Consumers lost $2.1 billion to social media scams in 2025, FTC reports

Source: TechCrunch

Image Credit: Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto / Getty Images

12:09 PM PDT · April 27, 2026

Americans lost $2.1 billion to social‑media scams in 2025, according to a new report from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The agency reports that losses from social‑media scams have increased eightfold and now exceed losses from any other method scammers use to contact consumers.

Key Findings

• Nearly 30 % of people who reported losing money to scams said the schemes began on social media.
• Facebook was the platform where the most money was lost, followed by WhatsApp and Instagram.
• Losses from social‑media scams far outpaced those from text‑message or email scams.

Types of Social‑Media Scams

Shopping Scams

• The most reported type of social‑media scam in 2025.
• Over 40 % of victims ordered items seen in ads (clothing, cosmetics, car parts, puppies, etc.).
• Ads often directed users to unfamiliar or counterfeit sites that mimicked well‑known brands and offered large discounts.

Investment Scams

• Ads or posts promising to teach investing, or “friendly advisors” creating WhatsApp groups with fake testimonials.
• These schemes accounted for $1.1 billion in losses.

Romance Scams

• Nearly 60 % of romance‑scam victims said the fraud started on a social‑media platform.
• Scammers tailor pitches to a person’s profile, fabricate crises that require money, or lure victims onto fake investment platforms.

Protection Tips

• Limit who can see your posts and contacts.
• Never let someone you met online direct your investment decisions.
• Research products and companies before purchasing; search the name alongside “scam” or “complaint.”

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