Social Media as a Scam Origin
Reported scam losses linked to social media as the point of first contact, and how that figure has grown since 2020.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Social media platforms have become a primary recruitment ground for scammers. The FTC tracks cases where a reporter identifies social media as the initial point of contact, providing a window into how this channel has expanded as a fraud vector.
Figures cover reported cases only and reflect US consumer reports submitted to the FTC Consumer Sentinel Network.
Key figures
$1.9 billion
Reported losses from social media-originated scams (2024)
Source: FTC Data Spotlight: Reported losses to scams on social media eight times higher than in 2020 (April 2026) (2024)
Eight times higher in 2024 than in 2020 ($261 million)
Growth in social media scam losses since 2020
Source: FTC Data Spotlight: Reported losses to scams on social media eight times higher than in 2020 (April 2026) (2024)
Investment scams — $1.1 billion of the $1.9 billion total in 2024
Largest loss category originating on social media
Source: FTC Data Spotlight: Reported losses to scams on social media eight times higher than in 2020 (April 2026) (2024)
Online shopping scams — more than 40% of people who lost money on social media reported buying something they never received
Most reported scam type by volume on social media
Source: FTC Data Spotlight: Reported losses to scams on social media eight times higher than in 2020 (April 2026) (2024)
Key takeaways
- Reported losses from social media-originated scams reached $1.9 billion in 2024 — eight times the 2020 figure of $261 million.
- Investment scams driven through social media accounted for $1.1 billion of that total.
- Social media scams are most commonly reported across all age groups except those aged 80 and over.
- Shopping scams — ads for goods that never arrive — are the most frequently reported social media scam by volume.
Frequently asked questions
Which social media platforms are most linked to scam reports?
The FTC Data Spotlight does not attribute losses to specific platform names in publicly released aggregated figures. Scam reports identify social media as a category, not a specific service. For platform-level enforcement actions, consult the FTC's formal complaint and consent order records.