Americans lost $2.1B to social media scams in 2025
28 Apr 2026

Americans lost a staggering $2.1 billion to social media scams last year, according to a report by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The agency found that losses from these scams have increased eightfold.

The report also revealed that social media scams caused more financial damage than any other method used by scammers to target consumers.

Facebook was the biggest culprit
Platform impact

Nearly 30% of those who reported losing money to scams said they started on social media.

Facebook was the biggest culprit, with more people reporting financial losses from scams originating on the platform than any other.

WhatsApp and Instagram were a distant second and third, respectively.

The FTC's data also showed that losses from Facebook scams were much higher than those from text or email scams.

Shopping scams most reported type of social media scam
Scam types

The FTC's data also revealed that shopping scams were the most reported type of social media scam last year.

Over 40% of people who lost money to these scams said they had ordered an item they saw in an ad, be it clothing, cosmetics, car parts or even puppies.

Many of these ads led to unfamiliar websites while others took users to fake sites for well-known brands promising huge discounts.

Investment schemes, romance scams also common
Scam prevalence

Another common type of social media scam is investment schemes that start with ads or posts promising to teach people how to invest.

Scammers also impersonate friendly advisers or even create WhatsApp groups filled with fake testimonials.

These investment scams alone resulted in $1.1 billion in losses last year.

Notably, almost 60% of those who reported losing money to a romance scam in 2025 said it started on a social media platform.

How to protect yourself from social media scams?
Prevention tips

The FTC recommends users to protect themselves from social media scams by restricting the visibility of their posts and contacts, never letting someone they met online make investment decisions for them, and thoroughly researching products before buying.

This includes checking the company and searching its name with "scam" or "complaint."

These simple steps could go a long way in keeping users safe from potential financial losses.