Meta Reportedly Earns Billions From Scammers on Facebook and Instagram
MENLO PARK, CA – A Reuters report published today reveals that approximately 10.1 percent of Meta’s advertising revenue in 2024-possibly billions of dollars-originated from accounts suspected of running scams on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Internal documents show teh company is aware of the issue, even labeling some repeat offenders as the “iest Scammer” in internal communications, but has implemented policies that prioritize revenue protection over aggressive enforcement.
The report details how Meta’s automated systems flag suspected fraudulent advertisers participating in the company’s advertising auctions. Rather than blocking these accounts, the system increases the price they pay for ads. This strategy aims to disincentivize scammers, but simultaneously generates additional revenue for Meta if they continue to pay the premium.
According to internal documents, a team dedicated to flagging and removing scam advertising was restricted in February from taking actions that could reduce the company’s overall revenue by even 0.15 percent. The documents also indicate Meta anticipates potential regulatory fines for inadequate user protection, but believes these will likely not exceed $1 billion USD-less than one-tenth of the revenue currently derived from known or suspected scams.
When questioned about the report, Meta representative Andy Stone did not deny the authenticity of the documents. He stated the figures reported by Reuters were ”rough and overly-inclusive,” and that updated reports showed some legitimate advertising had been mistakenly included in the calculations. Stone did not provide updated figures to support his claim.
Despite the concerns, Stone highlighted Meta’s efforts to combat scams, stating the company aims to reduce its share of revenue from scams and harmful ads from 10.1 percent in 2024 to 7.3 percent in 2025. He also claimed user-reported scams have decreased by 58 percent in the last 18 months, and that Meta has removed “more than 134 million pieces of scam ad content.”
