Social networks have become a fertile ground for digital fraud, and the most recent case confirms it: Facebook scams are not only growing, but have generated losses estimated at $794 million dollars. WhatsApp and Instagram are not saved, which is why this worrying situation has escalated to such a degree that a non-profit organization has already filed a lawsuit against Meta for 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 frauds that started on Face. book. This number far surpasses 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 million dollars, while Instagram accumulated $234 million dollars.

Altogether, scams originating from social media accounted for $2.1 billion, positioning themselves as the primary contact method for scammers.

The growth of scams on social networks has been exponential in recent years. In 2020, losses due to fraud on social networks were $261 million dollars en; five years later, the figure has multiplied eight. Furthermore, the FTC warns that many cases are unreported, which suggests that the real impact could be much greater.

It is well-known that scammers keep up-to-date with new and increasingly sophisticated methods of deception, from fake advertisements. with irresistible offers up to identity theft, criminals take advantage of the facility to create false profiles tota lmente credible. In many cases, they hack accounts to impersonate friends or family and offer non-existent products, such as r luxury jewelry or vehicles. Some victims lose between $2,000 and $3,000 dollars by sending advances for items that never arrive.

They sue Meta for scams in their social networks

The Consumer Federation of America filed a class-action lawsuit against Meta in Washington, D.C., accusing the company of failing to adequately protect users from fraudulent ads.

“We need the platform to be a safer place where consumers face fewer threats,” said Ben Winters, Director of Ar Intelligence. tificial and Privacy of the organization. “It must also be accountable for illegal conduct that has not been resolved through legislation or promises.”

The lawsuit also questions that Meta really combats this type of false advertisements, since its business model contemplates the sale of space s for certain publications to have greater projection on their platform based on different payment plans based on the desired reach.

“Meta claims that it is doing everything possible to combat fraudulent advertising on its platforms. But in reality it has adopted policies that benefit its revenues at the cost of the safety of users,” states 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 will remove more than 159 million fraudulent ads and deactivate millions of accounts linked to criminal networks.”

However, beyond the demand and Meta tools to fight fraud, experts warn that prevention in users remains key. Shopping scams are the most common: more than 40% of victims they reported having acquired products that they never received or that turned out to be of low quality. Also highlights are investment frauds, which generated losses of $1,100 million dollars, the highest figure within this type of crimes.

The use of personal data on social networks makes it easier for scammers to create detailed profiles of their victims. This allows them to design more credible scams, from fake romances to supposed investment opportunities.

Faced with this panorama, the FTC recommends adjusting the privacy of your accounts, verifying offers before purchasing, and distrusting any r proposal that seems too good to be true. Enabling two-factor authentication also adds an extra layer of security.

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