The FTC says Americans lost at least $2.1 billion to social media scams in 2025
The Federal Trade Commission reported that Americans lost at least $2.1 billion to social media scams in 2025, an eightfold increase since 2020, with investment, shopping, and romance scams being the most common. Facebook was the primary platform where scams originated, followed by WhatsApp and Instagram, according to the FTC. The FBI also reported nearly $21 billion in total losses to internet crimes in 2025, over half tied to cryptocurrency scams, while AI-related scams caused $893 million in losses. Many cases likely go unreported, as victims often do not file formal complaints.
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