The FBI’s Nashville Division is warning musicians, industry workers and fans that cybercriminals have made the music business a growing target for fraud, extortion and intellectual property theft, the bureau said Tuesday.
The FBI said a review of complaints submitted to its Internet Crime Complaint Center, combined with pending investigations, revealed clear trends in how criminals are exploiting the industry. The most frequently reported offenses included romance scams, non-delivery fraud, advanced fee schemes, overpayment scams, data breaches and extortion.
“A review of complaints submitted to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, along with our pending investigations, has identified clear trends in the tactics criminals are using to target employees in the music industry and fans alike,” said Terence G. Reilly, special agent in charge of the FBI Nashville Division. “We urge everyone to pause before taking action and to be wary of high-pressure tactics used by scammers.”
Romance scams emerged as the most costly scheme in the data, the bureau said. Between early January 2024 and late September 2025, 527 complaints involving romance fraud generated losses totaling more than $12.2 million, according to the FBI. Individuals over age 60 accounted for nearly 60 percent of those reports, with victims believing they were in genuine relationships with real musicians.
During the same period, the FBI said it received more than 100 complaints from musicians, record label owners, music producers and managers who collectively lost more than $777,000 to non-delivery, advanced fee and overpayment schemes.
Fans were also targeted, according to the bureau. In 61 complaints, people reported paying for concert tickets, festival passes or meet-and-greet access they never received, with total losses reaching $325,574. Cybercriminals also extorted or attempted to extort fans and musicians by threatening violence or the release of explicit photographs, the FBI said.
The bureau also cited a case involving alleged criminal copyright infringement in which a former sound engineer, while still employed, secretly copied unreleased music without authorization and later sold it online for personal financial gain.
Investigators said criminals are increasingly using artificial intelligence to steal music and fabricate identities, with impostors posing as artists online to build trust before soliciting money for travel, recording costs or personal emergencies.
The FBI urged anyone who receives unsolicited messages requesting payment or personal information to verify the sender through official channels before responding. Victims and those who suspect fraud are encouraged to file a report with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
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