CERT Polska uncovered a toll fraud operation targeting Polish users through deceptive Meta advertisements and malicious applications distributed via Google Play. We preserved 1235 ads, linked 852 to 17 applications through code or infrastructure, reconstructed the complete execution chain, and observed live premium SMS and carrier billing tasking.
Scammers are abusing Meta’s copyright-reporting system to suspend people’s Instagram accounts and then hold them for ransom, according to the BBC. Criminals file fake copyright complaints with Instagram, claiming that an account is using material it doesn’t own. Repeated complaints can trigger a temporary account suspension from the platform, locking out the victim even though they haven’t done anything wrong. The criminal then moves the conversation to another platform, such as Telegram, and…
A malicious advertising campaign promoting a fake free TV-streaming service reached roughly 570,000 Meta users. The researchers who discovered the campaign found that its streaming-themed ads were aimed at Spanish-speaking users, with most observed victims located in Spain. One Meta campaign ran from June 11 through July 3, 2026, and the same banners were also used to distribute the malware through TikTok. The available data shows the ads’ reach, not the number of downloads or infections, but…