The FTC says Individuals misplaced at the least $2.1 billion to social media scams in 2025

Individuals misplaced at the least $2.1 billion in 2025 to scams that originated on social media, in response to the Federal Trade Commission. That determine marks an eightfold improve since 2020.

The FTC stated Individuals reported dropping $1.1 billion final yr to funding scams that began on social media. These typically started with a put up or advert providing a program that claimed to assist folks discover ways to make investments. Greater than 40 p.c of Individuals who misplaced cash by a social media rip-off final yr blamed shopping-related advertisements, a lot 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 advertisements. In 2025, it was reported that Meta was making billions of dollars from advertisements selling scams and unlawful merchandise.

In fact, different kinds of web scams are snaring common people. The FBI said earlier this month that Individuals reported dropping almost $21 billion to internet-related crimes in 2025, greater than half of which was to cryptocurrency scams. Synthetic intelligence scams value Individuals round $893 million final yr, the FBI stated. And that is simply what folks have reported dropping — many victims will not file complaints to the FBI or FTC.

The FTC offers some advice on learn how to shield your self from social media scams, reminiscent of limiting the attain of your posts so scammers have much less particular data to work with and to keep away from letting “somebody you’ve got met solely on social media direct your funding selections.” The company additionally suggests looking out for an organization’s identify together with “rip-off” or “criticism” 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.