TruthWave Investigation | September 2, 2026

India’s cybercrime authorities have warned for years that fraudsters use social platforms to reach victims. A new case raises a practical question: how long can a malicious campaign remain visible before a platform acts?

What Reuters reported

Reuters reported on August 31 that Meta removed dozens of deceptive ads from Facebook and Instagram after the Indian government raised an alarm over malicious applications disguised as pornography. The ads directed users toward phishing pages and APK downloads outside official app stores.

Reuters said its own testing found at least 39 such ads still active after the government advisory, before Meta removed them.

The accountability issue

The important question is not simply whether ads are eventually removed. It is how platforms detect, review and stop campaigns that can expose users to fraud, and whether the same operators can recreate them under new accounts.

What should be measured

• Time from government warning to removal.
• Number of ads detected proactively.
• Repeat activity by linked accounts.
• Measures taken to prevent re-uploading.
• User reporting and response times.

Source

Reuters investigation and reporting on August 31, 2026.