Leaked files suggest Meta may have earned up to $16 billion from scam ads

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According to a Reuters report citing internal documents, Meta Platforms — the parent company of Facebook and Instagram — may have earned up to $16 billion in advertising revenue linked to fraudulent and misleading ads over several years.

The internal documents, obtained by Reuters, suggest that Meta was aware of scam ad networks operating across its platforms, but enforcement actions were often limited or delayed due to the company’s focus on ad revenue growth. Many of these ads promoted fake investment schemes, impersonation scams, and counterfeit products, affecting users in multiple markets.

The report indicates that internal teams raised repeated warnings about brand safety and regulatory exposure, but the volume of automated ad approvals made it difficult to prevent such content from going live. Analysts estimate that scam-related ads could account for a small but significant percentage of Meta’s global ad revenue.

In response, Meta stated that it “removes fraudulent ads when identified” and continues to invest in AI-based content moderation to detect and block policy violations at scale. The company emphasised that user trust and ad integrity remain central to its business.

The revelations come as governments in Europe, Australia, and India tighten oversight on digital advertising and consumer protection, with potential implications for how large platforms are regulated.