N/A - FTC Data Spotlight Report

The FTC advises consumers to limit social media privacy settings, avoid investment advice from online-only contacts, and verify companies before purchasing. The report signals increasing regulatory attention to social media platform liability for fraud.

The FTC released new data showing that social media scams cost Americans $2.1 billion in losses in 2025, an eightfold increase since 2020. Nearly 30% of people who reported losing money to a scam in 2025 said it started on social media, making it the costliest fraud contact method.

This is a data report rather than a specific enforcement action. Key findings include:

• Investment scams originating on social media accounted for $1.1 billion in losses (more than half of total)


• Facebook was the platform with the highest reported losses


• Shopping scams were the most frequently reported type of social media scam


• Nearly 60% of romance scam losses started on social media


• All age groups under 80 reported losing more money to social media scams than any other contact method