BBB Report Identifies Phone Calls as Top Scam Method, Investment Scams Most Costly
Based on the 2025 BBB ScamTracker Risk Report, scammers are most successful using phone calls, followed by email and text messages. Facebook is the top social media platform for scams. Investment/cryptocurrency scams are identified as the riskiest, with over 77%…
Yuma El Centro, AZ, September 30, 2026 — The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has released its 2025 ScamTracker Risk Report, detailing the methods and types of scams that proved most successful and harmful to consumers over the past year. According to the report, phone calls continue to be the most effective channel for scammers, with email and text messages following as secondary methods of contact.
The report highlights Facebook as the leading social media platform where scam activities are most frequently encountered by users. This indicates a significant online presence for fraudulent schemes, particularly on popular social networks.
When examining the financial impact and victim losses, investment and cryptocurrency scams were identified as the riskiest. The report states that over 77% of individuals targeted by these specific scams ended up losing money. This high percentage underscores the severe financial threat posed by these types of fraudulent schemes.
Following investment scams, employment scams have seen an increase in reports. These scams were particularly prevalent among younger demographics, with the 18-34 year old age group being most affected. The nature of these employment scams, whether they involved fake job offers, phishing for personal information, or other deceptive practices, was not detailed beyond their increased reporting and demographic prevalence.
The BBB ScamTracker Risk Report aims to equip consumers with knowledge to better identify and avoid fraudulent activities. The report includes resources designed to assist individuals in protecting themselves from common and emerging scam tactics. The originating location cited for the report is Yuma, Arizona.
Specific details regarding the total number of reports, the aggregate financial losses beyond the percentage of victims losing money, or the exact nature of the resources provided were not elaborated upon in the summary of the report.
Story summarized from the original created by Jalen Fong on kyma.com, see more information here.
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