Scams/Social Media—
Scamming consumers on social media is popular and profitable for fraudsters. In new data from the Federal Trade Commission, nearly 30% of victims who reported losing money in 2025 say the scam started on social media. Those losses are staggering, $2.1 billion. That’s higher than any other form of contact and eight times higher than it was in 2020. The FTC says that since most victims don’t report scams to the government, “the real losses are likely much higher.”
So, what are the top scams on social media that swindlers love, and consumers need to be on the lookout for? At the top of the list is shopping. Scammers bait the hook by offering desirable, high-priced items at super-low prices. If you click the offer, you may end up on a fake website run by scammers, or the items you purchase may not be what you ordered or may be low-quality knockoffs.
The second scam favorite involves investment, and the third, the real heartbreaker, romance scams.
To avoid falling for these scams, the FTC recommends limiting who can see your online posts and who can contact you. Also, don’t let someone you meet on social media direct your investments. And before you buy, check the company online before giving them your hard-earned money.
Find more ways to spot and avoid scams at ftc.gov/scams. If you spot a scam, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
