Social media has become one of the most common places for people to discover new products, services, and deals. Unfortunately, it is also a space increasingly exploited by scammers who create fraudulent ads that look legitimate at first glance. These ads are often carefully designed to mimic real businesses, using professional-looking images, logos, and persuasive language to build trust and attract clicks. The scams typically work by promoting sales, exclusive discounts, or enticing memberships that claim to offer extra perks.
https://www.bitdefender.com/en-us/blog/labs/active-subscription-scam-campaigns-flooding-the-internet
How did we get here? When Facebook and Instagram were launched, their main purpose was to connect people. Facebook for example, was aimed at helping friends, classmates, and family stay in touch, share life updates, and build communities. It was a novelty, and it soon gained a lot of traction. Instagram marketed itself as a creative space to share photos, discover visual inspiration, and bond over aesthetics. If you were passioned about photography, it was the place to be. Both platforms initially emphasized authenticity and organic interactions, with minimal commercial interference.
However, it seems that the original promise of social connection slowly gravitated towards commercialization, when their business model shifted. Since both platforms are free to use, monetization relies heavily on advertising. This led to prioritization of sponsored content in feeds and stories, and introduction of shop tabs, marketplace features, and influencer marketing tools.
With billions of users, the social media platforms soon became a prime target for exploitation, such as fake ads and phishing, fraudulent shops and links that lure people into scams. Scammers also exploit trust in peer-to-peer selling environments (e.g., fake sellers, counterfeit products), and since the platforms cannot realistically vet every post, scam content slips through faster than it can be removed.
The unintended consequence is that the same algorithms that optimize ads also amplify manipulative or fraudulent content. Socializing still happens on these platforms, but it is now entangled with commerce, deception, and algorithmic manipulation.
