PORTLAND (WGME) — Scammers are increasingly turning to social media to target victims, and the financial toll is rising fast.
New data from the Federal Trade Commission shows nearly 30 percent of people who reported losing money to a scam in 2025 said it started on a social media platform. Total reported losses reached $2.1 billion, making social media the most costly way scammers are connecting with victims.
That figure represents an 800 percent increase since 2020, underscoring how quickly fraudsters have adapted their tactics.
“Social media can be a great way to connect but can also make a scammer’s job easier,” the FTC wrote in its report. “They might hack into your account to scam your friends or even create entirely fake profiles. Or they might use what you post to figure out how to target you.”
The FTC says social media platforms owned by Meta, including Facebook, Instagram and…
This involves defrauding the state or using government systems to steal from individuals.
- Tax Identity Theft: A criminal uses your ID and income details to file a tax return in your name and claim a refund before you do.
- Grant/Benefit Fraud: Falsely claiming unemployment, disability, or social grants that the perpetrator is not entitled to.