Artificial Intelligence Fuels Surge in Internet Crimes in Arizona
Artificial intelligence is increasingly linked to a rise in internet crimes in Arizona, according to recent FBI findings. Within the first seven months of 2025, the agency’s Internet Crime Complaint Center registered over 9,000 AI-related complaints.
While the FBI’s annual Internet Crime Report is still pending release, spokesperson Brooke Brennan indicated a notable increase in fraudulent activities compared to the previous year. Brennan stated, “I can definitely say that we’re seeing a lot of fraud and scams in 2025 compared to the numbers lost in 2024. There has been a pretty significant increase in Arizona.”
Among the prevalent scams are impostors pretending to be grandchildren in need of ransom money, alongside fraudsters using spoofed FBI phone numbers to deceive victims. Brennan emphasized the importance of public awareness, noting that legitimate government agencies, including the FBI, will not request money over the phone.
