Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, announced a global initiative Monday to warn users about online shopping scams during the holiday season. The company revealed it has already removed over two million accounts linked to scam operations across several countries, including Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, the UAE, and the Philippines. Furthermore, Meta’s efforts have resulted in the removal of thousands of phishing websites in countries like Vietnam and Singapore.
In partnership with cybersecurity firm Graphika, Meta identified three prevalent scam types targeting holiday shoppers: fake Christmas gift box promotions, fraudulent holiday decoration sales, and counterfeit retail coupons. These scams utilize sophisticated tactics, such as AI-generated voiceovers and fabricated customer testimonials, to deceive consumers.
Meta acknowledges the challenges in combating these scams, stating that scammers constantly adapt their methods and rarely focus on a single platform. This makes it difficult for any one company to fully address the problem. To improve its response, Meta has partnered with internet safety expert Rachel Tobac and expanded its Fraud Intelligence Reciprocal Exchange (FIRE) program to include banks worldwide, facilitating better information sharing to combat these fraudulent activities.
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