Internet crimes up in Illinois; residents lost over $300M to internet scams in 2023

Posted on March 18, 2024
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The report shows Illinois residents lost millions last year to internet crimes. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Illinoisans lost hundreds of millions of dollars to internet crimes last year.

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center shows Illinois residents experienced a 6% increase in victim complaints and a 20% increase in dollar loss.

Data suggest almost 16,000 Illinoisans lost $338 million last year to internet crimes.

Those crimes could include internet scams, investment fraud, and extortion.

According to the FBI, Illinois ranks seventh in the nation in dollar loss and eighth in victim complaints.

“The IC3 gives the public a direct way to report internet crime to the FBI and enables us to collect data, advance investigations, and identify changes in the threat landscape. Reporting internet crime is critical to the FBI’s efforts,” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge David Nanz in a news release.

A detailed report shows that most victims are between 30 and 49 years old, while the elderly are attributed to half of the losses in tech support scams.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

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