Facebook Has a Health Scam Problem

Facebook Has a Health Scam Problem(nytimes.com)

40 points by cainxinth 18 days ago | 25 comments

darkfloo 18 days 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.

MattGaiser 18 days 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.

masfuerte 18 days 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.

archerx 18 days 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 18 days 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 18 days ago | | |

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

bwb 18 days ago | |

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

cbsmith 18 days ago | |

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

anonymars 18 days ago | | |

Or Facebook

Larrikin 18 days ago | |

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

gmerc 18 days 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

garethsprice 18 days 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 17 days ago | |

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

childofhedgehog 18 days 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.

AntiUSAbah 18 days 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.

expedition32 18 days ago | | |

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

pjc50 18 days ago | |

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

OTC is ok.

expedition32 18 days ago | | |

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

nradov 18 days 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 18 days ago | | |

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