Scam ads on social platforms phish users, push malware and steal money
Original title: Is the ad a scam? How to tell before you click
The FTC is only starting to consider rules that would make platforms stop impersonation-scam ads before users see them.
ESET describes fraudulent ads on social media, search, apps and marketplaces that impersonate brands, push fake investments or support, and use urgent offers or fake security warnings. Some clicks lead to phishing pages, card-harvesting shops or malware installs; phone numbers can route victims to scam call centers. Nearly a third of people who reported scam losses last year said the scam started on social media. In the UK, banks may have to reimburse some authorized push-payment losses, while US platforms are not legally required to compensate victims.
Unconfirmed: Scam-ad revenue figures are estimates or company projections, and the FTC process is only beginning.
- The FTC asked in September whether platforms must block impersonation scam ads.
- Europe saw nearly one trillion scam ads on social media in 2025, the article says.
- Meta projected 10% of 2024 revenue, about $16 billion, from scam and banned-goods ads.
- ESET cites a fake Google Play listing for a malicious TikTok 18+ app in Czechia and Slovakia.
Impact: Stolen money, card details, personal data or malware
- 1.Contact the bank or card provider immediately after a payment or transfer.
- 2.Stop replying to the scammer and monitor accounts for suspicious activity.
- 3.Avoid ads demanding urgency, software downloads, or personal or financial details.
- Organizations
- Federal Trade CommissionMeta
From the original article
6 min read at welivesecurity.com
You can trust a social media platform and still get scammed by an ad running on it
welivesecurity.com
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