Rising social-media scam losses among U.S. consumers in 2025
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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
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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:
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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
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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