Meta removes ads for fraud apps posing as porn after India sounds alarm

Meta removed dozens of advertisements from Facebook and Instagram after India raised concerns about a pattern of ads using sexually explicit content to trick users into downloading malware. These malicious applications were designed to steal banking credentials and drain bank accounts, according to government data.

India reported nearly $2.4 billion in cyber-fraud losses in 2025, with scam operators increasingly targeting the country's digital payments boom. The government stated that ads, some operating under names like 'Night Play' and 'Kyss', directed users to phishing websites and malicious Android applications masquerading as pornography. Reuters identified at least 39 such ads still active after India issued an advisory, many using explicit video thumbnails to attract clicks. Meta subsequently removed all of these ads after Reuters brought them to the company's attention.

Meta's policies prohibit ads containing adult nudity and sexual activity, as well as those using deceptive or misleading practices. This incident marks the second time in recent weeks that India has flagged financial fraud on a major technology platform, following a previous report of criminals using Google's Firebase platform to impersonate banks.

Meta had internally projected that scam and banned goods advertising would generate approximately 10% of its 2024 revenue, or about $16 billion, despite its stated efforts to crack down on such ads.