The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center just released its 2025 numbers — and they’re alarming. Americans reported nearly $21 billion in cybercrime losses last year, a 26% increase from 2024, with more than one million complaints filed. Behind that surge is a familiar culprit: artificial intelligence.
Criminals are now using AI to craft hyper-personalized phishing emails, clone voices for telephone fraud, and generate deepfake video calls that look convincingly real. The days of obvious grammar errors and Nigerian prince emails are gone. Today’s scams are polished, personal, and frighteningly believable.
“We’re seeing a really huge rise in scammers using the power of AI to target consumers.” – Kimberly Palmer, NerdWallet
How AI Is Changing the Threat Landscape
Artificial intelligence has dramatically lowered the barrier to entry for cybercriminals. What once required technical skill and expensive resources can now be done faster, cheaper, and at massive scale.
• AI Generated Phishing — Scam emails and texts that reference your name, employer, or recent activity – Mined from data breaches and public sources – to appear completely legitimate.
• Voice Cloning — Using just a few seconds of audio, criminals clone a familiar voice – a CEO, coworker, or family member – to authorize transfers or extract sensitive data.
• Deepfake Video Calls — Real-time video deepfakes allow attackers to impersonate executives in video meetings, bypassing visual verification entirely.
• Breach Data Exploitation — Sheffield Place owns and operates 9 units of permanent housing in the neighborhood. Families pay adjusted rent and can remain in these homes as long as they choose, with ongoing case management and supportive services provided free of charge.
What This Means for St. Louis Businesses
Cybercrime doesn’t just target individuals — it hits businesses of every size. A convincing phishing email to one employee, a fraudulent wire transfer authorized by a spoofed voice call, or a ransomware attack triggered by a single compromised credential can cost a St. Louis company hundreds of thousands of dollars and irreparable reputational damage.
Small and mid-sized businesses are particularly vulnerable. They often lack the in-house IT support needed to detect, respond to, and recover from sophisticated attacks — and cybercriminals know it. That’s why investing in professional Managed IT services alongside a dedicated managed security provider isn’t a luxury anymore. It’s essential.
How ThrottleNet Helps Protect Your Business
For over 25 years, ThrottleNet has helped St. Louis businesses stay ahead of evolving cyber threats with responsive IT support and comprehensive Managed IT services. Here’s how our offerings map directly to the risks the FBI is warning about:
• Security Awareness Training — The most effective defense against AI-powered phishing is an educated workforce. We train your team to spot suspicious emails, voice requests, and social engineering attempts before they cause damage.
• 24/7 Threat Monitoring & Managed Detection — Our security operations center monitors your network around the clock, identifying anomalies and suspicious behavior that indicate an active attack — often before your team is even aware.
• Multi-Factor Authentication & Identity Protection — Stolen credentials are a leading entry point for cybercriminals. We implement MFA, privileged access management, and identity monitoring to close those doors.
• Endpoint Security & Patch Management — Attackers frequently exploit unpatched software vulnerabilities. ThrottleNet keeps your devices, servers, and applications updated and protected against the latest known exploits.
• Backup & Disaster Recovery — If ransomware does hit, your ability to recover quickly is everything. We design and manage redundant backup strategies so your business can bounce back with minimal downtime.
• Cybersecurity Assessments & Compliance — Not sure where your biggest vulnerabilities are? We conduct thorough risk assessments and help you meet industry compliance requirements — whether that’s HIPAA, PCI-DSS, or others relevant to your industry.
Money lost to a scammer is rarely recovered. The most effective strategy is prevention — and that starts with the right partner.
Steps Every Business Should Take Right Now
While a managed security partner and reliable IT support handle the heavy lifting, here are immediate actions every St. Louis business owner and employee should take:
Verify unusual financial requests by phone — never by email alone — using a known, trusted number. If your “CEO” calls asking for a wire transfer, hang up and call them back directly. Conduct a credential audit to ensure no employee is reusing passwords across accounts and mandate a password manager. Brief your team on the reality of AI voice cloning and deepfake video — awareness is the first layer of defense.
Is your business prepared for AI-powered threats?
ThrottleNet offers complimentary cybersecurity consultations for St. Louis businesses. Whether you need ongoing IT support or fully Managed IT services, let’s review your current environment and identify where you’re most at risk — before the criminals do. https://www.throttlenet.com/contact/free-consultation/
