Leaked Documents Reveal Billions in Revenue from Fraudulent Ads on Facebook and Instagram, and Victims May Have Legal Options

Internal documents reviewed by Reuters indicate that Meta Platforms, Inc., the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, may have earned up to $16 billion in 2024 from advertisements tied to scams, frauds, illegal gambling, and banned medical products. These figures reportedly account for 10% of Meta’s total annual revenue, which is a staggering sum tied to alleged consumer deception.

The documents suggest a pattern of tolerating high-risk ad content while maintaining internal concerns about revenue loss if such ads were quickly removed. Despite public statements about combating fraud, internal projections and leaked memos paint a very different picture—one where massive volumes of deceptive content were knowingly monetized. If verified, this would raise profound legal implications for Meta and open the door to large-scale litigation.

What the Internal Documents Reveal

The revelations come from Meta’s own internal documents, which were leaked to Reuters and reviewed in late 2025. The data shows:

• Roughly $16 billion in ad revenue from scam-related content in 2024.
• An estimated 15 billion high-risk ads are shown to users daily.
• Content included fraudulent e-commerce offers, investment scams, illegal online casinos, and banned medical products.
• Meta reportedly generates $7 billion per year from clearly deceptive ad content.

Although Meta claims to “aggressively” remove such ads, the documents suggest that internal teams were aware of the financial reliance on these ads and worried about the business impact of removing them too quickly.

What Are High-Risk Scam Ads?

The term “high-risk scam ads” refers to advertisements that promote clearly deceptive or illegal products and services. These include:

• Investment fraud (crypto schemes, fake trading apps).
• Counterfeit goods (luxury knockoffs, fake electronics).
• Fake online stores that take payments but never ship products.
• Unlicensed pharmaceuticals or medical treatments that are banned by the FDA.
• Illegal online casinos and sports betting operations.

These ads often mimic legitimate offers, use stolen images or fake celebrity endorsements, and exploit Meta’s ad algorithm to reach large audiences rapidly. Many run from countries with weak enforcement, targeting U.S. users under false pretenses.

Who Are the Potential Victims—and Who Can Sue Meta?

The scope of potential victims is nationwide and diverse, including:

1. Individual Consumers
   • People who lost money to fraudulent investment schemes promoted via Facebook or Instagram ads.
   • Online shoppers who paid for goods never received or received counterfeit products.
   • Patients harmed by dangerous or fake medical treatments advertised through Meta’s platforms.
2. Small and Midsize Businesses
   • Brands whose identities, logos, or celebrity endorsements were impersonated by scam advertisers.
   • Businesses suffering reputational damage because their names were falsely associated with fraudulent campaigns.
   • Competitors unfairly displaced by illegal actors are allowed to advertise at scale.
3. Families of Suicide or Harm Victims
   • Cases where individuals were mentally, emotionally, or financially devastated by high-stakes fraud, sometimes resulting in tragic consequences. Families may pursue wrongful death or intentional infliction of emotional distress claims.
4. Government and Regulatory Agencies
   • While not private litigants, agencies like the FTC or state attorneys general may sue under consumer protection laws and seek penalties on behalf of the public.

Who Are the Potential Defendants

Potential legal claims may be brought against Meta Platforms, Inc., and in some cases, against the advertising agencies or shell companies that knowingly placed scam ads on Meta’s ad network. If Meta was aware of ongoing violations and chose not to act to preserve revenue, the company could face claims of aiding and abetting fraud, gross negligence, unjust enrichment, and consumer deception.

Legal Theories That Could Apply

Individuals harmed by scam ads on Facebook or Instagram may have valid legal claims, depending on the facts. Key legal theories include:

1. Negligence – If Meta failed to act reasonably in vetting advertisers or enforcing its own ad policies, it could be held liable for negligence.
2. Unjust Enrichment – Victims may argue that Meta unjustly profited from their harm by knowingly displaying scam ads.
3. Consumer Fraud Violations – Under various state consumer protection laws, individuals can sue companies that promote or profit from deceptive business practices.
4. Product Liability (in the case of banned drugs) – Victims harmed by purchasing unapproved or counterfeit medical products via Meta’s ad placements may have claims similar to product liability suits.
5. Wrongful Death and Emotional Harm – Where scams have led to suicides, overdoses, or serious mental harm, families may bring claims for emotional distress or wrongful death.

Why This Could Lead to National Litigation

If internal Meta data confirms that billions were knowingly accepted from deceptive ads, this issue may trigger class action lawsuits, multidistrict litigation (MDL), or even state-level consumer fraud investigations. Affected users are not limited to one region or demographic; these ads likely reached millions across the U.S. each day.

This situation is reminiscent of previous mass tort actions involving platforms or manufacturers profiting from harm, such as the opioid crisis, Juul e-cigarette litigation, or data privacy cases. The financial scale, documented awareness, and public harm set the stage for large-scale legal action.

Meta Scam Ad Victim Lawsuit & Claim FAQs

Contact Parker Waichman LLP For A Free Case Review

If you or someone in your family lost money or suffered harm after being targeted by a scam ad on Facebook or Instagram, you may be entitled to compensation. Our legal team at Parker Waichman LLP is reviewing claims related to Meta’s advertising practices and the internal reports showing billions in revenue from fraudulent ads.

Call 1-800-YOUR-LAWYER (1-800-968-7529) now for a free, confidential consultation. We are a national law firm committed to helping victims of corporate misconduct. Let us help you hold Meta accountable and pursue justice for the harm caused.