CyberWyoming Alliance Breaks Down 2024 FBI Cybercrime Report

LARAMIE – The FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Report has placed Wyoming third in the nation for per capita losses to cybercrime, with residents reporting a staggering $43.5 million in 2024, an increase of a $30 million surge from 2023’s report.

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) recorded 1,377 reports from Wyomingites, up significantly from the previous year. Per capita, losses in Wyoming reached $75.17 per person — nearly tripling from 2023 and more than quadrupling from 2022.

“This report is a sobering reminder that people in Wyoming remain prime targets for scammers who will jump at every opportunity to defraud potential victims,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek, who oversees FBI operations in the Cowboy State. He also stated, “It’s important for the public to remain vigilant to guard against ever-increasing cyber-enabled threats both at places of employment and in personal life,” according to a press release from FBI Denver.

The FBI report shows that data breach scams led the state in financial losses (over $21 million), followed by investment fraud (over $13 million). Extortion and personal data breach scams were the most frequently reported crimes.

$36.4 million of Wyoming’s $43.5 million total involved cryptocurrency, not necessarily breaches of crypto wallets but investment scams and demanding crypto as the form of payment. 250 of Wyoming’s victims reported losses involving cryptocurrency.

Wyomingites aged 40-49 filed the most complaints (479), while those aged 60 and older lost the most money — more than $8.6 million.

However, CyberWyoming’s analysis found a shift in overall impact by age group. In 2023, victims aged 50+ accounted for nearly 59% of reported losses. In 2024, their share dropped to 24%, suggesting scammers are expanding their reach to younger demographics — especially through sophisticated crypto schemes.

The CyberWyoming Alliance’s fifth annual community scam report, based on grassroots submissions to the Hacker’s Brief, echoes many trends seen in the FBI’s IC3 data — and reveals deeper, community-level insights.

While the FBI highlights massive financial losses, CyberWyoming focuses on how scams infiltrate daily life. Wyoming residents primarily reported contact via email (78 reports), text messages (45), and phone calls (8). The most common scams were:

• Fake delivery notices, invoices, and purchases (59 reports)
• Employment scams (13 reports)
• Impersonation of individuals, businesses, or government agencies (16 reports)

In 2024, Wyoming saw a new wave of toll payment scams, in which scammers impersonated services like EZPass via text messages to steal financial information. Other impersonation scams involved fake W2 verification emails or spoofed messages from local police departments.

CyberWyoming’s Executive Director Laura Baker emphasizes that community awareness is the most effective first line of defense: “If we talk about scams at the dinner table and in staff meetings, we lower the risk for everyone. It’s about building a culture of cybersecurity in our homes and businesses.”

CyberWyoming’s Hacker’s Brief helps build this awareness by alerting citizens to the latest scams, combining national fraud reports with Wyoming citizen submissions. Published weekly through the Wyoming Press Association and other networks, it keeps communities informed. Wyoming citizens are encouraged to report scams to phishing@cyberwyoming.org to help protect others. To receive the Hacker’s Brief, sign up via our Contact Us page https://cyberwyoming.org/contact/.

Both the FBI and CyberWyoming agree: the number of scams is likely underreported. Many victims never file complaints, don’t realize they’ve been scammed, or are too embarrassed to speak up.

CyberWyoming encourages residents to:

• Report suspicious activity to phishing@cyberwyoming.org or directly at IC3.gov if you believe you've been a victim of cybercrime.
• Stay aware by subscribing to the Hacker’s Brief, reading scam alerts, and following trusted sources. Studies consistently show that people who are aware of scam tactics are far less likely to fall for them.
• Talk about scams with your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers. 

Explore the full FBI 2024 Internet Crime Report here: https://www.ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2024_IC3Report.pdf

See Wyoming’s state-specific breakdown: https://www.ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2024State/#?s=57

About the CyberWyoming Alliance: The CyberWyoming Alliance is a statewide, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Laramie whose mission is to increase cybersecurity awareness, education, and outreach in communities across the State of Wyoming.