Meta Moves to Mitigate Misuse: 23,000 Fraudulent Facebook Accounts Removed

In a sweeping crackdown on digital deception, Meta—the parent company of Facebook—has taken down over 23,000 Facebook accounts and pages accused of engaging in fraudulent and criminal activities. The tech giant stated that these accounts had been actively deceiving users, with a particular focus on individuals in India and Brazil.

In a press release, Meta revealed that many of the scammers utilized deepfake technology and other sophisticated tools to impersonate popular figures in India and Brazil, including personal finance content creators, cricketers, and prominent businesspeople. Under these false identities, they promoted fraudulent investment schemes and fake gambling websites.

Victims who fell prey to these scams were typically redirected to messaging app platforms, where they were lured with bogus investment advice. In some cases, users were sent to fraudulent websites that closely mimicked the official Google Play Store page, from which they were encouraged to download deceptive gambling applications.

The fraudulent investment schemes often promised quick wealth through non-existent opportunities in cryptocurrencies, real estate, or stock markets. The scammers spread their misinformation via social media, email, phone calls, or even through exclusive coaching groups dedicated to “investment advice.”

Meta also took action against several accounts on its Facebook Marketplace platform. In many instances, scammers posed as buyers and deliberately overpaid for goods, only to demand a refund—leading to further exploitation of unsuspecting sellers.

Meta reiterated its commitment to user safety, advising, “Users should be cautious when asked to make advance payments for products. Such accounts should always be viewed with suspicion.”