People misplaced not less than $2.1 billion in 2025 to scams that originated on social media, in line with the Federal Trade Commission. That determine marks an eightfold enhance since 2020.
The FTC stated People reported shedding $1.1 billion final yr to funding scams that began on social media. These usually started with a publish or advert providing a program that claimed to assist folks discover ways to make investments. Greater than 40 p.c of People who misplaced cash by way of a social media rip-off final yr blamed shopping-related adverts, lots of which took them to “unfamiliar web sites,” the FTC stated. The company additionally highlighted the issue of romance scams that begin on social media.
Most of those scams began on Fb, with WhatsApp and Instagram in “a distant second and third,” the FTC famous. A lawsuit filed against Meta, which owns all three platforms, final week claimed that it misled customers about rip-off adverts. In 2025, it was reported that Meta was making billions of dollars from adverts selling scams and unlawful merchandise.
In fact, different sorts of web scams are snaring common people. The FBI said earlier this month that People reported shedding almost $21 billion to internet-related crimes in 2025, greater than half of which was to cryptocurrency scams. Synthetic intelligence scams value People round $893 million final yr, the FBI stated. And that is simply what folks have reported shedding — many victims will not file complaints to the FBI or FTC.
The FTC offers some advice on easy methods to shield your self from social media scams, similar to limiting the attain of your posts so scammers have much less particular info to work with and to keep away from letting “somebody you might have met solely on social media direct your funding choices.” The company additionally suggests looking out for an organization’s title together with “rip-off” or “grievance” earlier than shopping for something.
As at all times, tread cautiously, do your personal analysis and if one thing sounds too good to be true, it most likely is. Watch out on the market, people.
