Scam Campaign on Facebook Exploiting Reputable Swedish Media Hits 900,000 Accounts
A Facebook scam campaign impersonating reputable Swedish media reaches 900,000 users, prompting public concern.
Key Points
- • Fraudulent ads impersonate SVT and Aftonbladet to promote scams.
- • Over 333 new scam ads identified in one week, reaching 900,000 accounts.
- • 'Uppdrag granskning' condemns the exploitation of their credibility.
- • Meta criticized for inadequate regulation of scam content.
A massive scam campaign is underway on Facebook, utilizing fraudulent advertisements that impersonate well-respected Swedish media organizations, including SVT and Aftonbladet, to promote deceptive investment schemes. This alarming development has drawn the attention of both the public and media authorities, leading to widespread concern about consumer protection and the efficacy of platform regulation.
Recent investigations revealed that over 333 new scam ads have surfaced within the past week alone, collectively reaching nearly 900,000 users across 22 separate Facebook pages. The ads commonly feature recognizable personalities from the investigative journalism program 'Uppdrag granskning', such as Karin Mattisson, Janne Josefsson, and Ali Fegan, which scams leverage to gain credibility and lure potential victims into fraudulent investment opportunities.
Axel Björklund, the editor responsible for 'Uppdrag granskning', condemned the campaign, stating that it feels "completely terrible" to see the program's hard-earned trust being undermined by scammers. He highlighted that previous investigations by 'Uppdrag granskning' exposed an extensive scam network spending nearly 13 million SEK monthly on advertising, some of which ends up directly in the pockets of Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, as scammers purchase ad space.
IT security expert Karl Emil Nikka, representing SSF Stöldskyddsföreningen, pointed out the interconnectedness of the various pages involved in the scam, suggesting that a coordinated approach is in play. Despite Meta's public stance that such scam ads breach their policies, many previously reported pages remain active without apparent consequence, prompting widespread criticism regarding the company's ability to regulate harmful content effectively.
Although 'Uppdrag granskning' has established communication with Meta's community manager in Sweden for assistance, Björklund expressed frustration at the slow response to reports from concerned citizens. Citizens have noted that their alerting of scam ads often goes ignored, which only increases public concern about the safety and accountability of online advertising platforms.