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Hey crypto community,
The technology that's revolutionizing our world is unfortunately being weaponized against us. Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a powerful tool in the hands of fraudsters, driving cryptocurrency scams to unprecedented levels.
According to the latest Chainalysis 2026 Crypto Crime Report (released January 2026), 2025 marked the worst year on record for crypto fraud. Scammers stole an estimated $17 billion through scams and fraud — with at least $14 billion already confirmed on-chain, and the total projected to rise further as more illicit addresses are identified (a typical ~24% upward adjustment based on historical patterns). This represents a significant jump from the revised $12 billion in 2024.
But the real horror isn't just the total — it's the human impact. The average amount stolen per victim skyrocketed from $782 in 2024 to $2,764 in 2025 — a staggering 253% increase. Scammers aren't just hitting more people; they're extracting far more value from each one through smarter, more convincing attacks.
Why the explosion? One major factor: AI.
Chainalysis data shows AI-enabled scams are dramatically more profitable and efficient:
Operations linked to AI vendors (like those selling face-swap tools, deepfakes, and large language models on platforms such as Telegram) average $3.2 million per scam — 4.5 times more than the $719,000 for non-AI scams.
Daily revenue jumps to $4,838 (vs. $518 for traditional scams).
Transaction volume is about 9x higher, allowing scammers to scale rapidly.
How AI is powering these attacks:
Deepfakes & impersonation — Realistic fake videos and audio are now standard in romance scams, "pig butchering" operations, and investment frauds. As noted in a J.P. Morgan report from July 2025, scammers use AI-generated content to create believable personas that victims trust completely during video calls or messages.
Mass personalization & automation — AI lets fraudsters target thousands of victims at once, crafting tailored pitches based on personal data for maximum impact.
Hybrid schemes — A chilling real-world example came in December 2025: 23-year-old Ronald Spektor (aka @lolimfeelingevil) from Brooklyn was charged with stealing nearly $16 million from about 100 Coinbase users. The operation allegedly involved buying leaked customer data and then impersonating support agents with convincing (possibly AI-assisted) scripts to trick victims into transferring funds to "safe" wallets under scammer control.
What are authorities doing?
Law enforcement is stepping up. Agencies highlight the "unprecedented pace and scale" of organized crime but note progress through international cooperation, blockchain tracing, and asset seizures (including major recoveries tied to pig butchering networks). Still, the challenge is huge: AI blurs the line between legitimate tools and deadly traps, making phishing sites, voice clones, and video appeals look flawless.
Community discussion time – let's protect each other:
What security habits do you consider essential now? (Hardware wallets, double-checking addresses, avoiding unsolicited "support" on social media, using multi-factor authentication everywhere?)
Have you or anyone you know encountered AI-enhanced scams (deepfakes, suspiciously perfect voice/video calls, hyper-personalized messages)?
Should exchanges/projects introduce mandatory "sanity checks" or delays for large/high-risk transfers?
Drop your thoughts below — forewarned is forearmed. Stay vigilant, stay safe, and let's keep building a stronger community together.
$AI $SOL
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