Social media scams caused over two billion dollars in losses to consumers last year
Social media scams have become a significant issue in the United States, with consumers reporting losses of $2.1 billion in 2025. The Federal Trade Commission highlighted that Facebook is the leading platform for these scams, resulting in higher losses compared to other social media sites. The trend is alarming, particularly as Facebook remains widely used among various age groups, including vulnerable older adults.
- ▪Consumers reported $2.1 billion in losses from social media scams in 2025.
- ▪Facebook was identified as the biggest source of reported losses from scams.
- ▪Nearly one in three fraud victims stated that the scam originated on a social platform.
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Social media is now America’s most expensive scam hotspot. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), consumers reported $2.1 billion in losses from platform-based fraud in 2025, a number that has grown eightfold in five years. Nearly one in three fraud victims said the con started on a social platform. Why is Facebook such a big target? Facebook stood out as the biggest source of reported losses. The FTC said scams that started on Facebook led to higher losses than those originating on any other social media platform, with WhatsApp and Instagram well behind. Losses linked to Facebook-originated scams also exceeded those tied to schemes that began via text messages or email.
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