$2.1 Billion Lost to Social Media Scams in the United States
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- Sharp rise in online fraud losses tied to digital platforms
- Schemes span fake investments, e-commerce scams, and emotional deception
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported losses exceeding $2.1 billion suffered by users in the United States due to social media scams over the past year.
According to a recent report, these losses have increased nearly eightfold since 2020, with about 30% of victims in 2025 saying the scams began on digital platforms.
Data showed that Meta-owned platforms were most frequently linked to these cases, with Facebook leading in total losses, followed by WhatsApp and Instagram at a significant distance.
Facebook alone accounted for about $794 million in losses, while WhatsApp and Instagram combined reached roughly $629 million.
The scams varied widely, including fake investment schemes, fraudulent online shopping sites, and increasingly common romance-based deception.
The report urged stronger digital awareness, tighter privacy settings, and verification of online offers before any financial engagement, warning users against interacting with suspicious content.