Is crypto real and safe?

Crypto, is it really real? Is it safe? I've heard so much about it, but I'm still not sure if I should trust it. I've seen people make a lot of money with it, but I've also seen people lose everything. What's the truth? Can you explain it to me in a way that I can understand? I want to know if it's really worth the risk. And if it is, how do I start? What should I look for? What are the risks I should be aware of? I'm just a regular person, not a finance expert. Can you make it simple for me to understand? I really want to know the answers to these questions.