Guide
Facebook Scams: Fake Profiles, Marketplace and Messenger
More money is lost to scams that start on Facebook than on any other social platform, the FTC says. How fake ads, hacked friends and Messenger scams work.
Social Media Scams: Facebook, Instagram and Messaging Apps
Social media puts scammers one click away from millions of people. They run ads for products that never arrive, send messages from hacked friends’ accounts, pose as buyers or sellers on Marketplace, and build online friendships that turn into requests for money or "investment" tips.
Check a seller before you buy, be wary of anyone you have only met online who brings up money, and protect your own account with a strong password and two-step verification. The guides below explain the most common social media scams and what to do if one reaches you.
Guides
Where to report social media scams
Reporting helps investigators spot patterns and warn others — even if you did not lose money. Type these addresses yourself or use the links below; do not use links from a suspicious message.
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Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Any scam, fraud or bad business practice — calls, texts, emails, websites and impostors.
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FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
Online and computer-related fraud, including tech-support, romance, investment and crypto scams.
You can also report to your state attorney general. If you sent money, call your bank or card company right away using the number on the back of your card.
Other scam types
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Government impostors
Callers and texts pretending to be Social Security, the IRS or Medicare. How to recognize them and where to report them. -
Phone scams
Impostor calls, robocalls, fake prizes and spoofed caller ID. How the most common phone scams work and what to say — or not say. -
Text message scams
Fake fraud alerts, package and toll texts, "wrong number" chats and job offers. Real examples of scam texts and how to report them. -
Email & phishing
Fake emails, look-alike websites and spoofed senders that try to steal passwords, card numbers and personal details. How to spot and report them. -
Delivery & toll texts
Fake texts about a package you missed or an unpaid toll. Learn what the real ones look like and what to do if you clicked. -
Tech support
Pop-ups and calls claiming your computer is infected or hacked. How the scam works, the warning signs, and how to recover. -
Family emergency
A call from a "grandchild" in trouble who needs money fast — now sometimes using a cloned voice. How to check before you pay. -
Romance
Online relationships that turn into requests for money. Warning signs, how to talk to a loved one about it, and where to report. -
Investment & crypto
Fake trading platforms, "guaranteed" returns and crypto ATMs. How to spot investment fraud before you send money. -
Bank & Zelle
Fake fraud alerts from "your bank" and payment-app tricks. What your real bank will never ask and how to protect your accounts. -
Medicare & health
Calls offering "free" equipment, new cards or plan changes in exchange for your Medicare number. How to protect your benefits.