Despite public efforts to crack down on fraud, Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, is reportedly making billions from scam ads that flood its platforms each day, according to leaked internal documents obtained by Reuters.
How much is Meta earning from scam ads?
Leaked projections from December 2024 show that Meta expected about 10% of its 2024 revenue—roughly $16 billion—to come from ads violating platform rules.
- These include fraudulent investment schemes, illegal gambling, and banned medical products
- One internal report estimated Meta served 15 billion “high-risk” scam ads per day
- An earlier report pegged annualized revenue from such ads at $7 billion
Despite these findings, the company made over $50 billion in ad revenue in Q3 2025 alone, a 26% increase year-over-year.
Meta’s slow response to known bad actors
Reuters says some of the worst offenders, called “High Value Accounts”, amassed 500+ violations before facing any shutdown.
Even after Meta identified these accounts as top offenders, they often stayed active due to their high ad spend.
To make matters worse, Meta’s algorithm reportedly served more scam ads to users who had clicked on one previously, reinforcing exposure through its ad-personalization system.
Meta defends itself—but critics aren’t buying it
A Meta spokesperson pushed back, calling the leaked figures “rough and overly-inclusive.” They added that:
- Scam ad reports from users have dropped over 50% in the last 15 months
- The leaked docs don’t reflect Meta’s “full range of actions” to combat fraud
Still, critics say Meta has little incentive to act swiftly when policy-violating ads are so profitable.
What users need to know
Meta’s massive platforms—Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp—make it a prime target for scammers. Experts say users should:
- Avoid clicking on “too good to be true” investment ads
- Be wary of ads for medical products, giveaways, or celebrity-endorsed crypto schemes
- Report suspicious ads immediately to the platform
Until Meta enforces stricter controls, users remain the first line of defense.
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