Americans Lose Over $12 Billion to Cybercrime in 2023: Tips to Safeguard Yourself

In 2023, Americans lost over $12 billion to cybercrime. Here are some tips to help protect yourself.

Cybercrime in 2023: A Costly Scourge for Americans

Surfshark, a leading VPN provider, reveals striking figures: in 2023, Americans lost billions of dollars to cybercrime. Alaska leads with over 500 complaints per 100,000 internet users, nearly double that of the second most affected state.

A Disturbing Overview

In 2023, the FBI recorded a record 880,418 cybercrime complaints, reflecting potential losses exceeding 12 billion dollars. The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) noted losses amounting to billions across the US, including 32 million dollars in Alaska alone, averaging over 13,000 dollars per complaint. Compared to 2022, the average loss in Alaska surged by about 24%, and the overall financial loss nearly doubled.

Most Common Cybercrimes in Alaska

Alaskans mainly fell victim to extortion (40 per 100,000 users), personal data breaches (36 per 100,000), and non-payment/non-delivery incidents (29 per 100,000 users). However, the most costly crimes were related to Business Email Compromise (BEC), with victims losing an average of over 180,000 dollars each.

How to Protect Yourself from Cybercrime?

The threat of cybercrime is alarming, but numerous security measures can shield you. Key actions include using strong, unique passwords and enabling two-factor authentication (2FA).

Phishing is among the most prevalent types of cybercrime, making it essential to remain vigilant and never share personal information online unless certain of the legitimacy of the request.

Lastly, using a VPN can be an effective initial step in safeguarding against cybercrime. The most secure VPNs provide various cybercrime prevention tools and help conceal your internet activity and IP address from potential hackers.