Cybersecurity 
Keeper Security offers leading cybersecurity solutions, including password management and Privileged Access Management (PAM), trusted by millions of users and over 100,000 organizations to protect their
5 min read
Published on October 07, 2024
Updated on December 11, 2025.
Social media platforms like Facebook are filled with a mix of legitimate brands and scammers trying to deceive users with seemingly good deals. As online shopping continues to grow, scammers are creating fake ads to trick unsuspecting buyers into sharing personal or financial information. You can spot fake ads on Facebook if you notice that the ads feature very inexpensive products, poor-quality images, spelling mistakes or a lack of clear branding. Facebook ad scams are becoming more difficult to distinguish from legitimate ads, making it essential to know the signs before you click.
Continue reading to learn the most common signs of fake Facebook ads, how to avoid falling for them and what to do if you’ve already been scammed.
5 signs of fake Facebook ads
There are several ways you can determine whether a Facebook ad is fake and protect yourself from Facebook ad scams. Here are some of the main red flags:
- Extremely cheap products: If a Facebook ad promotes items at prices that seem too good to be true, it is most likely fake. Scammers use unrealistic discounts to lure users into clicking on spoofed shopping sites and entering sensitive information. Once a scammer has your credit card details, they can use them to commit identity theft or fraud.
- Poor-quality images or graphics: Legitimate companies use high-resolution, professional visuals. If an ad uses low-resolution or pixelated photos, that could mean a scammer has created a fake ad. Never click on a Facebook ad that uses questionable graphics or contains inaccurate information, because a legitimate company would not produce poor-quality visuals.
- Spelling or grammatical errors: Typos, awkward phrasing or sentence fragments are commonly found in fake Facebook ads. Legitimate companies carefully review and proofread their content, so unprofessional text is a clear warning sign that the ad is likely a scam.
- Little to no engagement: A real brand’s ad typically generates likes, comments and shares due to the company’s large audience. Facebook ads with zero interaction or engagement may have been recently created by scammers to seem legitimate in an attempt to trick you into clicking on a malicious link.
- No clear branding: Legitimate companies maintain consistent branding with logos, color schemes and fonts. If a Facebook ad lacks a company’s official branding or uses inconsistent branding, it’s likely a fake ad.
How to avoid falling for fake ads on Facebook
You can avoid falling victim to fake ads on Facebook by being cautious about great deals, visiting a company’s website directly and checking the safety of an ad’s link.
- Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true: Unrealistic discounts or limited-time offers on Facebook ads are commonly used to lure users into clicking on malicious content. If a price seems unusually low, research the product or company first to see if the deal is legitimate.
- Visit the company’s official website directly: Instead of clicking on a Facebook ad, type the business’s official web address into your browser or find it online. This prevents you from clicking on malicious links that can lead to phishing sites or malware.
- Check reviews and social media pages: Research the company on trusted search engines or on Facebook itself to see if it has real reviews and an active presence. A lack of credible reviews or a recently created page are signs that a Facebook ad is fake.
- Use an ad blocker: Installing an ad blocker can minimize your exposure to suspicious ads on Facebook and other websites. An ad blocker gives you an extra layer of protection by preventing many malicious or fake ads from showing up in your feed.
- Stay informed about current scams: To learn scammers’ latest tactics, it’s important to keep up with the most common Facebook scams by reading blogs from trusted sources like Keeper.
What to do if you get scammed by a fake ad on Facebook
If you’ve fallen for a fake Facebook ad, act quickly to protect your finances, online accounts and private data by contacting your bank, changing your password and enabling Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
Contact your bank to report the transaction
The first thing you should do if you fall victim to a fake Facebook ad is to notify your bank. Report the credit card fraud through your banking app, website or by calling the phone number on the back of your card. Explain what happened and identify any suspicious charges. Once your bank confirms that the transaction is fraudulent, it will likely freeze your card, refund fraudulent payments and issue a new card to secure your account.
Change your password and enable MFA
If you entered login credentials on a fake website after clicking an ad, change your password immediately. Use a strong, unique password that is at least 16 characters long and contains a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. To make a new password, we recommend using a password generator, which produces strong, unique passwords instantly.
Once you’ve updated your password, enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for extra protection on your Facebook account and all accounts that have access to personal information. Several common types of MFA include a One-Time Password (OTP), PIN or biometric authentication. With MFA enabled, a scammer cannot access your account even if they know your password.
Scan your device for malware
Many fake Facebook ads contain malware hidden from plain sight, designed to steal personal data. Run a full scan using trustworthy antivirus software to identify and eliminate potential threats. Regular scans help ensure no detectable spyware, ransomware or keyloggers remain on your device.
Report the fake ad to Facebook
Once you’ve secured your finances and devices, report the fake ad to Facebook to stop the scam from spreading. If the ad is still on your feed, click the three dots next to it, then click Report ad. If the ad is no longer visible, go to the Meta Ad Library, type keywords related to the ad in the Search ads box, scroll until you find the ad you want to report, then click the three dots next to it and select Report ad. Reporting fake ads to Facebook directly helps remove them and protects more people from falling victim to similar scams.
Avoid falling victim to fake ads
Ads can be annoying to see on your feed, but fake ads on Facebook and other platforms can be dangerous and may lead to identity theft or financial loss. Understanding the common signs of fake Facebook ads and knowing what to do to stay safe can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to scams. To add another layer of protection to your Facebook account, generate and store your strong passwords securely in Keeper.
Frequently asked questions
Are sponsored ads on Facebook safe?
Most sponsored ads on Facebook are safe because they come from legitimate businesses. However, scammers sometimes pay for sponsored ads to make fake ads appear legitimate. If an offer seems too good to be true, visit the company’s official website instead of clicking the ad.
Is it safe to order from Facebook ads?
Ordering from a Facebook ad can be safe if the ad comes from a reputable company. However, scammers can use fake ads to mimic legitimate brands and steal your payment information. Before making a purchase, research the company, read reviews and confirm that the URL is legitimate. If anything seems suspicious, avoid ordering through the ad and go directly to the brand’s official website instead.
What happens if you click on a fake ad?
If you click on a fake Facebook ad, you may be redirected to a spoofed website designed to steal your personal or financial information. Some fake ads can also install malware on your device without your knowledge. If this happens, close the page immediately, run an antivirus scan and change any login credentials you may have entered. Contact your bank if you shared payment information to prevent financial loss.
