New Los Angeles FBI Chief visits Palm Springs, discusses crime trends

The FBI warns cryptocurrency scams targeting older people continue to be a growing problem nationwide, including here in the Golden State.

The agency’s latest internet crime report shows more than 6,000 people fell victim to that type of crime in 2023, compared to nearly 5,000 a year prior.

Victims lost more than $740 million last year, and nearly a third of them were 60 years of age or older. 

On Monday, the new Assistant Director of the FBI's Los Angeles field office visited their satellite office in Palm Springs. Akil Davis discussed what the agency is doing to crack down on the problem.

“Our efforts at the FBI has been to get on the front end of that for awareness and really educate the population on that. If you receive a text message from a number that you don't recognize, you don’t have to respond to that and we encourage you not to respond," according to Davis.  

Even though News Channel 3 has reported on a recent string of bank robberies locally, Davis said that type of crime is down regionally compared to the mid-2000’s. However, he said smash-and-grab robberies have been on the rise in Southern California over the last few years. 

If you would like to submit a cyber crime tip to the FBI, you can do so here.