Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger, has announced new security measures in response to a growing number of scams involving gambling-related content. The company reports that fraudsters are increasingly using such content to convince users to send money or sign up on unauthorised platforms.
In 2025, Meta removed more than 159 million fraudulent ads for violating its advertising policies. It also deleted 10.9 million accounts across Facebook and Instagram linked to scam networks, many of which were connected to organised fraud centres.
The company claims that around 90% of fraudulent materials are being discovered through automated detection systems before anyone reports them as traditional users. Prior to the recent rise in number of gambling-related scams committed through gambling; Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger, has announced several new safety precautions to deal with this issue.
Meta also noted that scammers have grown to be more sophisticated in convincing victims to provide funds or register with unauthorised websites, and it seems that scammers are utilising gambling-related scams to successfully convince users to submit payments as well.
Furthermore, this past week, Meta announced they would be conducting an international joint law enforcement operation to target scam call centres operating out of Southeast Asia. Working with several law enforcement agencies, including the Royal Thai Police, Meta disabled over 150,000 fraudulent accounts that were part of these fraud schemes resulting in the arrests of 21 suspects in the region.
Also, Meta plans to implement stronger verification procedures for advertisers so that, by 2026, they expect to have 90% of their ad revenue coming from verified advertisers, especially in high-risk categories such as financial services, cryptocurrency and online gambling.
Meta is collaborating on efforts with financial institutions, and regulatory bodies around the world to increase consumer awareness of digital fraud. They stressed that in order to combat digital fraud, a global coordinated effort must be undertaken combining technology, regulation, and consumer education.
