Meta Cracks Down On Scam Pages In India: Over 23,000 Accounts Removed
Meta has announced the takedown of more than 23,000 Facebook Pages and accounts involved in investment and payment scams, many of which targeted users in India. These efforts are part of the tech giant’s larger campaign to curb financial scams that exploit economic uncertainty and digital platforms to deceive users.
Deepfake Tactics, Fake Apps Among Tools Used By Scammers
The accounts, primarily operating in India and Brazil, used sophisticated tricks — including deepfake videos of celebrities and financial influencers — to lure victims. These pages promoted scam investment platforms and gambling apps, often redirecting users to fake websites or messaging apps under the guise of offering exclusive investment advice.
Some of these scams even mimicked the look and feel of legitimate platforms like the Google Play Store to trick users into downloading malicious apps. According to Meta, “The scammers used deepfakes… falsely depicting popular personal finance content creators, cricket players and business figures… endorsing scam investment apps and gambling websites.”
In parallel, Meta’s teams have blocked over seven million scam-linked accounts tied to criminal networks operating from Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, UAE, and the Philippines since the beginning of 2024.
How Scammers Operate: Advance Payments, Overpayment Tricks
Meta has warned that online fraudsters often rely on high-pressure tactics and promises of fast returns to ensnare victims. Investment scams typically offer fake opportunities in shares, real estate, crypto, or precious metals. Fraudsters may approach users through social media, texts, or emails with invitations to “exclusive” coaching groups or insider tips.
On the payments front, scammers are known to request advance payments on Facebook Marketplace and disappear post-transaction, or claim to have overpaid with a fake receipt, demanding a refund — only to later cancel the original transaction and keep both amounts.
Meta’s Anti-Scam Toolkit: From Messenger Alerts To Face Verification
To better protect users, Meta is deploying several in-app warning tools and safety features. On Messenger and Marketplace, users may see alerts if a transaction request appears suspicious, such as demands for payment before delivery or usage of unverified instant payment methods.
New protections also include video selfie verification to help users recover their accounts faster, as well as tools to detect impersonation scams, particularly those involving celebrities, known as “celeb-bait” frauds.
Meta has also encouraged users to perform a privacy check-up across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. This allows users to control who can contact them and view personal details such as profile pictures, online status, and activity.
Collaborating With Authorities To Strengthen Digital Defences
Meta’s efforts extend beyond product features. The company has been working closely with Indian authorities to enhance scam awareness and digital literacy.
- WhatsApp teamed up with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to train officials on identifying scams.
- A joint campaign with the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) under the ‘Jago Grahak Jago’ program is aiming to empower users to spot and report scams.
- Meta is also conducting training sessions with law enforcement agencies across states like Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and others in collaboration with the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C).
In a move to arm developers and partners with security solutions, Meta also introduced the Llama Defenders Program, providing early access to AI tools designed to combat fraud, phishing, and scams.
As Meta puts it, “We’ll keep sharing regular updates about our work to counter scams more broadly, including safety tips and product updates across our apps.”
With scams growing increasingly sophisticated, Meta’s multi-layered approach — from takedowns and tech tools to government collaborations — signals a strong push to reclaim trust and safety on its platforms.
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