Meta removes 3.1 million scam ads targeting Taiwan

TAIPEI, Aug 29:  Meta removed more than 3.1 million scam advertisements targeting Taiwan and disabled over 40,000 advertising accounts linked to fraud between January and mid-July, the company said Thursday.

Meta said it was working with Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior, and the Criminal Investigation Bureau to share intelligence and use technology to identify and disrupt scams. The company has also strengthened screening of high-risk advertisers and detection of emerging fraud tactics.

Meta Vice President of Public Policy for Asia-Pacific Rafael Frankel said scammers were constantly changing their methods, requiring rapid responses and continued investment in technology. Digital Affairs Minister Lin Yi-ching said Meta had removed more than 10 million scam ads targeting Taiwan since March 2024.

The company said it had also removed more than 99,000 scam posts from Facebook groups and disabled over 2,300 Threads accounts. Recent verification measures for high-risk advertising accounts are intended to make it harder for fraud networks to evade Meta’s safeguards.