Americans Lost $2.1 Billion to Social Media Scams in 2025, New Data Reveals
Social Media Scams Cost Consumers $2.1 Billion in 2025, FTC Reports
Social media has become a primary avenue for scammers, resulting in an alarming $2.1 billion in losses for consumers in 2025, as reported by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Tuesday. This figure marks a sharp increase from previous years, with losses in 2025 being eight times greater than those recorded in 2020. The FTC attributes this surge to the ease with which scammers can access potential victims through social media platforms.
“Social media creates easy access to billions of people from anywhere in the world, making a scammer’s job easier at very little cost,” noted the FTC in its statement. Scammers are not only leveraging these platforms to connect with victims but are also researching individuals by infiltrating their accounts to tailor their approaches and advertisements based on personal information, interests, and shopping behaviors.
Facebook has emerged as the most frequently exploited platform for scams, with users losing more money on Facebook than on any other application, including through texts or emails. Following Facebook, WhatsApp ranks second and Instagram third in terms of incidents involving financial losses from scams.
Investment scams are proving to be particularly lucrative for criminals, costing victims approximately $1.1 billion in 2025. Such scams often begin with enticing advertisements promising investment guidance or are perpetrated by individuals posing as successful investors, utilizing fabricated testimonials to lure victims.
While investment scams dominate in terms of financial impact, shopping scams have become the most reported category of fraud on social media. Nearly half of the individuals who fell victim to such scams stated they made their purchases based on advertisements encountered online. Additionally, romance scams are escalating, with over half of the victims indicating they met their fraudsters on a social media platform.
To help consumers avoid falling victim to these scams, the FTC has provided several recommendations:
Limit the visibility of posts and contacts on social media by adjusting privacy settings. This restriction makes it more difficult for scammers to gather personal information.
Be cautious of individuals met solely through social media, especially when it comes to investment decisions. It is advisable to further educate oneself on identifying investment scams.
Before making a purchase, research the company. Conduct an online search of the company’s name along with keywords such as “scam” or “complaint.”
As social media continues to evolve, the FTC’s warnings underscore the need for increased awareness and vigilance among users.
