Pinning the map: The globe’s top hotspots for social media scams

Meta’s Finance‑Ads: Where Social‑Media Users Risk the Biggest Scams

Meta’s advertising library exposes a wave of misleading financial promotions that flash across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and LinkedIn. A BrokerChooser.com study scratched out more than 5,000 active finance ads in September 2024, ranking the countries most exposed to these deceptive offers.

Top Global Scam Hubs (September 2024)

• South Africa – 100 % of finance ads were either risky or scams; 37.5 % were confirmed scams.
• Belgium – 94.1 % of ads were dodgy; 83.8 % risky, 10.3 % scams.
• Turkey – 91.6 % dodgy; 78.1 % risky, 13.5 % scams.
• Germany – 90.9 % dodgy; 79.6 % risky, 11.4 % scams.
• UAE – 90.8 % dodgy; 79.2 % risky, 11.5 % scams.

Ad Types Defined

Scam ads: Unrealistic returns, guaranteed passive income, “no effort needed.”
Risky ads: Speculative strategies or unregulated endorsements missing risk‑disclaimers.
Safe ads: Neutral, regulated content with no exaggerated claims.

USA & UK – Lower Risk Zones

UK – 66.2 % dodgy, 33.8 % safe; strict regulation keeps scams relatively low. Italy – 69.2 % safe, 3.9 % scams. The USA – 62.3 % risky, 13.5 % scams.

Why South Africa is the Epidemic Hotspot

All finance‑related Meta ads in South Africa were flagged as Risky or Scams. The country’s cybercrime density (5th globally) means users face a high volume of misleading content demanding quick investment decisions.

Belgium’s Speculative Surge

Belgian ads dominate digital currencies and prop trading, promising instant accounts, $500K funding, and 100+ currencies. Slogans like “fire your boss” lure with the promise of a fast, risk‑free financial break‑even.

Turkish Forex Fads

Turkey’s ads lean heavily on forex trading, urging users to join Telegram for daily profit updates or offer free signals with 85%+ win rate. Scams flaunt inboxed “$1,500 per week from a $300 investment” and AI‑powered platforms with “99% accuracy.”

Germany & UAE: High‑Pressure Tactics

Germany and UAE ads model urgent investment urgency: “Hurry! Invest before prices sky‑rocket” and boast 120‑200% refunds or 220% return within 50 days. Language, urgency and unrealistic returns flag a strong fraud presence.

Key Takeaway

Meta’s advertising ecosystem is a hotbed for financial deception worldwide, especially in South Africa, Belgium, and Turkey. Users should scrutinize ads that promise high returns without risk, verify platform legitimacy, and lean on secure, regulated content, often identified as “safe” in the library’s analytics.