A coordinated warning from Indian authorities has prompted Meta to remove dozens of advertisements linked to a suspected malware scam targeting users through sexually explicit content. The ads appeared on Facebook and Instagram and allegedly directed users to phishing websites designed to steal banking information and access funds.
India recorded nearly $2.4 billion in cyber-fraud losses in 2025, according to government data, as fraudsters increasingly target the country’s growing digital payments ecosystem.
The government said advertisements operating under names such as “Night Play” and “Kyss” were being used to direct users to phishing websites. It also reported a rise in financial fraud involving “malicious Android applications masquerading as pornography apps”.
At least 39 such ads were still active after the government advisory was issued on Monday. Many used sexually explicit video thumbnails to attract users. Meta removed the ads shortly after the issue was flagged to the company. Meta did not respond to queries about the matter.
The company’s advertising policies prohibit adult nudity and sexual activity. They also ban advertisements promoting “products, services, schemes or offers using identified deceptive or misleading practices”, including attempts to scam users.
The latest action comes weeks after India raised concerns about financial fraud involving another major technology platform. Authorities had earlier directed Google to shut down hundreds of accounts on its Firebase platform after finding that criminals were using the service to impersonate major banks.
An active advertisement reviewed during the investigation directed users to a website promoting a video application offering hundreds of pornographic videos and round-the-clock content. Users were asked to download a file named “Movexa.apk” directly, outside an official app store.
According to the government advisory, such malicious applications could secretly access information stored on phones, capture one-time passwords and bank PINs, and transfer money from users’ accounts without their knowledge.
The company had internally estimated that scam and banned-goods advertising could account for about 10% of its 2024 revenue, or roughly $16 billion, even as it continued efforts to curb such advertisements.
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