Delivery technique · MITRE ATT&CK T1583.008
Social media ads and posts
Scam ads and sponsored posts, often using deepfaked celebrities, that lead to fake investments or stores.
How it works
- Scammers run short-lived ads with stolen or synthetic endorsements.
- Clicks lead to a landing page or a messaging group.
- The ad account is replaced as soon as it is reported.
Defenses
- Assume celebrity investment endorsements are fake.
- Report the ad to the platform.
- Research any platform through its regulator, not its ad.
Reference: FTC testimony on fraud, March 2026
Scams that use it
- Pig butchering
- Fake trading platform or app
- Investment club stock pump
- Ponzi and high-yield investment programs
- Rug pull or fake token
- Crypto wallet drainer
- Fake airdrop or giveaway
- Celebrity deepfake investment ad
- Fake law firm and asset recovery scam
- Fake crypto tracing and recovery service
- Fake online store and non-delivery
- Rental listing scam
- Ticket scam
- Pet and puppy scam
- Counterfeit goods
- Fake travel booking
- Charity and disaster relief scam
- Fake government grant and advance-fee loan scam
- Reshipping and money mule job scam
- Work-from-home and pyramid scheme scam