INDIANA – Indiana residents reported losing $11,669 to social networking scams in the first half of 2025, according to fraud reports compiled by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
The state received 78 reports of social networking fraud between January and June of this year, resulting in an average loss of $150 per report. This places Indiana significantly below the national trend, with its average loss being 79% lower than the national average of $696 per social networking fraud report.
Nationally, social networking scams are one of the most prevalent types of fraud, with consumers across the U.S. reporting over $4.1 million stolen across nearly 6,000 reports during the same six-month period.
How Social Networking Scams Work
Social networking scams typically involve fraudsters using platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Reddit to steal money or personal information. They operate through several tactics:
- Phishing: Sending direct messages (DMs) that contain phishing links.
- Impersonation: Creating fake profiles that pose as friends or family members to solicit money.
- Fake Offers: Promoting fake giveaways, competitions, or “too good to be true” offers.
Recent examples include scams on Discord that promote fake online gaming sites to lure cryptocurrency users, as well as fraudulent shop domains that mimic TikTok’s e-commerce platform to exploit counterfeit sales.
Expert Advice to Avoid Being Scammed
Al Alof, CEO of Chicks Gold, offered insight on how users can protect themselves while browsing social media:
- Watch for Pressure: Be wary of messages or offers that apply extra pressure, such as asking you to “reply now or lose out.”
- Avoid Generic Greetings: Scams often begin with generic greetings, such as “Dear User,” which suggests the message is being sent to a large number of random recipients.
- Check Verification: Be cautious of unverified accounts that use unlikely celebrities to promote a product, especially since scammers can now use AI to copy a celebrity’s likeness.
- Be Skeptical of Familiarity: If someone you barely know is acting “overly familiar” or asking for money unexpectedly, it is almost certainly a scam account.
