FBI: Cybercrime against children is on the rise

According to security company Surfshark, children are increasingly being targeted by cybercriminals. After compiling data from the yearly Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Internet Crime Reports (2015-2022), Surfshark found that the number of child victims of cybercrime in 2022 increased by nearly 20% from the previous year.

To put it in perspective 7 children are targeted for online exploitation every day. Still, it’s a decrease from 2020 which saw nearly 9 children face online exploitation every day. The covid-19 period was a good year for cybercriminals.

The report further reveals that the financial losses from these crimes have increased more than twofold compared to the previous year. In 2021, the average loss per victim was $92 while in 2022 the average loss was recorded at $223 per victim.

In total more than 14,000 children have been victims of cybercrimes between 2015-2022 with about 8,000 children being targeted in the last three years. This is further evidence that this type of crime is on an upward trajectory.

A total of $2.9 million has been lost to cybercriminals through this method.

“In today's digital age, cybercrime has become an all-too-common occurrence, including nefarious activities such as phishing and cyberbullying. Unfortunately, children are not immune to these dangers,” Surfshark wrote on their blog.

“The increasing number of cybercrimes against children is alarming. It is vital for anyone noticing abuse to take proactive measures to protect children, such as reporting directly to online platforms and local authorities,” they added.