Meta has taken down dozens of advertisements from its platforms Facebook and Instagram, following a warning from India regarding a scam that utilized explicit sexual content to distribute malware, according to reports by Reuters.
The fraudulent ads tricked users into downloading malware that could potentially steal their banking information.
In India, cyber frauds have reached nearly $2.4 billion in 2025, as reported by government data, with scammers increasingly targeting the nation’s growing digital payment landscape.
The government reported that ads operating under names like “Night Play” and “Kyss” directed users to phishing websites. Authorities noted a rise in financial scams involving “malicious Android applications disguised as pornographic apps.”
Dozens of Ads Removed
Reuters identified at least 39 such ads that remained active even after the government alert was issued on Monday. Many of these ads featured thumbnails with explicit content to attract clicks. Meta quickly removed all flagged advertisements after being notified by Reuters.
The American tech giant’s policy states that ads “must not contain adult nudity or sexual activity” and prohibits ads for “products, services, schemes, or offers that use deceptive practices.”
This marks the second time in recent weeks that India has raised concerns about financial frauds on major tech platforms. The Indian government had previously urged Google to shut down hundreds of accounts on its Firebase platform after discovering criminals were impersonating major banks.
Last year, Reuters reported that Meta internally estimated that scams and prohibited advertising could account for about 10% of its 2024 revenues, approximately $16 billion, though the company claims to be taking significant steps against these ads.
One ad, while still active, linked to a website promoting a video application that promised hundreds of pornographic videos and continuous content. To access it, users were required to download a file named “Movexa.apk” directly, outside of an official app store.
India has warned that such applications could secretly access stored information on users’ phones, steal one-time passwords and banking PIN codes, and transfer funds from accounts without the owner’s knowledge.
Photo: © Mikhail Primakov | Dreamstime.com
