[2026 Update] Is the 79.8 billion yen in losses from social media-based investment scams really not the worst on record? An explanation of the peak, the latest tactics, and countermeasures

Many of you have likely seen news reports stating that “losses from social media-based investment scams have reached 79.8 billion yen, setting a new record high.”

However, if you take the figures in these reports at face value, you risk misjudging the true threat posed by these scams.
The actual peak in losses occurred at a different time, and the methods used in these scams continue to evolve even now.

In this article, we’ll explain the actual trends in losses from social media-based investment scams, the latest and increasingly sophisticated tactics, and specific measures you can take to protect yourself and your assets.

Conclusion: The “79.8 billion yen” reported in the news is incomplete. The true peak and current trends

While it has been reported that losses from social media-based investment scams in the first half of 2026 totaled 79.8 billion yen—a significant increase compared to the same period last year—a closer look at historical trends reveals a different reality.

• The true peak will be “93.5 billion yen” (a record high) in the second half of 2025.
• In the first half of 2026 (79.8 billion yen), the figure has actually peaked and is now on a downward trend.
• If you let yourself be misled by the term “worst on record” used in media reports, you will misjudge the full picture of the fraud.

Rather than focusing on superficial fluctuations in numbers, it is important to pay attention to “how the methods are changing.”

What Are Social Media Investment Scams? Typical Patterns of Victimization

Social media investment scams are a criminal scheme that uses advertisements or direct messages (DMs) on social media as a gateway to defraud people of their money under the guise of investment opportunities.

Since these scams are conducted entirely online, anyone—not just novice investors or the elderly—is at risk of becoming a victim.

Trends in Financial Losses: Analyzing the Waves of Fraud Through Historical Data

The financial losses from social media-based investment scams fluctuate in waves as countermeasures and new tactics engage in a constant cat-and-mouse game.

• First Peak (First Half of 2024: 50.5 billion yen)
  Fake advertisements featuring unauthorized use of celebrities surged on social media.
  Due to strengthened government measures and platform-imposed regulations, the figure
  temporarily dropped to 36.6 billion yen in the second half of the same year.
• Second Peak (Second Half of 2025: 93.5 billion yen / All-time high)
  New tactics emerged to circumvent regulations, causing the scale of the problem to expand explosively.
• First Half of 2026 (79.8 billion yen)
  Although this figure appears high—2.26 times that of the same period the previous year—it shows a downward trend from the previous peak (93.5 billion yen)

Why Don’t They Go Away? The Ever-Evolving Tactics of Scammers

As soon as countermeasures are put in place, scammers quickly find the next loophole.

• Changes in Access Paths
  From social media ads, direct messages, and impersonation in replies to increasingly sophisticated ads
• Incident Statistics by Platform
  Platforms with lax moderation are particularly vulnerable, and incidents originating on YouTube account for the highest percentage (27.1%)
• Misuse of AI Technology
  There has been an increase in deepfake video ads that use generative AI to make it appear as though celebrities are actually speaking

Fraud groups tend to capitalize on this “gap in countermeasures”—a period when platforms cannot keep up with removal requests—to maximize their profits.

Strengthened Countermeasures by the Japanese Government (Announced in August 2026)

On August 7, 2026, the government (through a collaboration among seven ministries and agencies) issued the following requests to major IT platform operators, including Google, LINE, Meta, TikTok, and X:

1. Stricter Know Your Customer (KYC) Verification for Advertisers
2. Improved Ad Transparency (Identification labels for AI-generated ads and disclosure of identity information)
3. Prompt Response to Requests to Remove Illegal or Fraudulent Ads

Businesses are required to report on their implementation status in October and the following March.
However, since these measures fall under the framework of administrative guidance and are not legally binding, they currently fall short of serving as a complete deterrent.

The Only—and Most Effective—Defense Available to Individuals

You cannot protect your assets by simply waiting for measures from the government or platforms.
The basic principle for preventing damage is simple.

• Understand that there is no such thing as a “system where you entrust your money to someone else to make it grow.”
• Always assume that “unpublicized investment opportunities” advertised online are 100% scams.
• Even if you receive a message from a celebrity or acquaintance you normally trust, if something feels off, verify their identity through a separate channel.
• Be absolutely clear that investment profits can only be earned through “your own knowledge and risk management.”

Summary: Fear the Right Things and Protect Your Assets with Knowledge

• The “79.8 billion yen” cited in the news is not the worst on record; it has been on a downward trend since the second half of 2025 (93.5 billion yen).
• Fraud continues to evolve in a never-ending game of cat-and-mouse between “countermeasures” and “new tactics.”
• With advances in AI technology, methods that are virtually indistinguishable from the real thing will emerge in the future.
• The best defense is to strictly adhere to the principle that “there’s no such thing as a free lunch.”

Understanding how scammers operate and refusing to fall for get-rich-quick schemes is the best way to protect your valuable assets.