Cybercrime and online fraud hit 2.5 million people in 2025

In 2025, 2.5 million people in the Netherlands became victims of cybercrime, according to a new report by prosecutors and police. The threat is becoming increasingly difficult to contain, as offenders are collaborating across borders and purchasing expertise to carry out complex attacks. The report, Cybercrimebeeld Nederland, highlights that technical skill is now readily available for sale, allowing novice hackers to create sophisticated attacks.

Criminals exploit data from previous breaches to target victims more effectively, often impersonating banks or crypto platforms to manipulate their victims.

The report also sheds light on the involvement of state actors in cybercrime, which is blurring the line between cybercrime and national security. States are utilizing criminals as proxies, providing money and infrastructure to carry out attacks. Dutch investigators recently arrested two men linked to Russian-linked cyberattacks and detained two minors for mapping WiFi networks around government buildings in The Hague.

A new generation of young, Western cybercriminals is emerging, motivated by financial gain and status rather than ideology. These individuals, aged between 11 and 25, often meet in online networks to specialize in data and cryptocurrency theft. Police warn that children are particularly vulnerable, with many lured into the world of cybercrime through online games such as Roblox, Fortnite, and Minecraft.

Police cybercrime lead Stan Duijf likened this process to schoolyard mischief, but cautioned that some individuals may progress to becoming cybercriminals.

The report also emphasizes the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in cybercrime, describing it as a catalyst that increases the speed and scale of attacks while making scam emails harder to detect.