The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says Americans lost $3.5 billion to imposter scams in 2025, with reported losses nearly tripling since 2020.
Imposter scams were the most commonly reported type of fraud last year, accounting for nearly one-third of all fraud reports submitted to the agency.
In these scams, criminals pretend to be trusted organizations or government agencies and contact victims through text messages, phone calls, emails, social media platforms and search engine results.
According to the FTC, the most expensive schemes often involve fake bank security alerts that convince victims to transfer money to supposedly protect their accounts.
Consumers lost nearly $1 billion to business impersonation scams in 2025, with fraudsters posing as banks responsible for the largest share of losses. Government impersonation scams caused an additional $920 million in losses.
Social media has become the most effective channel for scammers. The FTC said more than $2.1 billion in reported losses last year were linked to social media platforms, an eightfold increase compared with 2020.
Nearly one in three victims who lost money to imposter scams said they were first contacted through social media. Losses linked to Facebook alone exceeded those originating from text messages and emails combined, while WhatsApp and Instagram ranked second and third.
“The FTC will use every tool available to combat one of the most pernicious forms of fraud—government and business impersonation—and to protect the integrity of the digital economy,” said Christopher Mufarrige, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
Across all fraud categories, Americans reported approximately $16 billion in losses during 2025, the highest annual total on record and around 25 percent higher than the previous year.
The FTC has increased enforcement efforts since its Impersonation Rule took effect in April 2024. According to the agency, it has launched a dozen enforcement actions, secured more than $70 million in consumer compensation and shut down several imposter schemes.
In April 2026, the FTC also filed a complaint against Innovative Partners, alleging the company impersonated government agencies and insurance providers to sell fraudulent health plans.
Separately, the FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Report found that cyber-enabled crimes resulted in nearly $21 billion in losses for victims across the United States last year.
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