Over the past few weeks, I have come across several AI-generated scam ads on Facebook, featuring deepfake videos of news anchors, Celebrities, India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and even Anant Ambani. These fake videos are designed to look like real news clips, making them seem more authentic. They promote shady financial apps that claim to guarantee earnings or games that promise big earnings.
Out of curiosity, I clicked on a few, only to be redirected to random apps or fake versions of well-known news websites like India Today, TImes of India, and The Indian Express. These bogus articles try to convince users to invest in fraudulent platforms.
What’s even more concerning is that some of these ads don’t actually take users to the Play Store. Instead, they lead to phishing websites that are designed to mimic the Play Store’s interface, making it appear as though the user is downloading an app from an official source.
These fake Play Store pages are serving an APK file of the game that can put users at serious risk of data theft and financial fraud.
I reported several of these ads to Facebook, expecting them to take action. But nothing happened. The ads kept appearing, and every day, I see hundreds of similar deepfake videos promoting scams. It’s alarming how Facebook, a company that claims to be at the forefront of AI and content moderation, is failing miserably at blocking such obvious scams.
Facebook’s Ad Review System is Broken
The big question is: Why is Facebook still approving these AI-generated fake ads? The company boasts about its AI-powered security and strict ad moderation, yet scammers are running unchecked.
Meta claims that advertisers promoting financial products must be verified, but scammers are easily bypassing these checks. They exploit compromised accounts, manipulate geo-targeting, and use seemingly legitimate business profiles to evade detection. The result? Users are continuously exposed to these scams, and Facebook does nothing about it.
How These AI Scams Work
Scammers create deepfake videos of well-known personalities and run Facebook ads to promote fraudulent schemes. Some of these ads direct users to fake Play Store pages, tricking them into downloading malware or phishing apps. Others lead users to fake news websites that appear to be legitimate sources, where they are suggested to invest in fake financial platforms. These fake articles use fabricated endorsements from public figures to create an illusion of credibility, luring unsuspecting victims into financial traps.
How to Protect Yourself
With these scams becoming more sophisticated, here’s how you can stay safe:
- Double-Check News Sources: If an investment opportunity is featured in a video, verify the information from official news websites.
- Avoid Clicking on Suspicious Ads: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Avoid clicking such ads.
- Inspect URLs Carefully: Scammers use slightly altered domain names to mimic real news websites or the Play Store. You need to check the URL carefully.
- Be Wary of Fake App Listings: Always go to the Play Store manually instead of clicking on ad links. Never install APL files from unknown sources.
- Report Fake Ads: If you see a suspicious ad, report it—but don’t expect Facebook to act immediately. I reported several ads and found no results.
- Use Official App Stores: Always download financial apps directly from trusted sources and check their reviews before installing.
Facebook’s Inaction is Enabling Scammers
Facebook’s failure to detect and block these AI-generated scams is putting millions at risk. The platform is making money from scam ads while failing to protect its users. In a populous country like India, where digital transactions are growing but digital literacy remains low, online scams are already defrauding millions. If Facebook can’t stop something as blatant as deepfake financial fraud, how can it claim to be an industry leader in AI content moderation?
Meta needs to step up. They must implement stronger AI detection tools, tighten ad verification, and actively monitor reported content. Until then, scammers will continue to thrive on Facebook, and users will remain vulnerable to financial fraud.
Have you come across these fake AI-generated ads on Facebook? Let me know in the comments and help spread awareness.
