Social Media Scams Cost Americans $2.1 Billion in 2025
An eightfold increase since 2020, with Facebook generating more losses than text and email scams combined.
Key Findings:
- Nearly 30% of all reported scam losses last year began on social media.
- Investment scams alone cost $1.1 billion.
- Shopping scams were the most frequently reported type, accounting for over 40% of social media scam reports.
- Romance scams started on social media in 60% of reported cases.
- All age groups except the over-80s lost more to social media scams than any other contact method.
New FTC data, published on Monday, reveals a concerning trend: Americans lost a total of $2.1 billion to scams originating on social media in 2025. This figure is significantly higher than the $1.4 billion reported in 2020.
- Facebook was the most targeted platform, generating more reported losses than text and email scams combined.
- WhatsApp and Instagram followed as distant second and third.
Types of Scams:
- Investment scams: People reported $1.1 billion in losses from these schemes originating on social media.
- Shopping scams: Victims most commonly reported losing money after ordering items advertised on social media, with clothing, cosmetics, car parts, and pets among the most frequently cited categories.
- Romance scams: Nearly 60% of people who reported romance scams in 2025 said they began on a social media platform.