Americans reported losing $2.1 billion to scams that started on social media in 2025, the costliest contact method (FTC)
Verified Confidence: high
Primary source found; it says the same thing, the scope matches, and it is reasonably current.
- Commonly cited as
- "How much do people lose to social media scams?"
- True origin
- Federal Trade Commission — New FTC Data Show People Have Lost Billions to Social Media Scams (Apr. 27, 2026)
- Type
- Reference fact: A frequently needed number or rule taken directly from a primary source (e.g. Pew, Census, IAB/PwC, FTC), with its as-of date.
- Year
- 2026
- Data as of
- Calendar year 2025 reports; published Apr. 27, 2026
- Last checked
- What the source says
New data from the Federal Trade Commission show that, in 2025, nearly 30% of people who reported losing money to a scam said that it started on social media, with reported losses reaching a staggering $2.1 billion.
- Method & sample
- FTC Consumer Sentinel reports filed by consumers; only reported losses, so true losses are higher.
- Drift between quote and source
- Scope: reported losses only; most fraud is never reported
- Interest
- n/a (federal agency).
Safe rephrasing
The FTC said reported losses to scams that began on social media reached $2.1 billion in 2025, more than any other contact method; shopping scams from social ads were the most reported type.
Sources we opened
- FTC press release, Apr. 27, 2026 (primary)
Machine-readable: /api/claims/ftc-social-media-scams-2-1-billion-losses-2025.json · Last checked 2026-10-16