Facebook Has a Health Scam Problem

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

by cainxinth • 3 months ago

40 23 3 months ago

MattGaiser• 3 months 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.

cbsmith2• 3 months ago

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

anonymars• 3 months ago

Or Facebook

archerx• 3 months 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• 3 months 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?

BenjiWiebe• 3 months ago

Obviously not, because big oil and the government would do away with the inventor and prevent the press from publishing about it.

masfuerte• 3 months 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• 3 months ago

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

Larrikin• 3 months ago

Why do you see ads at all? Is this just an iPhone problem?

darkfloo• 3 months 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• 3 months 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• 3 months 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.

AntiUSAbah2• 3 months 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.

expedition322• 3 months ago

Ah yes the American naivity of pretending people are not morons. The renaissance man never existed.

pjc50• 3 months ago

Advertising prescription medication is indeed illegal in the UK. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/advertise-your-medicines

OTC is ok.

expedition322• 3 months ago

They have to label those as not clinically proven. No this stuff is not going to make you look 20 again...

nradov2• 3 months ago

It's just you. There's nothing wrong with informing adults about the existence and benefits of medications. Many consumers aren't even aware that there are medications available to treat their conditions. They don't know to ask their doctor about it. Even a lot of doctors don't stay current on new medications. There's a real knowledge gap.

none2585• 3 months ago

No it's not just them. It's illegal in most the world

garethsprice• 3 months ago

More like, society has a Facebook health scam problem (or just a "Facebook problem").

Facebook I'm sure does not think they have a problem, as they make a ton of money from running these garbage ads with no consequences.

pseudohadamard• 3 months ago

Isn't Facebook's health stuff more or less made of scams? Are there any legit health ads on there?

Facebook Has a Health Scam Problem

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