Meta Platforms recently announced it blocked over 23,000 accounts and Pages on Facebook linked to scam networks. The networks primarily targeted users in India and Brazil with fraudulent investment schemes and gambling promotions. The action, taken in March, was disclosed this week.
Scammers used tactics like deepfakes to falsely portray popular figures, including finance creators, cricket players, and business figures in Brazil and India. These fake endorsements promoted scam investment apps and gambling websites to platform users.
Victims lured by the scams were often redirected to messaging apps for purported "investment advice" or to deceptive websites designed to mimic legitimate app stores, urging them to download malicious applications. These investment scams frequently promise rapid financial gains with little risk on assets like cryptocurrency, real estate, or company shares.
Meta also highlighted other deceptive practices, including payment scams. These involve fraudsters requesting advance payment for items never shipped or manipulating overpayment scenarios to obtain partial refunds before reversing their initial fake payment.
In response, Meta has implemented various anti-scam tools. These include displaying warnings on Messenger for suspicious requests, offering privacy check-ups on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp to control user visibility, and deploying optional facial recognition technology for faster identity verification and preventing impersonation schemes.
The company stated its ongoing efforts have disrupted larger networks, blocking over seven million accounts associated with criminal syndicate-run scam centers worldwide since the start of 2024. These groups target individuals globally across multiple online platforms.
Meta is partnering with law enforcement and other organizations to combat online fraud. These collaborations include working with the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) in India and supporting the FBI’s Level Up program in the United States to identify and warn potential victims. The company also participates in the Tech Against Scams Coalition (TASC) and its Llama Defenders Program to share tools and resources for countering fraud.
Meta continues to raise awareness through safety education campaigns, collaborating with creators and authorities to help users recognize common scam tactics and stay safe online.