Deepfake Scam Ads Promoting Fake Benefit Programs for Seniors Explode on Meta Social Media Platforms
October 16, 2025
Deepfake Scam Ads Promoting Fake Benefit Programs for Seniors Explode on Meta Social Media Platforms
A new report from the Tech Transparency Project has unveiled a staggering rise in fraudulent advertising on social media platforms, particularly Instagram and Facebook. The report identifies 63 scam advertisers that collectively spent an astonishing $49 million on over 150,000 deceptive ads in the past year. These ads primarily promote fake stimulus checks, government benefits, and healthcare payments, targeting vulnerable populations, especially older Americans.
Many of these ads utilize deepfake technology to create convincing videos featuring prominent political figures or celebrities. This tactic aims to lend credibility to their fraudulent claims and direct unsuspecting victims to malicious websites. For instance, one particularly alarming ad, published by the Relief Eligibility Center, specifically targeted individuals aged 65 and older across more than 20 states. It featured a fabricated video of former President Donald Trump, misleadingly urging seniors to visit a website to claim a “FREE $5,000 check from Trump.”
In the United States, advertisers wishing to run ads featuring political figures on Facebook or Instagram must undergo a rigorous identity verification and authorization process. However, fraudsters have cleverly circumvented these safeguards, using artificial intelligence and other advanced tools to evade detection for extended periods. This loophole has allowed them to exploit the system and target vulnerable demographics effectively.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has taken some action against these fraudulent accounts, disabling 35 of the 63 identified ad accounts. However, this response came only after these accounts had already published dozens, and in some cases, hundreds of ads that reached tens of thousands of potential victims. Alarmingly, six of these ad accounts managed to spend over $1 million before they were finally deactivated, highlighting the urgent need for more robust measures to combat such scams.
The implications of these deepfake scams are profound, particularly for older adults who may be less familiar with digital literacy and the tactics employed by scammers. As these fraudulent ads continue to proliferate, it becomes increasingly crucial for social media platforms to enhance their verification processes and implement stricter controls to protect vulnerable users.
October 16, 2025
Deepfake Scam Ads Promoting Fake Benefit Programs for Seniors Explode on Meta Social Media Platforms
A new report from the Tech Transparency Project has unveiled a staggering rise in fraudulent advertising on social media platforms, particularly Instagram and Facebook. The report identifies 63 scam advertisers that collectively spent an astonishing $49 million on over 150,000 deceptive ads in the past year. These ads primarily promote fake stimulus checks, government benefits, and healthcare payments, targeting vulnerable populations, especially older Americans.
Many of these ads utilize deepfake technology to create convincing videos featuring prominent political figures or celebrities. This tactic aims to lend credibility to their fraudulent claims and direct unsuspecting victims to malicious websites. For instance, one particularly alarming ad, published by the Relief Eligibility Center, specifically targeted individuals aged 65 and older across more than 20 states. It featured a fabricated video of former President Donald Trump, misleadingly urging seniors to visit a website to claim a “FREE $5,000 check from Trump.”
In the United States, advertisers wishing to run ads featuring political figures on Facebook or Instagram must undergo a rigorous identity verification and authorization process. However, fraudsters have cleverly circumvented these safeguards, using artificial intelligence and other advanced tools to evade detection for extended periods. This loophole has allowed them to exploit the system and target vulnerable demographics effectively.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has taken some action against these fraudulent accounts, disabling 35 of the 63 identified ad accounts. However, this response came only after these accounts had already published dozens, and in some cases, hundreds of ads that reached tens of thousands of potential victims. Alarmingly, six of these ad accounts managed to spend over $1 million before they were finally deactivated, highlighting the urgent need for more robust measures to combat such scams.
The implications of these deepfake scams are profound, particularly for older adults who may be less familiar with digital literacy and the tactics employed by scammers. As these fraudulent ads continue to proliferate, it becomes increasingly crucial for social media platforms to enhance their verification processes and implement stricter controls to protect vulnerable users.
