Nigeria has been listed among the countries with the highest number of cybercrime complaints globally, according to the 2025 Internet Crime Report released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), highlighting the growing scale of digital fraud and its cross-border reach.

The report shows that a total of 1,008,597 complaints were filed through the agency’s Internet Crime Complaint Centre (IC3) in 2025, with associated losses rising to US$20.877 billion, a 26 percent increase from 2024. The figures reflect both the expansion of internet usage and the increasing sophistication of cyber-enabled crimes.

Nigeria recorded 1,219 cybercrime complaints, placing it among the top 20 countries globally. Other countries on the list include Canada, India, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Germany, underlining how cybercrime has become a global issue cutting across both developed and emerging economies.

While the ranking does not necessarily indicate where crimes originate, it points to the volume of cases linked to individuals or entities associated with each country. The data also reflects how cybercrime investigations and reporting increasingly involve multiple jurisdictions.

Globally, cyber-enabled fraud continues to account for the bulk of reported losses. The FBI said these crimes made up nearly 85 percent of total losses in 2025, with over 452,000 complaints translating to approximately US$17.7 billion. These cases typically involve scams carried out through digital channels, including identity theft, financial fraud, and the sale of counterfeit goods or services.

Also Read: Nigeria’s digital economy leans heavily on foreign cloud infrastructure

International cybercrime complaints remain a significant part of the overall picture. The IC3 received reports from more than 200 countries, with cross-border cases accounting for nearly US$1.6 billion in losses. This highlights how cybercrime has evolved beyond localised incidents into a networked global threat, where victims, perpetrators, and financial flows often span multiple countries.

Long-term data in the report shows a sharp rise in both complaint volumes and financial losses over the past two decades. Complaints have grown from 49,711 in 2001 to over one million in 2025, while reported losses have increased from US$17.8 million to more than US$20 billion within the same period.

The financial impact is not evenly distributed across age groups. Individuals aged 60 and above recorded the highest losses at US$7.7 billion, despite submitting fewer complaints than younger age groups. People aged 50 to 59 accounted for US$3.67 billion in losses, while those aged 40 to 49 recorded US$2.95 billion. Younger age groups reported lower losses overall, though the data suggest that cyber risks remain widespread across demographics.

The findings reinforce concerns about the speed at which cybercrime is expanding, particularly as more economic and social activities move online. For countries like Nigeria, the data also feeds into ongoing discussions about digital security, financial fraud, and the reputational impact of cybercrime on the country’s global standing.

Although Nigeria’s complaint volume remains lower than that of several larger economies, its presence on the list reflects the broader challenge of policing digital activity in an increasingly connected environment. It also points to the need for stronger public awareness, better cybersecurity practices, and improved coordination between local and international law enforcement agencies.

The FBI said its Internet Crime Complaint Centre serves as a central hub for receiving and analysing reports, supporting investigations, and issuing alerts. The agency noted that the data plays a key role in tracking trends, identifying emerging threats, and facilitating collaboration with global partners.

As cybercrime continues to evolve, the report suggests that both the scale of financial losses and the complexity of cases are likely to increase, making prevention, reporting, and enforcement more critical than ever.

Meiza Nigeria