A social media scam that some may view as little more than a nuisance can actually result in major negative consequences that are both financial and emotional. Unfortunately, the scam appears to be growing, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC).
Social media takeover is now the No. 1 form of identity misuse and “top threat for the general public,” the nonprofit reports in its latest annual Consumer Impact Report.
Among victims of identity crime, social media account takeover impacted about 35% of them in 2025, up from 29% in 2024.
A social media takeover involves someone accessing and taking control of your account without permission. This type of takeover can also occur with other types of accounts, such as bank accounts.
The ITRC notes that while some people might view social media takeovers as a mere inconvenience or even something innocuous, such takeovers can cause “a level of harm disproportionate to the original misuse.”
Once someone takes control of your account, they can post harmful information about you, which might be seen by your employer or loved ones. Or, they could steal personal information from your account, or trick your friends or relatives into giving them your personal information, so they can steal your identity. In some cases, they demand a ransom in exchange for restored access to the social media account, according to the ITRC.
As a result, serious negative consequences for victims of a social media takeover may include:
- Lost income
- Missing out on jobs opportunities
- Denial of loan applications
- Having accounts used in cryptocurrency scams or impersonation scams
The emotional toll of social media takeover may be even more profound. The ITRC found that about 68% of victims said the experience caused them to consider self-harm.
One way to guard against a social media takeover is to employ defensive measures that protect your account. Yet, the ITRC says relatively few people in the general population take these steps.
According to the ITRC, these are the percentages of people in the general population who have employed the following defensive measures:
- Use of multi-factor authentication: 45%
- Never reusing passwords: 35%
- Freezing credit: 26%
To make matters worse, the percentage of people who employ defensive measures appears to be in decline, according to ITRC research. The organization says this may be a result of “security fatigue” or a false sense of security.
Whatever is behind the drop in protective measures, it is creating “a wider pool of vulnerable targets at a time when criminal attacks are becoming more sophisticated,” according to the ITRC.
In its report, the ITRC concludes:
“The findings in the Consumer Impact Report are not just data points; they are a call to action for every policymaker, financial institution, technology company and consumer. We cannot address these escalating harms in silos.”
For more on staying safe on social media, read “I Almost Fell for This Facebook Scam: 5 Red Flags You Should Know Too.”
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