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Social media scams caused Americans to lose $2.1 billion in 2025, according to a new report from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The agency says that's an eightfold increase since 2020.
Of all the people who reported scams to the FTC in 2025, nearly 30% said the con started on social media. Meta-owned social media platforms dominated the scams, with Facebook claiming a majority of them. WhatsApp and Instagram were a "distant" second and third.
Article continues belowThree types of scams
Typically, these scams fit into one of three categories: investment, shopping, or romance. Contrary to popular belief, the malicious schemes affected every age group except individuals 80 and over, who were more likely to fall for phone call scams.
The FTC's data show that $1.1 billion was lost to fake investment scams in which people were duped by ads or posts offering programs that teach you how to invest. In some cases, the scammers posed as "friendly advisers" or created fake groups full of "successful investors" that led people to invest in false programs.
On the shopping front, 40% of people reported ordering an item they saw in an ad, ranging from clothing and cosmetics to car parts and even puppies. The ads would take users to unfamiliar websites that were used to capture their information. Some sites were fakes that claimed to offer big discounts on well-known brands.
As for romance scams, 60% of people who reported losing money said that it started on social media. In a classic scammer move, the thieves tailor their profile to match a person's profile. Eventually, a crisis would be invented that required the targeted individual to send money.
How to stay safe
The FTC has some advice to stay safe from online scams.
For one, never let someone you only know through social media direct your investment decisions. This is especially true if you maintain a public (not private) account.
Before you talk to new people on social media, you should first limit who can see your posts and contacts via the privacy settings. Be sure to set restrictions to give scammers less to pull from.
Also, before you purchase an item from an online ad, search the company name plus "scam" or "complaint" to see if they're legitimate.
Create a strong defense
Beyond the tips above, build yourself a strong defense by doing things like investing in one of the best identity theft protection services. Identity theft protection can help you get your life back together after an attack, whether it's lost money or a stolen sensitive number.
Additionally, you also want to protect your devices with the best antivirus software and best Android antivirus apps for your phones.
As with any topic, education is the best tool. Educate yourself by reading up on the latest scams and malware campaigns. That will help you know what signs to look out for, helping you be less likely to be a victim. Be sure to share your knowledge with friends and family to help them avoid falling victim to scams like these social medias one as well.
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