Social media has overtaken email as the primary channel for online scams in the UK, accounting for 34% of reported incidents according to recent research. This shift highlights growing concerns over fraudulent content on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, particularly in finance-related advertising. A new analysis by BrokerChooser examined over 1,200 active finance-related ads in the Meta Ads Library to assess exposure to high-risk promotions across multiple countries. The study classified ads as safe, risky (misleading or high-risk), or outright scams, focusing on factors including the absence of risk disclaimers and exaggerated claims of returns.[1]
Meta platforms face scrutiny for the volume of potentially fraudulent ads. Internal documents reported by Reuters in late 2025 indicate that users encounter an estimated 15 billion “higher risk” scam advertisements daily across Meta's services, with the company generating approximately $7 billion in annualized revenue from this category.
Despite ranking lower in overall risk compared with several European nations, UK social media users encounter considerable threats from financial promotions. BrokerChooser found that 55.75% of finance-related Meta ads targeting the UK were deemed safe, while 43.36% fell into the high-risk category and 0.88% were classified as scams. Overall, 44.25% of these ads were considered dodgy (risky plus scam).
More than one-third (36.28%) of UK finance ads lacked proper risk disclaimers. Many featured exaggerated statements promising rapid or guaranteed profits, such as “multiply your potential up to 20x!” or “instant payouts with 99.9% processed immediately.” A notable trend involved promotions of AI-powered trading bots for forex and cryptocurrency, often directing users to contact sellers via WhatsApp or Instagram to evade platform moderation. Investment scams in the UK saw losses rise by 55% in a single year, underscoring the real-world impact of such advertising.
The analysis ranked countries by the proportion of dodgy finance ads on Meta:
- Poland topped the list with 100% of ads classified as dodgy (95.83% risky, 4.17% scam). Nearly 96% lacked risk disclaimers, and 95.83% included exaggerated claims, often promoting high-leverage proprietary trading with phrases like “turn $5K to $400K in just 6 weeks.”
- Czech Republic followed closely, also at 100% dodgy (all risky), with 73.68% missing disclaimers and 78.95% featuring extreme profit promises.
- Belgium ranked third at 93.85% dodgy (87.69% risky, 6.15% scam), with prominent AI trading bot claims such as “super accurate AI-powered entry and exit signals - no guesswork.”
Other high-risk markets included Switzerland (93.80%), Hungary (93.75%), and Finland (84.38%). In contrast, countries like Ireland (35% dodgy) and Greece (40.63%) showed lower exposure.
Fraudsters frequently use persuasive phrases to lure victims, including “unlock $400K”, “instant funding”, “free trading”, and promises of guaranteed returns or low-risk access to large capital. Many ADs shift interactions to private messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, or Instagram, where oversight is limited and manipulation is easier.
Head Broker Analyst at BrokerChooser, Adam Nasli, stated: “Social media has become a fertile hunting ground for financial scammers, reaching billions of users online. Many high-risk ads rely heavily on persuasive, attention-grabbing language while avoiding clear risk disclosure.” Nasli noted that prop trading promotions often exploit desires for quick wealth and exclusivity, leading users to underestimate risks through repeated fees and strict challenge rules.
Experts recommend vigilance against unsolicited financial advice on social media, through due diligence on promoted opportunities, and selection of regulated brokers. Education on red-flag phrases and skepticism towards guaranteed-profit claims remain key defenses.
This article is shared at no charge for educational and informational purposes only.
Red Sky Alliance is a Cyber Threat Analysis and Intelligence Service organization. We provide indicators of compromise information via a notification service (RedXray) or an analysis service (CTAC). For questions, comments or assistance, please contact the office directly at 1-844-492-7225, or feedback@redskyalliance.com
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[1] https://www.cybersecurityintelligence.com/blog/social-media-surpasses-email-as-a-leading-scam-channel--9067.html
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