Technology FBI Site on Forensic Data or Technology.
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Cybercrime Summary Report
Introduction
Cybercrime is a growing threat to individuals, businesses, and governments around the world. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in cybercrime, as criminals took advantage of the shift to remote work and the heightened use of online services.
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2020 Cybercrime Statistics
The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 791,790 complaints of suspected cybercrime in 2020, a 69% increase from 2019. The total financial losses reported to the IC3 in 2020 were $4.2 billion, a 107% increase from 2019.
The most common types of cybercrime reported to the IC3 in 2020 were:
- Business email compromise (BEC): BEC scams are a type of fraud in which criminals target businesses by pretending to be legitimate vendors or customers. BEC scams were the most costly type of cybercrime in 2020, with reported losses of $1.8 billion.
- Phishing: Phishing scams are attempts to trick people into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords or credit card numbers. Phishing scams were the most common type of cybercrime reported to the IC3 in 2020, with 241,342 complaints filed.
- Ransomware: Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a victim's files and demands a ransom payment in exchange for the decryption key. Ransomware attacks increased by 62% in 2020, with reported losses of $29.9 million.
- Other types of cybercrime reported to the IC3 in 2020 include tech support fraud, investment fraud, and identity theft.
Comparison of 2016 and 2020 Cybercrime Data
The following table compares the number of complaints received by the IC3 and the financial losses reported to the IC3 in 2016 and 2020:
| Year | Number of Complaints | Financial Losses |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 273,043 | $1.5 billion |
| 2020 | 791,790 | $4.2 billion |
As the table shows, the number of cybercrime complaints received by the IC3 increased by 191% between 2016 and 2020. The financial losses reported to the IC3 also increased by 173% during the same period.
Conclusion
Cybercrime is a serious threat to individuals, businesses, and governments around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in cybercrime in 2020, as criminals took advantage of the shift to remote work and the heightened use of online services.
It is important to be aware of the different types of cybercrime and to take steps to protect yourself from becoming a victim. Some tips for protecting yourself from cybercrime include:
- Using strong passwords and two-factor authentication
- Being careful about what information you share online
- Being wary of phishing emails and other scams
- Keeping your software up to date
- Reporting any suspicious activity to the authorities
By taking these steps, you can help to protect yourself from cybercrime.