Meta Rakes in $16 Billion Yearly from Scam and Banned Ads, Documents Reveal
Internal documents from Meta, the parent company of Facebook...
Internal documents from Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, have revealed that the social media giant earned an estimated $16 billion in 2024 from scam and banned advertisements—amounting to roughly 10% of its total annual revenue. The explosive findings, uncovered by Reuters and corroborated by multiple sources, expose a systemic issue that has allowed fraudulent ads to flourish on Meta’s platforms for years, despite the company’s public claims of aggressive fraud prevention.
According to the documents, Meta’s platforms have become a c...
According to the documents, Meta’s platforms have become a cornerstone of the online fraud economy, serving billions of scam ads daily. On average, users are exposed to an estimated 15 billion “higher risk” scam advertisements every day—ads that show clear signs of being fraudulent, including fake investment schemes, illegal gambling, and the sale of banned medical products. Meta earns about $7 billion annually from this specific category of scam ads alone, with the broader figure of $16 billion encompassing all scam and prohibited ad revenue.
The documents also reveal that Meta’s automated systems only...
The documents also reveal that Meta’s automated systems only ban advertisers if they are at least 95% certain the marketer is committing fraud. In cases where the company suspects fraud but cannot meet that threshold, Meta instead charges higher ad rates as a penalty, a practice critics say incentivizes the company to tolerate questionable advertisers rather than remove them entirely.
Meta has long maintained that it is committed to fighting fr...
Meta has long maintained that it is committed to fighting fraud and scams on its platforms. In response to the revelations, company spokesperson Andy Stone stated that the internal documents “distort Meta’s approach to fraud and scams,” and pointed to a 58% drop in scam ad reports over the past 18 months, as well as the removal of over 134 million scam ads this year. However, internal presentations from May 2025 acknowledge that Meta’s platforms were involved in a third of all successful scams in the United States, and that Google’s systems are more effective at filtering out fraudulent content.
The documents further show that Meta has failed for at least...
The documents further show that Meta has failed for at least three years to identify and stop an avalanche of scam ads, exposing billions of users to fraudulent e-commerce and investment schemes, illegal online casinos, and the sale of banned medical products. The Tech Transparency Project recently found that just 45 scam advertisers spent over $18 million on Meta platforms between April and July 2025, with many of these ads featuring deepfakes of politicians promoting non-existent government programs—often targeting seniors.
The revelations have sparked growing pressure from regulator...
The revelations have sparked growing pressure from regulators in the United States and abroad, who are demanding that Meta take stronger action to clean up its platforms. Critics argue that the company’s financial incentives may be undermining its commitment to user safety, and that the current approach to fraud prevention is fundamentally flawed.
As Meta faces increasing scrutiny, the question remains: how...
As Meta faces increasing scrutiny, the question remains: how much longer will the company be allowed to profit from the very scams it claims to be fighting? With billions of fraudulent posts and ads appearing daily, and regulators now stepping up their oversight, the future of Meta’s ad business—and its reputation—hangs in the balance.
🔄 Updated: 11/6/2025, 9:40:23 PM
Following revelations that Meta earns about $16 billion annually from scam and banned ads, regulatory responses have intensified. In May 2025, Congress passed the TAKE IT DOWN Act, led by Rep. Debbie Dingell, targeting deepfake and impersonation scams that proliferate on Meta’s platforms, emphasizing the need for stronger user protections[3]. Despite this, critics argue Meta’s slow action leaves users vulnerable while the company continues to profit, prompting calls for more robust enforcement and oversight by government agencies[3][5].
🔄 Updated: 11/6/2025, 9:50:23 PM
Meta is projected to earn approximately $16 billion in 2024—about 10% of its total annual revenue—from running advertisements linked to scams and banned goods, according to internal company documents obtained by Reuters. These documents reveal that Meta’s platforms show an estimated 15 billion “higher risk” scam ads daily, including fraudulent e-commerce, illegal online casinos, and banned medical products. Despite internal warnings, Meta only bans advertisers it is over 95% certain are fraudulent, often charging suspected scammers higher ad rates instead, a practice now drawing regulatory scrutiny in the US and UK[2][4][8].
🔄 Updated: 11/6/2025, 10:00:22 PM
Consumers and the public have expressed strong outrage following revelations that Meta earns about $16 billion annually from scam and banned ads, which make up roughly 10% of its revenue. Users report frustration over the daily exposure to an estimated 15 billion high-risk scam ads across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, with many describing the company’s response as inadequate or dismissive of user complaints[2][6]. One internal critique highlighted that smaller scam advertisers can accumulate multiple strikes before being banned, while bigger spenders face even looser restrictions, fueling perceptions that Meta prioritizes profit over consumer protection[4].
🔄 Updated: 11/6/2025, 10:10:38 PM
Following revelations that Meta earns approximately $16 billion annually from scam and banned ads, U.S. lawmakers have intensified scrutiny of the company’s practices. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell highlighted Meta’s ongoing allowance of deepfake scam ads despite existing policies and cited the recently enacted TAKE IT DOWN Act, legislation aimed at combatting deepfake misuse, emphasizing the urgent need for stronger protections against such fraud on Meta’s platforms[3]. Regulatory pressure is mounting as officials criticize Meta for slow responses that leave users vulnerable while profiting from these high-risk scam advertisements[5].
🔄 Updated: 11/6/2025, 10:20:59 PM
Internal Meta documents reveal the company projected in December 2024 that *at least* 10% of its annual revenue—about $16 billion—comes from ads promoting scams and banned goods, with $7 billion attributable specifically to “higher risk” scam ads alone, according to Reuters[1][2][4]. Meta’s platforms serve an estimated 15 billion such scam ads daily, exposing billions of users to fraudulent schemes, illegal gambling, and prohibited products, yet the company only bans advertisers flagged as 95% likely to be fraudulent—otherwise, it charges them higher rates as a penalty[2][4][7]. Despite widespread user complaints, these documents suggest Meta has allowed repeat offenders, including advertisers with hundreds of policy violations, to
🔄 Updated: 11/6/2025, 10:31:08 PM
Meta reportedly generates around **$16 billion annually**, or about 10% of its total revenue, from scam and banned ads across its platforms, exposing billions of users worldwide to fraudulent e-commerce, illegal gambling, investment scams, and banned medical products, according to internal documents revealed by Reuters[1][2][4]. Globally, regulators including the UK’s financial watchdog are investigating Meta’s role, highlighting that its platforms accounted for **54% of scam-related payment losses in 2023**, more than double other social media combined[8]. Despite these findings, Meta has been criticized for lenient enforcement, with suspected fraudsters often charged higher ad rates rather than banned, a policy that effectively monetizes scam promotions internationally[2][8].
🔄 Updated: 11/6/2025, 10:41:03 PM
Public reaction to Meta's revelation of earning $16 billion annually from scam and banned ads has been sharply critical, highlighting widespread user frustration and distrust. Many consumers report a constant flood of scam ads on Facebook and Instagram—estimated at 15 billion "higher risk" scam ads daily—often feeling ignored despite repeated complaints; one social media commentator noted that Meta "may be actively ignoring" the issue due to the lucrative revenues involved[1][3][6]. Consumer watchdogs and advocacy groups have expressed alarm that Meta’s lenient approach allows advertisers flagged multiple times—sometimes over 500 strikes—to continue, fueling concerns about user safety and the integrity of the platforms[1].
🔄 Updated: 11/6/2025, 10:51:05 PM
Public reaction to Meta’s revelation that it earns $16 billion yearly from scam and banned ads has been largely negative and outraged. Consumers report frustration with the estimated 15 billion high-risk scam ads shown daily on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, with many complaints going unanswered, leading to accusations that Meta knowingly profits from fraud at the expense of user safety. One internal document shows Meta only bans advertisers when it is 95% certain they are fraudulent, sometimes penalizing but allowing likely scammers to continue running ads, fueling public distrust and anger over prioritizing revenue over user protection[2][6][7].
🔄 Updated: 11/6/2025, 11:01:10 PM
Regulators in the U.S. and UK are intensifying investigations into Meta after internal documents revealed the company earns an estimated $16 billion annually—about 10% of its total revenue—from scam and banned ads. Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority reported that Meta platforms were responsible for 54% of all payments-related scam losses in 2023, prompting calls for stricter enforcement, while U.S. lawmakers have demanded answers on how Meta’s ad policies enable fraud, citing a “lax approach” that puts users at risk.
🔄 Updated: 11/6/2025, 11:11:03 PM
Following revelations that Meta earns approximately $16 billion annually from scam and banned ads, equating to 10% of its total revenue, the market responded with caution. Meta’s stock experienced a 3.4% decline in early trading on Thursday, November 6, 2025, reflecting investor concerns over regulatory risks and reputational damage tied to the internal documents revealed by Reuters[1][2]. Analysts noted that while Meta continues to generate substantial revenue, the growing scrutiny on its ad practices could pressure future valuations.
🔄 Updated: 11/6/2025, 11:21:09 PM
Meta projected earning about $16 billion—10% of its annual revenue in 2024—from scam and banned product ads on its platforms, according to internal documents obtained by Reuters[1][2]. Technically, Meta’s fraud detection system only bans advertisers when there is 95% certainty of fraud, otherwise charging higher ad rates to suspected scammers, which indirectly incentivizes the continuation of questionable ads and inflates Meta’s revenue[1][2]. Despite claims of reducing scam reports by 58% and removing over 134 million scam ads, the platforms still displayed an estimated 15 billion “higher risk” scam ads daily, exposing systemic weaknesses in Meta’s fraud detection and enforcement mechanisms[1][2][8].
🔄 Updated: 11/6/2025, 11:31:10 PM
Documents leaked from Meta reveal that the company earns approximately $16 billion annually—around 10% of its total revenue—from scam and banned ads displayed across its platforms, impacting billions of users worldwide with an estimated 15 billion “higher risk” fraudulent ads shown daily[1][2][4]. This global scale of scam advertising has drawn international scrutiny, with regulators and consumer protection groups raising concerns over Meta’s failure to effectively curb these ads despite internal knowledge, prompting calls for stronger regulatory oversight and accountability on a global scale[2][5].