A Warning About Investment Scams on Facebook and Instagram

If you spend any time on Facebook or Instagram, you’ve likely seen them: ads or posts promising unbelievable investment returns with little to no risk. A recent official warning urges you to view these offers with extreme skepticism.

On April 6, 2026, Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued a direct consumer alert. The warning focused on a significant rise in sophisticated investment scams proliferating across Meta’s platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. These schemes are designed to look legitimate, often using stolen brand logos, fake testimonials, and targeted ads to lure in unsuspecting users.

What’s Happening with These Social Media Scams?

Scammers are leveraging the trusted environment of social media to pitch fraudulent investments. The tactics are varied but share a common goal: to pressure you into sending money quickly.

Common schemes include:

  • Fake Crypto or Forex Trading Platforms: Ads that direct you to professional-looking websites where you’re encouraged to deposit money, often seeing “gains” on a fake dashboard. When you try to withdraw, you’re hit with endless fees or the site disappears.
  • “Pig Butchering” Scams: A long-term con where a scammer builds a friendly or romantic relationship online before gradually introducing a “can’t-miss” investment opportunity. The term refers to fattening a victim with false trust before the financial slaughter.
  • Fraudulent Celebrity Endorsements: Using deepfake videos or doctored images of famous businesspeople or celebrities to falsely claim they are backing a new crypto token or investment app.

The Attorney General’s alert stresses that these scams are not crude, obvious cons. They are polished, psychologically manipulative, and exploit the social nature of the platforms to appear credible.

Why This Alert Matters for Every Social Media User

This matters because the scale is immense. Social media platforms give fraudsters direct access to millions of people, with powerful tools to target users based on their interests—like “investing” or “personal finance.” The perceived social proof from likes, shares, and fake comments can disarm our natural caution.

The consequences are devastating. Victims don’t just lose their initial deposit; they are often persuaded to “invest” more to recover losses or unlock promised bonuses, leading to life-altering financial damage. Furthermore, the personal information shared during sign-up can be used for identity theft.

How to Protect Yourself and Your Money

Vigilance is your first line of defense. Here are practical steps you can take to avoid becoming a victim.

Recognize the Red Flags:

  • Guaranteed High Returns with No Risk: Legitimate investments always carry risk. Promises of guaranteed, sky-high returns are a hallmark of fraud.
  • Urgency and Secrecy: Pressure to “act now” before the “opportunity” disappears, or instructions to keep the deal quiet from family or your financial advisor.
  • Unsolicited Contact: Be wary of investment offers that come via direct message from strangers, or from a new “friend” who quickly turns the conversation to money.
  • Unverifiable Platforms: The investment can only be made on a specific, obscure website or app you’ve never heard of, and which isn’t listed on official app stores.

Take Action Before You Invest:

  1. Pause. Never make a financial decision under pressure from an online ad or contact.
  2. Verify Independently. If a company is mentioned, look up its official contact information yourself—don’t use links or numbers provided in the suspicious message. Check with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) EDGAR database or your state securities regulator to see if the investment is properly registered.
  3. Research the Tactic. Search the specific investment name or platform along with words like “scam,” “review,” or “complaint.” Read results from trusted consumer protection sites.
  4. Talk to Someone. Discuss the offer with a trusted friend, family member, or a licensed financial professional who has no connection to the offer.

If You Suspect a Scam or Have Been Targeted

Do not engage further. Cease all communication immediately.

  • Report to the Platform: Use the reporting tools on Facebook or Instagram to report the profile, page, or ad promoting the scam.
  • Report to Authorities: File a report with your state Attorney General’s office (you can find yours at www.NAAG.org). Also file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.IC3.gov.
  • If You’ve Lost Money: Contact your bank or payment service (like Venmo or Cash App) immediately to see if a transaction can be reversed. Keep all records of communications and transactions.

Investment scams on social media are a persistent and evolving threat. By understanding the tactics, recognizing the warning signs, and knowing how to verify opportunities, you can scroll through your feed with greater confidence and security. Remember: if an online investment sounds too good to be true, it almost certainly is.

Source: Consumer Alert – Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, State of Maryland. April 6, 2026.