An ESET expert has revealed that Facebook and Instagram were the primary channels for distributing fake advertising in 2024, with significant activity also noted on Messenger and Threads. This information was shared by Nikita Veselkov, head of ESET’s SOC team for cybercrime and digital threats in Ukraine.
Veselkov explained that the primary objective of these fraudulent ads is to direct users to phishing websites designed to steal personal information, which is then used for extortion.
He noted a dramatic increase in such phishing threats, stating, “Detection of these threats, according to ESET telemetry, has increased by 335% over the past six months.
Between May and November 2024, ESET products blocked over 8,500 domains and tens of thousands of access attempts. On average, ESET systems detected more than 100 new fraudulent addresses every day.”
“The main distribution channels for these fake ads were Facebook and Instagram,” Veselkov confirmed. “However, according to data from the Meta Ad Library, many posts were also distributed via Messenger and Threads.”
He added that fraudulent ads were also observed on X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube. Furthermore, “TikTok has continued to spread messages with phishing links, for example, offering verification badges or promising increased followers. We’ve also seen bot accounts used to steal account data, promote malicious sites or applications, and create fake profiles of public figures,” Veselkov said.
To protect against these threats, Veselkov urged users to “enable two-factor authentication on all social media accounts. This will prevent attackers from accessing your account even if they obtain your login credentials. Be wary of tempting offers, follow only verified celebrity accounts, avoid clicking on suspicious links, and never enter confidential information on unfamiliar websites.”
He emphasized that children are particularly vulnerable to these scams due to their trust and naiveté. “We must teach children not to click on sensational headlines about influencers, links promising gifts from unknown senders, or offers to buy expensive items at unrealistically low prices,” Veselkov concluded.
