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Record $3.5 Billion Lost to Imposter Scams in 2025

Record $3.5 Billion Lost to Imposter Scams in 2025

First seen 17 Jun 2026, 18:13 UTC • •
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ThreatCluster AI
ThreatCluster •June 18, 2026 at 17:56 UTC
  • •Americans lost $3.5 billion to imposter scams in 2025, a 20% increase from 2024.
  • •Imposter scams were the most reported fraud type, with over 1 million reports filed.
  • •Social media was the leading attack vector, contributing $2.1 billion in losses.

In 2025, Americans lost $3.5 billion to imposter scams, a nearly 20% increase from the previous year, according to the FTC. This type of fraud has been the most reported for nine consecutive years, with over 1 million reports filed. Scammers impersonated government agencies, banks, and even romantic partners, exploiting trust to defraud victims. Notably, government impersonation scams surged by 40%, with fake toll payment messages being a significant contributor. Social media emerged as the most effective vector for these scams, accounting for $2.1 billion in losses. Overall, total reported fraud losses reached $16 billion in 2025, marking a 25% increase from 2024. The FTC has initiated enforcement actions against various impersonation schemes and continues to combat this growing threat.

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Timeline

2025-01-01
FTC reports surge in imposter scams
The FTC noted a significant increase in imposter scams, with losses reaching $3.5 billion for the year.
Bleepingcomputer
2025-06-01
Social media scams identified as major threat
The FTC revealed that social media was responsible for $2.1 billion in losses, surpassing other communication methods.
Bitdefender
2025-12-31
Total fraud losses reach $16 billion
The FTC reported that total fraud losses across all categories hit an all-time high of $16 billion in 2025.
Bleepingcomputer

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