Social media scams will cost Americans $2.1 billion in 2025

Americans lost $2.1 billion to social media scams in 2025, an eight-fold increase since 2020, according to a new report. a report Released Monday by the Federal Trade Commission.

Nearly 30% of Americans who reported falling victim to a scam last year said the scam originated on social media, with Facebook most often identified as the social media platform from which the scam originated, according to the report. WhatsApp and Instagram, owned by Meta, ranked second and third, the Federal Trade Commission said.

“In 2025, people reported losing significantly more money to scams on Facebook alone than to scams via text or email,” the committee said.

Frauds originating on Facebook cost users $794 million in 2025, while WhatsApp and Instagram suffered losses worth $659 million.

Meta representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Federal Trade Commission said social media scams fall into three categories: investment, shopping and romance. The largest amount of money — $1.1 billion — was lost to investment scams often rooted in advertisements or publications offering a program to teach investment techniques.

Shopping scams were the most reported social media scam in 2025, with more than 40% of victims of social media scams reporting they had been scammed into ordering something they saw in a social media ad — “everything from clothing and makeup to car parts to puppies,” the agency said.

Romance scams are also very popular on social media. Nearly 60% of people who fell victim to a romance scam in 2025 said it originated on a social media platform. “Scammers often tailor their offers based on people’s profiles and later invent a crisis demanding money or casually offer investment advice to lure them to a fake investment platform,” the FTC said.

All age groups, except people 80 and older, reported losing more money to scams that started on social media than any other means of communication.

To avoid falling victim to social media scams, the FTC advises consumers to limit who can see their social media posts and contacts. Also, never let someone you’ve only met through social media make your investment decisions.

Before you buy something you’ve seen advertised on social media, Conduct a company search at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)..

If you suspect you have been the victim of a fraud attempt, report it to authorities, such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Website.