FBI: cybercrime against children is rising

encryption is "betrayal of children" — Image by Shutterstock

Cybercrime against children rose by 20% in 2022. According to disturbing data compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), seven underage victims are at risk per day.

The FBI’s findings were cited by cybersecurity analyst Surfshark, which trawled data from Internet Crime Center reports spanning 2015 to 2022.

Between those years, the FBI said more than 14,000 children were victimized online, costing them — or more accurately their parents and guardians — $2.9 million.

More than half that total (around 8,000 crimes) occurred in the first three years of this decade, further evidence to suggest the trend is growing. The impact of an average cybercrime committed against a minor more than doubled in one year, rising from $92 in 2021 to $223.

“In today's digital age, cybercrime has become an all-too-common occurrence, including nefarious activities such as phishing and cyberbullying,” said Surfshark.

It added: "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.”

The FBI data cited by Surfshark does at least suggest that adults are taking notice of such warnings. Although the loss per child to cybercrime rose last year, it was significantly lower than its peak in 2019, when the average cost per victim was $743. But back then, less than four minors were targeted a day.