de Investigaciones (FBI), el 78% desconocía que estaba a punto de ser estafada. Además, el ahorro estimado para los afectados superó los USD 225 millones, de acuerdo con datos oficiales.

El Buró Federal de Investigaciones (FBI) empleó el Financial Fraud Kill Chain (FFKC) para revertir transferencias bancarias y recuperar fondos en casos de fraude. La efectividad de esta herramienta depende de la rapidez con que se reportan los hechos. El organismo detalla que la cooperación con entidades bancarias y plataformas tecnológicas resultó clave para detener transferencias antes de que los fondos salieran del país.

Cooperación internacional y acciones conjuntas

La máxima autoridad judicial de Estados Unidos, el Departamento de Justicia de Estados Unidos, y el Ministerio Público del distrito federal, la Fiscalía del Distrito de Columbia, en coordinación con el Buró Federal de Investigaciones (FBI), establecieron la Scam Center Strike Force. Esta fuerza de tareas está dedicada a rastrear y desarticular redes criminales transnacionales, focalizándose en organizaciones que operan desde el sudeste asiático —principalmente en Camboya, Laos y Myanmar— con participación de grupos de origen chino, según el informe del Buró Federal de Investigaciones (FBI).

El reporte señala que la Scam Center Strike Force busca identificar y procesar a los líderes de estas redes y desmantelar la infraestructura tecnológica empleada para ejecutar los fraudes. El trabajo integra la cooperación con agencias internacionales y servicios de inteligencia de otros países.

Recomendaciones de las autoridades

Las autoridades federales recomiendan verificar la legitimidad de cualquier plataforma de inversión antes de transferir fondos, desconfiar de contactos no solicitados y evitar compartir información financiera a través de canales digitales no verificados. El Buró Federal de Investigaciones (FBI) subraya la importancia de reportar cualquier intento de fraude de inmediato para incrementar las posibilidades de recuperar fondos.

La agencia tributaria federal (IRS) advirtió sobre el surgimiento de nuevos esquemas de fraude digital durante la temporada de impuestos, en los que los delincuentes buscan aprovechar la desinformación y la urgencia de los contribuyentes. El IRS recomendó el uso de canales oficiales para la declaración y el pago de impuestos, así como la consulta de recursos educativos proporcionados por entidades gubernamentales.

Impacto en la economía digital

El crecimiento sostenido de los fraudes con criptomonedas genera problemas para la confianza en los sistemas digitales y la seguridad de los usuarios. El informe del Buró Federal de Investigaciones (FBI) destaca que la velocidad de las operaciones y la facilidad para mover fondos al extranjero dificultan la intervención de las autoridades. El organismo considera que la educación del usuario y la cooperación entre organismos resulta clave para contener el avance de estos delitos.

The State Department said it authorized the departure of some staff at its embassy in Nigeria over the «deteriorating security situation» in the African country. 

The development comes weeks after the U.S. military reportedly sent MQ-9 Reaper drones to Nigeria amid fears of a renewed insurgency by the terrorist group Boko Haram. The day before the authorization was issued, gunmen attacked two villages about 155 miles from Abuja, where the U.S. embassy is located, killing 20 people, residents told The Associated Press. 

«On April 8, 2026, the U.S. Department of State authorized the voluntary departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and family members from U.S. Embassy Abuja due to the deteriorating security situation,» the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria said. «The U.S. Embassy in Abuja will remain open but will have limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Nigeria.» 

«The U.S. Consulate General in Lagos will continue to provide routine and emergency services to U.S. citizens in Nigeria,» it added. «The Department of State Travel Advisory for Nigeria remains at Level 3, recommending travelers reconsider travel to Nigeria due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, armed gangs, and inconsistent availability of health care services.»

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The embassy also said that «U.S. citizens in Abuja should consider departing if you do not need to remain for emergency or essential purposes.» 

The recent attacks occurred in the early hours of Tuesday in Bagna and Erena, located in the Shiroro area of Niger state. 

«They came on motorbikes and began shooting. It was a surprise attack, because it was in the early hours of the morning,» Jibrin Isah, who lives in Erena, told the AP.

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Police officers gather at the scene of Sunday night gunmen attack in Gari Ya Waye community in the Jos North Nigeria, Monday, March 30, 2026. (Samson Omale/AP)

Residents said that at least 20 people were killed, with more missing. However, local police said that only three people were killed. 

The State Department said in a travel advisory issued Wednesday that there is «risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Nigeria,» adding that «Terrorists collaborate with local gangs to expand their reach» and «They may attack with little or no warning.» 

The MQ-9 drones reportedly were deployed to Nigeria in late March after 200 U.S. troops arrived in February to provide training and intelligence. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, is battling a complex security crisis, especially in the north of the country.

A spokesperson for AFRICOM, the U.S. Africa Command, had told the AP that U.S. troops «are working alongside their Nigerian counterparts to provide intelligence support, advisory assistance, and targeted training in support of the Nigerian Armed Forces.»  

Among the most prominent Islamic militant groups active in Nigeria are Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, which is affiliated with the Islamic State and is known as Islamic State West Africa Province, or ISWAP.

A U.S. military MQ-9 Reaper drone approaches for landing at Rafael Hernandez Airport in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, on Dec. 29, 2025. (Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/AFP)

There is also the ISIS-linked Lakurawa, as well as other «bandit» groups that specialize in kidnapping for ransom and illegal mining. 

President Donald Trump has spoken out against violence targeting Christians in Nigeria, telling Fox News Radio last year «I’m really angry about it» and «What’s happening in Nigeria is a disgrace.»

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Secretary of War Pete Hegseth also met with Nigerian National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu last November amid threats from Trump to cut off aid to Nigeria if the country «continues to allow the killing of Christians.» Nigerian officials have pushed back on the accusation.

Fox News Digital’s Anders Hagstrom and The Associated Press contributed to this report.   

President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, blasted Democratic Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger over her policies surrounding federal immigration officials and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer requests that have been ignored by the state under her leadership. 

Homan sat down with Fox News Digital for an exclusive interview, where he said if Spanberger is unwilling to cooperate with federal law enforcement, the border czar is willing to «send more teams into the streets.» 

«Elections have consequences,» Homan explained. «[Spanberger] ran on a law enforcement position that she was a career law enforcement person. [She] is a much different person now since she’s in that governor’s slot.»

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«Bottom line is, I wish she’d take a page out of the Minnesota chapter when the president sent me to Minneapolis to get more cooperation with the county jailers, which means less public safety threats in the communities,» Homan added.

The border czar said «ICE is not going to stop enforcing law» and that if blue states like Virginia continue to uphold strict sanctuary laws, the Trump administration will deploy more immigration enforcement agents into the streets.

«We’ll just send more teams into the streets, into the neighborhoods,» Homan told Fox News Digital. «Because we’re going to do the job that President Trump promised, to make his country safer again, especially against illegal aliens that committed other crimes while they’re here.»

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White House border czar Tom Homan attends a press conference along the border wall between San Diego and Mexico’s Tijuana, as they announce increased security on the southwest border from San Diego, California, Dec. 13, 2025. (Mike Blake/Reuters)

A Washington Post-Schar School poll released earlier this week showed a dramatic 46% of Virginians disapprove of Spanberger’s job performance — the lowest since 1994 compared to previous Republican and Democratic Virginia governors.

Spanberger addressed the decades-high disapproval poll while speaking with reporters on Wednesday. 

«I would say if everyone hated me, then why is everyone putting my face on their mailers, for the referendum, would be question number one,» Spanberger said. «The only poll that matters, is my election, 17 point win, and now I’m doing the work for Virginians, so what matters to me in the end, is what I’m delivering for the people.»

In early February, Spanberger issued an executive directive cutting off collaboration between state agencies and federal immigration officials.

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Abigail Spanberger is seen conducting a bus tour through Virginia to connect with constituents as she campaigns to become the governor in the 2025 gubernatorial election in Fairfax on June 26, 2025. (Maxine Wallace/The Washington Post/Getty Images)

She also rescinded the 287(g) program put in place by former Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin. 

Youngkin’s program authorized local law enforcement to carry out certain immigration enforcement duties while operating under ICE supervision. This includes stopping the release of undocumented individuals with criminal records and helping federal immigration agencies identify those already held in local jails.

Homan said the concept of releasing illegal migrants accused of committing crimes from jail without notifying ICE is «ridiculous.»

«These people are in the country illegally, they commit a serious crime, public safety crime, and the local jurisdiction chooses to release them into the community rather than turning them over to ICE,» Homan told Fox News Digital. 

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«The Department of Justice has got lawsuits pending against sanctuary jurisdictions,» Homan added. «I think they’ll win them in the long run, because I think sanctuary cities are illegal.»

White House border czar Tom Homan speaks to the press outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 14. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP)

«We’re out there trying to educate these sanctuary cities that if you let us in the jail… that means less of our agents are in the street,» he said.

Homan also said the administration has their «foot on the gas» when it comes to enforcing the president’s campaign promise to secure the border and deport migrants living in the U.S. illegally, while echoing a popular message from the administration that criminal migrants will be the first to go. 

«As a guy who’s done this over 40 years, you have a criminal here and a non-criminal here, you’re always gonna get the criminal first because they pose the biggest threat to our neighborhood,» Homan explained. «Prioritization will remain public safety threats and national security threats.»

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«But as I said from day one, if you’re in the country legally, you’re not off the table,» Homan added. «And if we find you, we’re gonna arrest you and deport you.»

President Donald Trump shook hands with newly sworn-in Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin during a ceremony in the Oval Office at the White House on March 24, in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Homan has served as the border czar since the beginning of the Trump administration. Kristi Noem formerly served as DHS secretary prior to her reassignment in March. Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who served in the U.S. Senate as a Republican representing Oklahoma, was appointed to the role following Noem’s departure. 

Mullin affirmed that he believes sanctuary cities are not lawful during an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier earlier this month, and Mullin has been leading DHS during a spending fight and partial government shutdown over funding for his department. 

Homan told Fox News Digital he thinks Mullin is the right man for the job and said he talks to Mullin daily, «if not several times a day.»

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Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., arrived to testify during a confirmation hearing to be secretary of the Department of Homeland Security in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on March 18, 2026, in Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump nominated Mullin to replace Kristi Noem as DHS secretary. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

«I think he’s the right guy, the right time, and the right job,» Homan said. «I think you’re going to see great things from Markwayne Mullin.»

Fox News Digital reached out to Spanberger but did not receive a response in time for publication.