Aponte warns of record increase in cyber fraud and ransomware attacks

By THE STAR STAFF

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, José Aponte, warned about the historic increase in cyber fraud schemes, which according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) cost the United States, including Puerto Rico, over $28.7 billion in 2025.

The legislator raised concerns about the unprecedented increase in the use of ransomware for attacks on health, electricity and database infrastructure in financial institutions.

“Since 2011, we have been warning about the increasing use of technology, the internet, and now, artificial intelligence algorithms, to carry out increasingly sophisticated fraudulent schemes. In 2025 alone, the FBI received 1,008,597 complaints related to cyber fraud, 36.2 percent more than in 2024. The use of ransomware is a favorite among these criminals and is on the rise. In 2025, some 63 new ransomware programs developed using artificial intelligence were discovered,” explained the chairman of the Committee on Federal Affairs and Veterans Affairs.

The FBI recorded 3,611 complaints in 2025 specifically related to ransomware, an increase over 2024, with total losses exceeding $33 million. Of those complaints, 467 involved critical infrastructure, a 26.4 percent increase over 2024.

“The increase in the use of ransomware, which is a type of computer program that essentially prevents the user who activates it from accessing their files, systems, or even social media accounts, and then demands payment for the release of these files, should alarm us all. These criminals use social engineering techniques, such as phishing, to gain access to the victim’s environment and create ransomware specifically for the potential victim,” the Representative added.