Meta removes 24,000 scam links in Vietnam, Singapore amid fraud crackdown

The tech giant revealed on Tuesday that so far this year it has taken down over 15,000 links (URLs) containing fraudulent content in Vietnam and more than 9,000 URLs impersonating WhatsApp, Facebook, Meta, Instagram, Threads, and Reality Labs in Singapore.

It said the removal was part of a broader effort to combat scams globally.

Additionally, the company took action against over 2 million accounts across its platforms that were associated with scam organizations in Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, the United Arab Emirates, and the Philippines.

In conjunction with the year-end shopping season, Meta has also launched a global campaign to raise awareness about online scams, helping users connect safely online.

Its latest security tools on Facebook Marketplace, Instagram, and WhatsApp include insights from new research on holiday-season scams, along with updates on measures to combat fraudulent websites.

Working with open-source researchers at Graphika, Meta has identified common scam tactics during the holiday season and taken measures including blocking fraudulent websites and removing related accounts.

It warned common scam tactics to watch out for include Christmas gift scams, fraudulent promotional offers with "unbeatable" prices and fake discount programs

In Vietnam, emerging scam trends include fake cheap travel tickets, counterfeit electronic red envelopes and food discount fraud, according to Graphika, an American social network analysis firm.