$2.1 billion. That is what people reported losing in 2025 to scams that began on social media, according to the US Federal Trade Commission's consumer alert (April 2026, per its web address). The FTC says losses to scams on social media have been increasing dramatically since 2020. This guide is for people who buy from shops they first saw in a social media ad.

Quick answer

  • Shopping scams were the most reported scam on social media, per the FTC.
  • The pattern it describes: ads offering high-priced items cheaply, leading to sites that impersonate well-known brands.
  • Its own tip before you buy: search the company's name plus "scam" or "complaint".

The shopping pattern

Shopping scams were the most reported scam on social media. The FTC says scammers post ads offering high-priced items for cheap, and a click can lead to a site impersonating a well-known brand. It says most people reported that their items never arrived, while others got a knock-off or something they did not order. (The same alert says over half of reported losses came from investment scams, and nearly 60% of people who reported losing money to romance scams in 2025 said it started on social media.)

What to check before you buy

  • Search the company name plus "scam" or "complaint". The FTC's own tip.
  • Limit who sees your posts and contacts through privacy settings.
  • Never let someone you met on social media direct your investments.

Our own suggestions (not from the FTC)

These are our additions, not FTC advice. Compare the price with other stores: a deal far below everyone else is information. Read shipping and return terms on the seller's own site, and see our guides to telling whether an online store is legit and to refunds and chargebacks for how payment methods differ. Anyone can buy an ad, so a social media ad is not a vetting stamp.

The FTC alert gives no percentage share for shopping scams or platform-specific data, and we have not covered UK or Canadian equivalents.

Last checked: 21 October 2026. General information, not legal, medical or financial advice. Sources: FTC, How to spot the top scams that started on social media (April 2026 per its web address; read 21 October 2026).