Meta Ramps Up Efforts to Disrupt Industrialized Scamming

image via WIRED

March 11, 2026, 12:01 PM

• •Meta is expanding its Messenger scam detection features globally.
• •New warnings are being introduced for potentially suspicious activity when linking a new WhatsApp device.
• •Facebook is testing new alerts to flag potentially suspicious friend requests.
• •Meta took down 10.9 million Facebook and Instagram accounts associated with criminal scam centers in 2025.
• •Meta removed more than 159 million scam ads across all categories in 2025.
• •The company aims for 90% of ad revenue to come from verified advertisers by the end of 2026.
• •AI detection systems are being used to flag impersonations and deceptive links.

Meta unveiled new account protections, including expanded scam detection and alerts, to combat the rising tide of global scamming, especially 'pig butchering' schemes. These measures follow a major crackdown in Southeast Asia, involving law enforcement from multiple countries, resulting in numerous arrests and account removals. The company is also expanding advertiser verification and enhancing AI detection systems to identify impersonations and deceptive links. Despite the widespread and complex nature of the scamming industry, Meta aims to improve platform security through technology and collaboration.

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