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FTC: Social Media Scams Led to $2.1 Billion in Reported Losses in 2025

· Original article ↗

Summary

FTC figures show social-media scams caused $2.1 billion in reported losses in 2025, with Facebook leading among platforms. The article also describes Meta’s anti-scam measures and FBI IC3 cybercrime figures.

Key points

  • The FTC reported $2.1 billion in social-media scam losses in 2025—nearly 30% of reported scam losses and about eight times the 2020 amount.
  • Facebook accounted for the most reported monetary losses across nearly all age groups; WhatsApp and Instagram ranked second and third.
  • The FTC says scammers may hack accounts, use details people post to target them, or buy targeted ads.
  • Meta introduced or tested warnings for suspicious friend requests, scam-like messages, screen sharing with unknown contacts, and group-chat invitations.
  • Meta said it removed more than 159 million scam ads and over 10.9 million Facebook and Instagram accounts linked to criminal scam operations in 2025.
  • The FBI’s IC3 recorded over 1 million complaints and nearly $21 billion in losses from cyber-enabled crimes in 2025.
  • The FTC recommends limiting who can see social-media posts and contacts, and researching companies before making purchases.

Article Details

Event Type
FTC report on losses from social media scams
Impact
The FTC reported that social media scams caused over $2.1 billion in losses in 2025, nearly 30% of reported scam losses and roughly eight times the losses reported in 2020. Facebook accounted for more reported losses than any other platform; WhatsApp and Instagram ranked second and third. Separately, the FBI’s IC3 received over 1 million complaints linked to nearly $21 billion in losses from cyber-enabled crimes. Meta reported removing over 159 million scam ads and taking down over 10.9 million Facebook and Instagram accounts linked to criminal scam operations in 2025.

Vendors

MetaMeta and other platforms have rolled out new anti-scam tools as the FBI’s IC3 recorded over 1 million complaints and nearly $21 billion in losses from cyber-enabled crimes.

Products

FacebookThe FTC reported that social media scams generated over $2.1 billion in losses in 2025, a roughly eightfold increase since 2020, with Facebook accounting for more reported losses than any other platform.Facebook Messenger​In response to this wave of scams targeting social media in general and its users in particular, Meta introduced new anti-scam protections across WhatsApp, Facebook, and Messenger last month.InstagramWhatsApp and Instagram ranked as the second- and third-most costly platforms for victims.WhatsAppWhatsApp and Instagram ranked as the second- and third-most costly platforms for victims.

Countries

United StatesThe U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warned of a massive increase in losses from social media scams since 2020, exceeding $2.1 billion in 2025.

Industries

Social mediaThe FTC reported that social media scams generated over $2.1 billion in losses in 2025, a roughly eightfold increase since 2020, with Facebook accounting for more reported losses than any other platform.

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