CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center has released the 2024 Internet Crime Report.
The report is a compilation of 859,532 complaints of suspected internet crime that resulted in $16 billion in losses – a 33% increase in losses in 2023.
The 2024 report ranks West Virginia ranked 43rd in the country in the number of complaints received with 2,594. At $24 million, the state is ranked 49th in financial losses.
The report said the elderly, those over the age of 60 suffered the highest financial losses with nearly $6 million.
The top three cyber-crimes in West Virginia, by number of complaints, reported by victims in 2024 were:
1. Extortion: 346
2. Personal Data Breach: 282
3. Phishing/Spoofing: 271
“We see the real-world impacts of these schemes every day and it is devastating. People are losing everything they have in these situations, including their life savings and their sense of security,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek. “Empowering the public with the knowledge of how to spot these scams in their daily life, and how to protect their friends, families, and neighbors, is among the top priorities for the FBI.”
Story by Mike Nolting, WAJR