By Blessing Nweke
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is facing renewed criticism after a report alleged the company failed to stop scam advertisers from targeting older users with deceptive ads.
The report, released Tuesday by the Center for Countering Digital Hate, found that scam campaigns aimed at seniors generated an estimated 215 million impressions on Facebook over the past year. According to researchers, 73% of those views came from users aged 65 and older.
Many of the ads used fake celebrity endorsements and manipulated videos featuring public figures such as Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Oprah Winfrey, Steve Harvey and Brad Pitt. Some ads promised free grocery cards, rent support or Medicare benefits in exchange for personal information.
Researchers said the scams often redirected users to misleading websites or call centers designed to harvest sensitive data or steer victims into costly Medicare plans. One highlighted ad read, “Don’t be an idiot. Claim it now,” while promoting supposed government assistance.
Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said the company aggressively fights scams and removed more than 159 million scam ads last year, with most taken down before being reported. However, the report claims Meta repeatedly allowed nearly identical scam ads to reappear, even after policy violations.
The findings add to mounting legal pressure on Meta, which already faces multiple lawsuits accusing the company of profiting from fraudulent advertisements and failing to adequately protect users, particularly seniors.
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