Texas Residents Lose $22 Million to Scams in 2025 – A Record Year for Fraud
Texas residents experienced a surge in scams in 2025, resulting in reported losses exceeding $22 million, according to the Better Business Bureau (BBB). This represents an all-time high for the state and a significant increase from the previous year, signaling a growing threat to consumers.
Dramatic Increase in Scam Reports
Scam reports in Texas increased by 118% in 2025 compared to 2024, effectively doubling the number of reported incidents. This sharp upward trend highlights the increasing sophistication and aggressiveness of scammers, who are adapting their tactics to exploit vulnerabilities across various platforms.
Top 5 Scams Targeting Texans in 2025
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Investment Scams
Investment scams were the most costly, with Texans losing over $8.6 million. The average loss per victim was $9,300. Cryptocurrency was the predominant payment method, making recovery of funds particularly difficult. Losses from investment scams surged approximately 330% from $2 million in 2024. These scams often commence with promises of guaranteed or rapid returns, leading to private conversations where victims are pressured to send cryptocurrency.
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Online Purchase Scams
Online purchase scams resulted in over $3 million in reported losses and more than 2,400 reports, making it one of the most frequently reported scam types. Social media was the most common platform where victims encountered these scams. Losses more than doubled in one year.
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Employment Scams
Employment scams cost Texans more than $2.4 million, with over 2,000 reports filed. Scammers frequently contacted victims via text message, posing as recruiters or companies offering remote work opportunities. Reports of employment scams increased by 93%.
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Debt Collection Scams
Debt collection scams led to more than $2 million in reported losses across over 700 reports. Victims were most often contacted by phone, with scammers pretending to be collection agencies or government officials, threatening arrest or legal action and demanding immediate payment through difficult-to-trace methods.
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Cryptocurrency Scams
Cryptocurrency scams accounted for $1.6 million in reported losses, with the average victim losing around $2,000. These scams often involve fake investment platforms, impersonation schemes, or building trust online before requesting cryptocurrency transfers, which are difficult to reverse.
Emerging Scam Trends
Beyond the top five, several scams experienced dramatic increases in 2025:
- Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill Scams: Increased from $33,000 in 2024 to $567,000 in 2025 – a more than 16-fold increase.
- Charity Scams: Jumped from $350 in 2024 to over $86,000 in 2025 – more than a 200-fold increase.
Scammers are increasingly impersonating trusted organizations and using a sense of urgency to pressure quick payments.
Protecting Yourself from Scams
The BBB data reveals two key patterns: increased financial risk from investment and cryptocurrency scams, and broader exposure for job seekers, online shoppers, and social media users. Texans are urged to report scams and learn how to protect themselves by visiting BBB.org.