1/ We’ve been collecting political ads on Facebook. We found a lot of political ads. propub.li/2ASvpyL
We also found some straight-up scams that froze users’ computers, instructed them to call a toll-free number, and then asked for money. propub.li/2ATN0GI
We also found some straight-up scams that froze users’ computers, instructed them to call a toll-free number, and then asked for money. propub.li/2ATN0GI
2/ Facebook had many prior specific warnings about these scam ads. Many had been flagged by users, fact-checking groups and cybersecurity services—even the Federal Trade Commission.
3/ Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg recently said the social network had missed “more subtle” election interference in part because its security team had been focused on “the biggest threats” of malware and phishing. axios.com/exclusive-inte…
4/ Based on ProPublica’s findings, it’s unclear if the world’s largest social network can handle either challenge. Because even in our small sample size – just 8,000 politically-themed ads – we caught a dozen examples of malicious code and phishing.
5/ Facebook said all the ads we found violated at least one of its policies, including those against fraud and malware.
Here are just a few examples:
Here are just a few examples:
6/ This ad was targeted at “very liberal” people over 40, and sent anyone who clicked to a web page containing a snippet of malicious computer code to lock up the user’s computer. 
7/ This one was also aimed at “very liberal” Facebook users over 40.
Computer security experts have tracked scams that trick people into paying for bogus tech support for years.
Computer security experts have tracked scams that trick people into paying for bogus tech support for years.
8/ This ad led people to a web page styled to look like the @FoxNews site. It falsely said commentator Sean Hannity was hawking free trials of a pill called Testo-Max HD, which it claimed could cure erectile dysfunction.
9/ These advertisers offered access to “a stock-trading tool” promoted by the hacker group Anonymous. They sought a deposit of $250 and said “our system will quadruple this in just 24 hours.” The FBI has cited this type of scheme as a common vehicle for fraud and ID theft.
10/ Ads proclaiming Kellyanne Conway was leaving the White House linked to an article saying she was going to sell skin cream. Readers were encouraged to sign up for a “free trial.”
11/ To hide their activities from Facebook’s automated scanning tools, almost all of the fraudsters used a technique called cloaking – running bad content only at certain times or to selected audiences, or automatically altering the content depending on who is looking.
12/ Cloaking is supposed to trick Facebook by showing it legitimate websites. But even the sites that were supposed to pass inspection, like this one associated with a fake Trump ad, actually violated Facebook’s rules against low-quality or false content.
13/ Scammers can use Facebook’s data to target groups of people and ensure clickbait is seen by those they think are most likely to fall for their outrageous headlines.
These cut across party lines.
These cut across party lines.
15/15 Want to help us monitor political ads on Facebook through the midterm season? Here’s how: propub.li/2AUIE1Y
And sign up for our newsletter to follow along with what we find: go.propublica.org/weekly
And sign up for our newsletter to follow along with what we find: go.propublica.org/weekly
