Home / Crime and Justice / Social Media Scams Surge: $2.1B Lost in 2025
Social Media Scams Surge: $2.1B Lost in 2025
28 Apr
Summary
- Americans lost over $2.1 billion to social media scams in 2025.
- Investment and shopping scams on social media saw a significant rise.
- Meta platforms like Facebook are frequently implicated in these scams.
Americans experienced significant financial losses in 2025, with at least $2.1 billion falling victim to scams initiated on social media. This figure represents a dramatic eightfold increase compared to 2020.
Investment scams, often promoted through deceptive posts and ads claiming to teach investing, accounted for $1.1 billion of these losses. Shopping scams, frequently leading users to unknown websites, were blamed by over 40% of victims. Romance scams originating on social media also remain a concern.
Meta platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, were identified as the most common sources for these scams. A recent lawsuit against Meta alleges the company misled users regarding scam advertisements, potentially profiting billions from them in 2025.
Broader internet crimes also resulted in substantial losses, with the FBI reporting nearly $21 billion lost in 2025, largely to cryptocurrency scams. Artificial intelligence scams alone cost Americans approximately $893 million.
To protect against social media fraud, the FTC advises limiting post visibility, avoiding investment advice from online acquaintances, and researching companies for scams or complaints before purchasing.
