NEWS BLEND 360 | INVESTIGATIVE REPORT META UNDER FIRE: REPORT SAYS 10% OF 2024 SALES TIED TO SCAM AND FRAUD ADS

According to internal documents obtained by News Blend 360, Meta Platforms — the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp — reportedly projected that around 10% of its 2024 ad revenue came from scam, fraud, or other high-risk advertisements.

That figure translates to nearly $16 billion generated from deceptive or banned-goods ads, raising serious questions about the company’s enforcement policies and user protection efforts.

The leaked internal analysis revealed Meta had been tracking “higher-risk” ads and found the platform displayed more than 15 billion potentially fraudulent ads per day across its apps. Despite acknowledging the risks, Meta’s internal models reportedly avoided aggressive crackdowns that could significantly cut into revenue streams.

According to the report, Meta’s ad enforcement system typically bans advertisers only if the algorithm identifies them as 95% or more likely to be fraudulent. Ads that fall below that threshold are allowed to run — often with “penalty” fees that can still turn profits for the company.

Investigators found internal slides suggesting that Meta’s networks were linked to nearly one-third of all “successful scams” in the U.S. at a given time.

While Meta disputed the 10% figure, calling it “a rough and overly inclusive estimate,” the documents point to a larger systemic issue — a potential conflict between revenue protection and consumer safety.

“Reducing scam-ad revenue could have a material impact on our business,” one internal presentation reportedly noted, suggesting the company calibrated enforcement to avoid losing more than 0.15% of total income.

The revelations are already prompting scrutiny from regulators and lawmakers who have long accused social platforms of prioritizing profits over public safety.

For millions of users scrolling Facebook and Instagram feeds daily, it’s a stark reminder: not everything that looks like an ad can be trusted.