Study finds huge increase in Facebook Ads scams

Luke Meredith

Facebook shoppers looking for bargains can unknowingly stumble into an underground web of dangerous scams that will steal them out of thousands.

Fresh disclosures by cybersecurity firm Silent Push have unveiled over 4,000 imitation domains of leading brands designed to manipulate consumers into financial fraud schemes. Entrepreneurs, especially those reliant on online marketplaces for their operations, should watch out for such gimmicks to safeguard their businesses and clients.

Behind these drawbacks are misleading ads with high-end and high-quality products at unbelievable prices. From Milwaukee tool chests to promotional sales on hit brands like Amazon, Costco and Argos, the fake ads compel customers into making instant purchases. The ads never land in Meta’s Ad Library after the expiration of the ads, and it is not easy for victims and authorities to track or report them in due course.

For business, the trend is financially and reputational risky. Spammers employ recognised brand names, generating suspicion among legitimate customers and adding to the challenge for genuine sellers to gain credibility.

While Meta as much as encourages its users to be sceptical about too-good-to-be-true offers, corporations themselves must proactively educate their consumers and tighten their internal cybersecurity standards.

Experts recommend that businesses verify if their brand is present on the internet and report impostor websites or ads presenting themselves as the company. Requesting customers to access the business website directly, not through third-party links, can help reduce exposure to scams.

Staying current and establishing trust among customers through authentic promotion and secure shopping avenues will allow companies to weather these threats successfully.

If you’re a business owner who wants to promote your company’s great (and legitimate) deals through Facebook, at Engage Web we can help. Speak to our team today to get started.

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Luke Meredith

Content Editor at Engage Web

At home in both the digital sector and the world of communications, Luke thrives on deadlines and has held roles in healthcare, retail and digital marketing, gaining a sound knowledge of a wide range of sectors. He’s a massive swot as well, holding a first-class degree in BA Communication and Media, and now uses his writing skills and keen editorial eye in his role as Content Editor here. Luke helps to oversee our clients’ content requirements, while also looking after a pool of freelance writers across three continents.