Rising social-media scam losses among U.S. consumers in 2025
Trend
Summary
Hide ▲
Show ▼
Social media scams drove a sharp rise in consumer losses in 2025, with reported losses reaching $2.1 billion and nearly 30% of scam-loss reports starting on these platforms. Facebook accounted for more reported losses than any other social network, while WhatsApp and Instagram trailed behind. The shift makes social platforms a dominant fraud contact channel and raises the risk of impersonation, account takeover, and ad-enabled targeting.
Related Happenings
FTC imposter-scam warning and Impersonation Rule enforcement
Public Sector Action
H score33
First: 16.06.2026 16:42
Last: 16.06.2026 16:42
Sources 1
How related:
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warned that Americans lost $3.5 billion to imposter scams in 2025, with reported losses nearly tripling since 2020.
About this happening:
The **FTC** warned that **Americans** lost **$3.5 billion** to **imposter scams** in **2025**, elevating a major public anti-fraud response around impersonation-driven theft. The...
FTC imposter-scam warning and Impersonation Rule enforcement
Public Sector ActionHow related: The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warned that Americans lost $3.5 billion to imposter scams in 2025, with reported losses nearly tripling since 2020.
About this happening: The **FTC** warned that **Americans** lost **$3.5 billion** to **imposter scams** in **2025**, elevating a major public anti-fraud response around impersonation-driven theft. The...
FBI takedown of Outsider Enterprise phishing service
Law Enforcement
H score63
First: 14.06.2026 17:36
Last: 14.06.2026 17:36
Sources 1
About this happening:
The **FBI** and partners **dismantled** **Outsider Enterprise**, a **phishing-as-a-service** operation tied to **thousands of phishing websites** and large-scale credential theft....
FBI takedown of Outsider Enterprise phishing service
Law EnforcementAbout this happening: The **FBI** and partners **dismantled** **Outsider Enterprise**, a **phishing-as-a-service** operation tied to **thousands of phishing websites** and large-scale credential theft....
Outsider Enterprise-Outsider-Chinese cybercrime alliance reshapes ransomware ecosystem operations
Threat Actor Meta
H score69
First: 12.06.2026 21:59
Last: 12.06.2026 21:59
Sources 1
About this happening:
The **Outsider Enterprise** is a **Chinese phishing-as-a-service** operation that used **Telegram**, **AI**, and distributed phishing kits to run large-scale brand-impersonation c...
Outsider Enterprise-Outsider-Chinese cybercrime alliance reshapes ransomware ecosystem operations
Threat Actor MetaAbout this happening: The **Outsider Enterprise** is a **Chinese phishing-as-a-service** operation that used **Telegram**, **AI**, and distributed phishing kits to run large-scale brand-impersonation c...
DoJ Disruption Week crypto fraud takedown
Law Enforcement
H score46
First: 04.06.2026 09:06
Last: 04.06.2026 09:06
Sources 1
About this happening:
Authorities **arrested** seven scammers in Thailand and disrupted a **crypto fraud** network tied to **Disruption Week**, expanding pressure on transnational scam operations targe...
DoJ Disruption Week crypto fraud takedown
Law EnforcementAbout this happening: Authorities **arrested** seven scammers in Thailand and disrupted a **crypto fraud** network tied to **Disruption Week**, expanding pressure on transnational scam operations targe...
Rising fraud complaints and losses among Americans 60 and older in 2025
Trend
H score51
First: 29.05.2026 14:07
Last: 29.05.2026 14:07
Sources 1
About this happening:
**Americans 60 and older** filed **over 200,000 fraud complaints** in **2025**, with complaint volume rising **37%** from the prior year. The cohort also recorded **nearly $7.8 bi...
Rising fraud complaints and losses among Americans 60 and older in 2025
TrendAbout this happening: **Americans 60 and older** filed **over 200,000 fraud complaints** in **2025**, with complaint volume rising **37%** from the prior year. The cohort also recorded **nearly $7.8 bi...
Timeline
-
27.04.2026 19:27 3 articles · 2mo ago
Rising social-media scam losses among U.S. consumers in 2025
Initial DisclosureThe trend became especially visible in **2025** as social platforms emerged as a leading scam contact channel, with **Facebook** producing the most reported losses. The channel mix varied by age, with people **80 and over** more often targeted by phone calls instead.
Show sources
- FTC: Americans lost over $2.1 billion to social media scams in 2025 — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 27.04.2026 19:27
- FTC: Americans lost over $2.1 billion to social media scams in 2025 — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 27.04.2026 19:27
- FTC warns of record $3.5 billion losses to imposter scams in 2025 — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 16.06.2026 16:42