Facebook Has a Health Scam Problem

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/27/well/facebook-supplements-health.html

19•cainxinth•1h ago

Comments

MattGaiser•1h ago

Facebook in general has a huge scam problem. I routinely see ads claiming to be from CBC or CNN or Reuters selling lottery software, Bitcoin engines or perpetual motion machines.

Supplements seem to be the most legal out of all the scams regularly run.

cbsmith•51m ago

I was going to say: "in what way is the problem restricted to health?"

anonymars•35m ago

Or Facebook

archerx•45m ago

Yet they have no problem flagging legit stuff. Back in 2019 I remember a pair of shorts (part of procedurally generated street ware fashion project) got flagged as offensive for some reason and my campaign got suspended. I reached out to Facebook and actually got a human and they unsuspended my account but the experience also made me stop buying ads from them.

derwiki•45m ago

Perpetual motion ones particularly grind my gears. My dad, a retired science teacher who KNOWS better will occasionally send me these. Dad don’t you think that would be legit big news if true?

masfuerte•43m ago

Facebook doesn't have a scam problem. Scams are making them a lot of money.

In a less corrupt world we'd change the law so that scams on Facebook were Facebook's problem.

bwb•42m ago

I see ads claiming to be BBC all the time on Reddit with similar.

darkfloo•43m ago

It’s only a problem for Facebook if they get prosecuted, so far it’s a problem problem for Facebook users(a very bad one to be clear). I’d love to believe they will be dragged in front of a court, but it’s unclear to me what could be charged , unless they are knowingly involved.

gmerc•39m ago

These ads compete in the supply side auction with real healthcare ads, causing massive CAC spikes for legitimate providers.

It’s the main reason why Meta doesn’t actually ever against scammers

childofhedgehog•31m ago

https://archive.is/TcZ0X

Is it just me or should advertising medication just be illegal as a whole? If you need meds you should talk to your doctor.

AntiUSAbah•20m ago

I would have agreed a while back but now i don't.

I think its gatekeping and there should be a way to get everything without another adult telling you no.

There is a lot of bias around what and how and when and who can take what.

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