FTC: Americans lost $2.1 billion to social media scams in 2025

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the country’s consumer protection regulator, reports that Americans lost $2.1 billion to social media scams in 2025. This total represents an eightfold increase in losses from these types of fraud over previous periods. According to the agency’s findings, social media scams resulted in higher losses than any other method scammers used to contact consumers, establishing these platforms as the primary vector for consumer fraud.

The data from the regulator reveals that nearly 30% of people who reported losing money to scams said the schemes began on social media. The FTC identified Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram as the primary social media platforms where these scams originated. The reported losses were heavily concentrated across three specific categories of fraud, which the agency highlighted in its report:

• shopping scams: This was the most reported type of social media scam. Over 40% of people who lost money to social media scams said they ordered an item from an ad, with many of these ads leading to unfamiliar websites or fake sites for well-known brands.
• investment schemes: These financial frauds led to $1.1 billion in losses, often starting with ads or posts offering to teach people how to invest, or through scammers posing as friendly advisers.
• romance scam: This category of fraud also heavily relied on these platforms, where scammers often tailor their pitch to match a person’s profile. According to the FTC, nearly 60% of people who reported losing money to a romance scam in 2025 said it started on a social media platform.

With social media scams now surpassing all other contact methods used by scammers, the FTC’s findings indicate that social networks have become a primary vector for financial fraud in the United States. The rapid rise in these losses underscores the growing challenge for consumer protection agencies attempting to safeguard users on these platforms, as scammers continue to exploit social connections and targeted advertising.

Why it matters

The FTC’s data highlights a massive shift in fraud vectors, signaling that social media platforms have become the primary battleground for consumer protection, surpassing traditional contact methods.