Meta’s Massive Scam Cleanup: 23,000 Fake Accounts Targeting India and Brazil Taken Down, But This Is Not Enough

Meta Disrupts Scam Networks Targeting Users in Brazil and India

Meta shared on 7 May that it had taken down more than 23,000 Facebook Pages and accounts involved in scam activities, focusing on users in Brazil and India.

The operation, carried out in March 2025, is part of Meta’s wider strategy to fight online scams and protect its users worldwide.

How Deepfakes and Impersonation Fueled the Scam

Fraudsters used advanced tactics, including deepfake technology, to create convincing yet fake videos of well-known figures in the financial and sports sectors.

Meta reported that scammers impersonated popular finance content creators, cricketers, and business figures, falsely promoting scam investment apps and gambling sites.

These fraudulent videos depicted the figures endorsing various dubious financial ventures, with the aim of gaining the trust of unsuspecting users.

Victims were then lured into messaging apps where they were offered "investment advice."

Some were further directed to counterfeit websites that closely resembled the Google Play Store, where they were tricked into downloading malicious gambling applications.

Scam Strategies Ranging from Fake Investment Opportunities to Payment Fraud

Meta's findings reveal several types of scams that have increasingly infiltrated social media platforms.

Investment frauds have become widespread, with scammers offering “exclusive” opportunities for users to invest in non-existent assets like cryptocurrency, real estate, and stocks.

These scams often promise high returns and prey on vulnerable individuals who are new to online investing.

Payment frauds also remain a significant threat, particularly those involving online marketplaces.

In advance payment scams, fraudsters pose as sellers on platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, asking for payment upfront before vanishing with the funds.

Another common tactic involves overpayment fraud, where scammers intentionally overpay for goods and then request a refund for the difference, only to reverse the original payment and walk away with both sums.

Meta's Efforts to Combat Online Fraud

To address the rising tide of online scams, Meta has introduced a series of tools and initiatives aimed at protecting users.

New safety features include scam alerts within Messenger and Instagram, as well as a video selfie verification process for account recovery.

The company has also made privacy check-ups available across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp to help users safeguard their personal information.

Meta also continues to collaborate with authorities in India, including the Department of Telecommunications and the Department of Consumer Affairs, to tackle fraud at the national level.

The company is working closely with civil society organisations to further enhance digital safety and raise awareness of common scam tactics.

Millions of Fraudulent Accounts Targeted in Global Crackdown

This latest takedown is part of a broader effort to curb global online fraud.

Since the start of 2024, Meta has disrupted more than seven million accounts involved in organised scams, with operations targeting countries such as Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, the UAE, and the Philippines.

In partnership with researchers at Graphika, Meta has identified fraudulent accounts across platforms like Facebook and TikTok, with scammers often posing as investment coaches or promoters of cryptocurrency apps.

Meta said in a statement,

“We continue to look for and block attempts by criminal syndicate-run scam centres to create accounts on our platforms.”

By ramping up its efforts to dismantle fraudulent networks and raise awareness, Meta aims to make its platforms safer and more trustworthy for users worldwide.

As scams continue to evolve, the company is committed to staying ahead of fraudsters and ensuring that users have the tools and knowledge to protect themselves online.