Online Scams on Social Media Increase: Investments, Shopping, and Romance Scams Dominate 2025

Online social media scams have reached record levels in 2025, with total losses amounting to $2.1 billion, according to a new report by the Federal Trade Commission. This figure represents an impressive increase, with losses growing eightfold compared to previous years, making social media the primary channel used by scammers.

Nearly 30% of individuals reporting financial loss stated that the scam began on a social platform. Among these, Facebook is the most involved, followed distantly by WhatsApp and Instagram. In particular, the losses recorded on Facebook exceed those related to SMS or email scams, highlighting the effectiveness of the strategies employed by online criminals.

The types of scams are numerous, but the most common are related to shopping. Over 40% of victims reported having purchased products seen in advertisements, which often linked to unknown sites or fake portals of well-known brands with seemingly advantageous offers. In many cases, the items were never delivered or turned out to be completely different from what was promised.

Additional Details on Social Scams: Beware of Investments

Another particularly harmful category is that of investment scams, which alone have caused losses of about $1.1 billion. These schemes often start with posts or ads promising easy profits, followed by direct contacts with fake experts or online groups full of manipulated testimonials.

Romance scams also continue to pose a significant problem. About 60% of victims of romance scams reported that the first contact occurred on social media. Scammers leverage personal information available online to build credible relationships, then ask for money by inventing emergencies or proposing fraudulent investments.

To combat this phenomenon, the FTC advises users to take some fundamental precautions: limit the visibility of personal data, avoid trusting strangers online for financial decisions, and always verify the reliability of a seller before making purchases.