Social networks have become fertile ground for digital fraud, and the most recent case confirms it: scams on Facebook Not only are they growing, but have generated losses estimated at $794 million dollars. WhatsApp and Instagram are not savedso this worrying situation has escalated to such a degree that a non-profit organization has already presented a lawsuit against Meta due to the lack of protections for its users.
According to recent data from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Consumers reported $794 million in losses in 2025 from fraud that started on Facebook. This figure far exceeds any other social platform, and even exceeds what was lost in scams initiated by text messages or emails during the same period.
The problem is not limited to a single application, in fact, the FTC pointed out that Meta Platforms, parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, concentrates several of the channels where these crimes proliferate. WhatsApp recorded reported losses of $425 millionwhile Instagram accumulated $234 million dollars.
On the whole, Scams originating from social networks totaled $2.1 billion dollarspositioning itself as the best contact method for scammers.
The growth of scams on social networks has been exponential in recent years. In 2020, losses from social media fraud were $261 million; Five years later, the figure multiplied by eight. Additionally, the FTC warns that many cases go unreported, suggesting that the actual impact could be much greater.
It is well known that scammers keep up with new and increasingly sophisticated methods of deception, from fake ads with irresistible offers to identity theft, criminals take advantage of the ease of creating completely credible fake profiles. In many cases, they hack accounts to impersonate friends or family and offer non-existent products, such as luxury watches or vehicles. Some victims lose between $2,000 and $3,000 by sending advances for items that never arrive.
They sue Meta for scams on their social networks
The Consumer Federation of America filed a class action lawsuit against Meta in Washington DC, accusing the company of not adequately protecting users from fraudulent ads.
“We need the platform to be a safer place where consumers face fewer threats,” said Ben Winters, director of Artificial Intelligence and Privacy of the organization. “It must also be held accountable for illegal conduct that has not been resolved through legislation or promises.”
The lawsuit also questions whether Meta really combats this type of false advertisements, since its business model contemplates the sale of spaces so that certain publications have greater projection on its platform based on different payment plans based on the desired reach.
“Meta claims it is doing everything it can to combat fraudulent advertising on its platforms. But has actually adopted policies that benefit its revenue at the expense of user safety“says the complaint.
For its part, Meta has defended its efforts and, in March, the company announced new tools based on artificial intelligence to detect fraud patterns.
“Scammers are constantly evolving their tactics, and so are we,” the company said in a statement. “During 2025, we remove more than 159 million fraudulent ads and we deactivated millions of accounts linked to criminal networks.”
However, beyond the demand and Meta’s tools to fight fraud, experts warn that user prevention remains key. Shopping scams are the most common: More than 40% of victims reported having purchased products that they never received or that turned out to be of low quality. Investment frauds also stand out, which generated losses of $1.1 billion, the highest figure within this type of crime.
The use of personal data on social networks makes it easier for scammers to create detailed profiles of their victims. This allows them to devise more believable deceptions, from fake romances to supposed investment opportunities.
Faced with this panorama, The FTC recommends adjusting account privacy, checking offers before buying, and being wary of any offers that seem too good to be true.. Enabling two-factor authentication also adds an extra layer of security.
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