Facebook topped all social-media platforms for reported scam losses in the Federal Trade Commission’s 2025 data. That does not mean the figures count every scam or prove Facebook alone causes fraud. It does show how scammers can exploit a huge audience, targeted ads, personal profile details and the apparent trust of familiar accounts to reach people. The FTC says reported social-media scam losses reached $2.1 billion in 2025; nearly 30% of people who reported losing money to a scam said it started on social media.
What the reported figures show—and what they do not
The FTC’s analysis of consumer reports, published in 2026, found that Facebook had the highest reported scam losses of any social-media platform in 2025. Reported Facebook losses also exceeded reported losses from text or email scams. These are consumer-reported losses, not a census of every victim or scam; the FTC says it did not collect reports during the 2025 government shutdown. The figures therefore do not capture the full annual total.
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The data establish that Facebook was prominent in reported losses, not that it is the only platform where scams happen or that one specific feature explains its ranking. Social media gives scammers access to large audiences, but the FTC does not quantify how much each route contributes. The FTC’s 2025 social-media scam analysis describes several ways fraudsters use social platforms to find and approach victims.
Why Facebook can be useful to scammers
Large audiences and low-cost reach
A scammer can reach many people through posts, messages or ads without approaching each person individually. Social platforms also offer ad-targeting tools similar to those legitimate businesses use. That creates an opportunity for fraudsters; it does not establish that Facebook’s design is the sole cause of scams or measure the impact of each feature.
#1 Best Overall
- Compatible Model(s): Magicmoon brand filter only for 24 inch -diagonally measured - widescreen monitor - aspect ratio 16:9 - filter size: width: 20 15/16", Height: 11 13/16" (531mm x 298mm)
- Superior Privacy: The computer privacy filter makes the screen appear dark when looking at it from an angle (the angle is about 30 to 60 degree), but bright when looking directly at it. To change the privacy level - simply adjust your monitor’s brightness accordingly
- Eye and Screen Protection: Privacy Filter does not only protect your private life but also protects your eyes by blocking 30% of blue light , blocking the harmful blue light between 380 to 495 nm, it filters out the blue light and relieves eye strain
- Perfect For Open Workspaces: Great for maintaining screen privacy in open work spaces
- Includes Two Options: Option 1 uses clear adhesive strips that securely attach to any computer screen. Option 2 (for computer screens with a raised bezel only) uses slide mount tabs that easily stick to the display frame, allowing you to slide the privacy screen filter on and off as needed
Personal details can make a pitch convincing
Information visible in public or accessible posts can help a scammer tailor a message to someone’s interests, relationships or circumstances. A compromised or impersonated account can add another layer of credibility by appearing to come from a friend, relative, business or public figure.
Ads and posts can lead away from the familiar feed
A Facebook ad can send someone to an unfamiliar or lookalike website. In the FTC’s 2025 data, more than 40% of people who lost money to a social-media scam said it began with an order placed after seeing an ad. A familiar platform is not proof that the seller or destination is genuine.
Rank #2
- 【Instant Snap-on Magnetic Attachment】- The Patented Magnetic Privacy Screen – Protected by U.S. Patents 9,829,669 and D844,012. Simply place the privacy screen along the top of your MacBook and let the magnets attach along the top. No need for tricky placement, messy tape, or damaging adhesive. Easily remove and reattach when you need it.
- 【Filter Dimensions】: Width: 11 15/16" (304 mm), Height: 7 1/2" (190 mm), Diagonal: 14.1" (358.14 mm) - SightPro Blackout Privacy Filter is engineered to be compatible with Lenovo, HP, Dell, Acer, Asus, Samsung, and other laptop brands. Please verify your screen's width and height measurements before ordering. It's not recommended to make your selection based solely on your screen's diagonal size. [Not optimized for touchscreens.]
- 【Superior Privacy】- Our advanced multi-layered film filter blacks out your screen when viewing from the side, while maintaining a crystal clear screen straight-on. It also protects your eyes from harmful UV and blue light. [Note: It does not block visibility directly behind you, regardless of the distance.]
- 【Perfect for Travel and Open Workspaces】- The Laptop Privacy Screen Filter is the ideal solution for healthcare providers, mobile workers, commuters, students, and business travelers. Now you can stay compliant and safeguard sensitive corporate information while working in airplanes, subways, airports, and public areas.
- 【Package Contents】- Each package includes a magnetic privacy screen filter, magnetic stickers, a webcam privacy cover, a storage folder, and a cleaning cloth. Buy with confidence – located in the US, Sight Pro specializes in providing best-in-class privacy solutions to individuals, small businesses, corporations, government, and educational institutions. Our privacy screens are Section 889 and TAA compliant.
Which scams are most common—and which cost the most
“Most reported” and “largest reported losses” describe different things. Shopping scams were the most reported type of social-media scam in the FTC’s 2025 data, while investment scams generated the largest reported losses. The figures below are from U.S. consumer reports, not estimates of every scam.
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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →| Scam type | What the FTC data show | Typical hook and warning signs |
|---|---|---|
| Shopping and fake goods | The most reported type of social-media scam in 2025; more than 40% of people who lost money to a social-media scam said it began with an order after seeing an ad. | An unusually cheap offer, a lookalike brand or an unfamiliar site. Reported outcomes include goods that never arrive, counterfeits or products unlike the listing. |
| Investment | $1.1 billion in reported social-media investment-scam losses in 2025—more than half of reported social-media scam losses. | An ad for investment education, a friendly adviser, or a chat group filled with supposedly successful investors. Fake platforms may show false profits or allow a small withdrawal to encourage larger deposits. |
| Romance and sextortion | Nearly 60% of people who reported losing money to a romance scam in 2025 said it began on social media. | A relationship built using profile details may turn into an emergency request for money or investment advice. Another form threatens to distribute intimate images unless the victim pays. |
| Job and business opportunities | One in three people who reported losses to job or business-opportunity scams in 2025 said the scam began on social media. | Be wary of offers that require upfront payments or promise easy earnings without a credible explanation of the work or business. |
| Rental scams | About half of rental-scam reports in the 12 months ending June 2025 said the scam began with a fake Facebook ad. | A copied real listing may replace the owner’s contact details. Pressure to pay before viewing, requests for identity documents before an agreement, conflicting listing details or rent far below local comparables are warning signs. |
Figures and descriptions are from the FTC’s 2025 data spotlight and its rental-scam analysis.
Rank #3
- Privacy Screen Filter Size: If the visible area of your display has the following dimension: Width x Height (Exclude Frame/Arrow 1 to 3 mm errors): 20 15/16" x 11 13/16" (532 mm x 299 mm), then this filter is good for you. Very Important to double check your screen's Width and Height excluding frame before ordering. It's not recommended to make your selection based solely on your screen's diagonal size
- Left and Right Privacy: Not block visibility directly behind you, regardless of distance. The privacy filter makes the screen appear dark when looking at it from an angle (left and right 30 to 180 degree), but clear when looking directly at it. To change the privacy levels, simply adjust your monitor's brightness level accordingly
- Matte and Glossy Sides: It's a reversible privacy screen filter, giving you the flexibility to choose glossy or matte finish. The matte side will have less glare, however the glossy side will have stronger privacy
- Perfect for Open Workspaces: Ensure your working space is bright and well lit. Privacy screens do not work in dimly lit areas
- Two Installation Option: Option 1 uses clear double side adhesive strips that securely attach to any computer screen. Option 2 (for computer screens with a raised bezel only) uses slide mount tabs that easily stick to the display frame, allowing you to take out the privacy screen filter easily as needed
How to check a Facebook offer before acting
For an ad, seller or Marketplace listing
- Search the seller or company name with words such as “scam” or “complaint,” and confirm the company really offers the advertised deal.
- Be cautious of implausibly low prices, unfamiliar websites and brand lookalikes. A paid ad is not proof that a seller is trustworthy.
- For a rental, search the address for duplicate listings and conflicting prices or contact details. Compare the rent with similar properties nearby, and do not pay or hand over sensitive information before appropriate verification.
For an investment pitch
- Treat promises of high returns with little or no risk, especially when paired with pressure to act quickly, as warning signs.
- Do not let someone you know only through social media direct your investment decisions. A displayed balance or small initial withdrawal does not establish that an investment platform is legitimate.
For an urgent request or support message
- Verify an unusual request by calling the person at a number you already know or using another trusted channel—not by replying to the account that sent it.
- Do not follow unsolicited login links or give anyone your password or two-factor authentication code. Meta warns that fake support messages can use urgent claims to steal account details.
These checks reflect guidance from the FTC and Meta’s account-safety guidance.
What Meta says it is doing
Meta says it removed more than 159 million scam ads in 2025, with 92% removed before anyone reported them, and took down 10.9 million Facebook and Instagram accounts associated with criminal scam centers. These are company-reported enforcement actions. They do not show how many scams remained, what share of all scam content was removed, or how effective enforcement was overall. Meta describes its approach in its March 2026 statement on countering scams.
Rank #4
- 【Instant Snap-on Magnetic Attachment】- The Patented Magnetic Privacy Screen – Protected by U.S. Patents 9,829,669 and D844,012. Simply place the privacy screen along the top of your MacBook and let the magnets attach along the top. No need for tricky placement, messy tape, or damaging adhesive. Easily remove and reattach when you need it.
- 【Filter Dimensions】: Width: 12 3/16" (310 mm), Height: 6 7/8" (175 mm), Diagonal: 14" (355.6 mm) - There are two different 14 inch screen sizes, please select the correct one. SightPro Blackout Privacy Filter is engineered to be compatible with Lenovo, HP, Dell, Acer, Asus, Samsung, and other laptop brands. Please verify your screen's width and height measurements before ordering. It's not recommended to make your selection based solely on your screen's diagonal size. [Not optimized for touchscreens.]
- 【Superior Privacy】- Our advanced multi-layered film filter blacks out your screen when viewing from the side, while maintaining a crystal clear screen straight-on. It also protects your eyes from harmful UV and blue light. [Note: It does not block visibility directly behind you, regardless of the distance.]
- 【Perfect for Travel and Open Workspaces】- The Laptop Privacy Screen Filter is the ideal solution for healthcare providers, mobile workers, commuters, students, and business travelers. Now you can stay compliant and safeguard sensitive corporate information while working in airplanes, subways, airports, and public areas.
- 【Package Contents】- Each package includes a magnetic privacy screen filter, magnetic stickers, a webcam privacy cover, a storage folder, and a cleaning cloth. Buy with confidence – located in the US, Sight Pro specializes in providing best-in-class privacy solutions to individuals, small businesses, corporations, government, and educational institutions. Our privacy screens are Section 889 and TAA compliant.
Where to report a suspected scam
Report suspected fraud to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC says reports help it investigate and stop fraud. If the scam involved a Facebook account or message, use Meta’s reporting and account-safety tools as well; do not use links in a suspicious message to sign in.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
- 【Privacy Filter Dimensions】- Width: 20 15/16" (532 mm), Height: 11 13/16" (299 mm), Diagonal: 24" (609.6 mm) - SightPro Blackout Privacy Screen Filter is engineered to be compatible with HP, Dell, Samsung, Lenovo, LG, Acer, ASUS, ViewSonic, and other monitor brands. Please verify your computer screen's width and height measurements before ordering. It's not recommended to make your selection based solely on your computer screen's diagonal size.
- 【Two Attachment Options】- Installs in minutes. Option 1 uses clear adhesive strips that securely attach to any computer screen. Option 2 (for computer screens with a raised bezel only) uses slide mount tabs that easily stick to the display frame, allowing you to slide the privacy screen filter on and off as needed.
- 【Superior Privacy and Anti Glare】- Our advanced multi-layered film filter blacks out your computer screen when viewing from the side, while maintaining a crystal clear screen straight-on. It also protects your eyes from harmful glare, UV, and blue light. [Note: It does not block visibility directly behind you, regardless of the distance.]
- 【Perfect for Travel and Open Workspaces】- Our computer screen privacy filter is the ideal solution for healthcare providers, mobile workers, commuters, students, and business travelers. Now you can stay compliant and safeguard sensitive corporate information while working in airplanes, subways, airports and public areas.
- 【Package Contents】- Each package includes one privacy screen shield filter, two sets of clear adhesive strips, two sets of slide mount tabs, and a microfiber cleaning cloth. Buy with confidence – located in the US, Sight Pro specializes in providing best-in-class privacy solutions to individuals, small businesses, corporations, government, and educational institutions. Our privacy screens are Section 889 and TAA compliant.
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