Americans Lost $2.1 Billion to Social Media Scams in 2025, FTC Says
FTC report: U.S. consumers lost $2.1 billion to social media scams in 2025, an eightfold rise; shopping, investment and romance fraud were the largest drivers, the agency warns.
FTC report finds $2.1 billion lost to social media scams in 2025
The Federal Trade Commission reported that Americans lost $2.1 billion to social media scams last year, marking a dramatic rise in platform-based fraud. The agency said losses from social media scams increased approximately eightfold and that social platforms now account for larger consumer losses than any other contact method.
Nearly 30 percent of people who reported losing money to scams told investigators the schemes began on social media, the FTC said. The data indicate a shift in how fraudsters recruit victims, exploiting ad systems, private messaging, and social networks to establish contact and credibility.
Facebook accounted for the biggest financial losses among platforms
The FTC’s analysis shows Facebook was the single platform where people reported the largest share of monetary losses. WhatsApp and Instagram followed but trailed significantly behind Facebook in both the number of reports and total dollars lost.
The agency also highlighted that losses reported on Facebook alone exceeded those reported for traditional vectors such as text messages and email. That gap underscores how social networks have become a leading channel for modern scams.
Shopping advertisements and fake storefronts drove most reports
Shopping scams were the most frequently reported type of social media fraud in 2025, according to the FTC. More than 40 percent of people who said they lost money on social media scams reported ordering items they saw in an ad, with victims naming goods from clothing and cosmetics to car parts and even pets.
Many shopping scams routed consumers to unfamiliar websites or to counterfeit versions of legitimate brands promising steep discounts. These fake storefronts often use professional-looking product images and social proof to persuade shoppers before disappearing after payment.
Investment schemes on social platforms caused large losses
Investment-related scams that originated on social media were a major contributor to the overall total and were responsible for roughly $1.1 billion in reported losses. The FTC described a pattern in which ads or posts promise to teach investing, then steer victims toward trading platforms or schemes that are fraudulent.
Fraudsters also used private messaging and group chats, particularly on apps like WhatsApp, to create the appearance of successful investors. Organized groups featuring fake testimonials and pressure tactics were cited as methods that lured people into transferring substantial funds.
Romance fraud increasingly begins on social platforms
Romance scams continued to inflict significant harm, and the FTC reported that nearly 60 percent of people who lost money to romance fraud said the interaction began on a social media site. Scammers typically construct tailored profiles and cultivate emotional trust before inventing a crisis or asking for money.
In some cases, victims who are persuaded by a romantic contact are later directed into bogus investment opportunities or asked to help with an urgent payment. The FTC noted that these hybrid schemes — mixing romance and investment tactics — can be especially costly.
FTC issues practical steps to help users guard against social media scams
The agency urged consumers to reduce exposure by limiting who can see their posts and contact information and by reviewing privacy settings regularly. The FTC also warned against allowing anyone met online to make investment decisions on a person’s behalf, stressing that legitimate investment advice rarely comes through unsolicited social messages.
Victims and potential buyers should vet sellers and platforms before making payments, the report recommended, including searching a company’s name alongside terms such as “scam” or “complaint.” Consumers are also advised to use secure payment methods that offer recourse and to be skeptical of deals that appear too good to be true.
Industry observers say platform policies, ad transparency, and consumer education will be central to stemming the rise in social media scams. The FTC’s findings underscore the scale of the problem and the evolving tactics that fraudsters use to exploit social networks and messaging apps.
The report’s statistics serve as a reminder that everyday browsing and private messages can carry financial risk, and the FTC’s guidance aims to give consumers concrete steps to reduce exposure and report suspected fraud.
