Fraudulent ads on social media: Poland in the crosshairs of criminals
A new report by the Panoptykon Foundation reveals the scale of the problem facing Polish social media users. According to the data, Meta—the owner of Facebook and Instagram—could be earning as much as 760 million PLN annually from displaying advertisements designed to defraud recipients. The report identifies Poland as a country where this practice is particularly prevalent.
The criminals' modus operandi is often very similar. The ads use the images of well-known people, politicians, or popular brands to gain users' trust. They promise quick investment returns or offer products at very low prices. After clicking the link, internet users are redirected to fake websites, where they risk losing their savings or login credentials for bank accounts.
Experts emphasize that social media platforms do not always effectively block such content. Although moderation systems are in place, criminals constantly change their methods to bypass security measures. As a result, fake ads are becoming a permanent fixture of internet browsing, exposing thousands of Poles to serious financial losses.
This situation is sparking a debate about the responsibility of large technology corporations for the content published on their services. Social organizations are calling for the introduction of stricter regulations that would force companies like Meta to better verify advertisers. Current legal regulations often prove insufficient when faced with the modern methods used by scammers.
Cybersecurity specialists remind users to exercise particular caution when using the internet. Before clicking on an attractive-looking offer, it is worth checking whether the site is authentic and whether the URL looks credible. In the case of suspicious content, the safest solution is to report it to the platform's administration and avoid providing any personal data.