Archive · 16 Dec 2025
Meta's 'Trusted Experts' Facilitated Scam Ads
A reporter wanted to see if it was easy to run fake ads on Facebook and Instagram.
He found companies that Meta says are trusted partners.
These companies helped him run ads that promised people they could make a lot of money quickly.
The ads were seen by many people, and some even asked about them.
Meta didn't stop the ads right away.
After the reporter told Meta what happened, Meta removed the list of trusted partners and is checking them.
A Reuters reporter ran scam ads on Facebook and Instagram with the help of Meta's 'trusted' ad agencies.
The ads promised unrealistic returns and were seen by over 20,000 users in multiple countries.
Agencies like Bluefocus, Green Orange, and Uproas helped run the ads despite Meta's policies.
Meta's AI tools suggested variations of the ads, some of which made false claims.
Meta removed its partner directory and is reviewing its partners after the investigation.
- Who
- Jeff Horwitz, a Reuters reporter, posed as an advertiser to test Meta's ad policies.
- What
- Scam ads promising unrealistic returns were run on Facebook and Instagram with the help of Meta's 'trusted' ad agencies.
- When
- The ads ran for a week in November.
- Where
- The ads were seen by users in the US, Europe, India, and Brazil.
- Why
- To investigate how easily Meta's ad policies could be circumvented.
- Advertiser
- Jeff Horwitz (Reuters reporter)
- Ad Agencies Involved
- Bluefocus, Green Orange, Uproas
- Chinese Partners
- GatherOne, Cheetah Mobile, Coty Tuqa
- Ad Reach
- 20,000+ users in US, Europe, India, Brazil
- Ad Duration
- One week in November
- Ad Claims
- 10% weekly return (14,000% annualized)
- Meta's Response
- Removed partner directory, reviewing partners
