The FBI’s New York office has issued an urgent warning about a phishing scam distributing fake 'FBI tokens' on the Tron network. These fraudulent TRC-20 tokens appear in users’ wallets and demand personal information under false claims of anti-money laundering violations.
Recipients are told not to click on associated links or submit any data. Those who already have should report immediately. The scam exploits the agency’s name to intimidate victims into compliance.
This incident aligns with a sharp rise in impersonation scams across crypto platforms. Chainalysis reports $17 billion lost to crypto fraud in 2025, with impersonation schemes surging 1400% year-over-year. Advanced tactics now include AI deepfakes, phishing-as-a-service, and organized money laundering networks.
The FBI identifies crypto-based investment fraud as the top source of financial losses, citing increased pig butchering scams that blend romance and fraud. The FTC has recorded over $1 billion in annual losses from similar schemes.