Three Meta Platforms users who say they were bilked
by scammers are suing over Facebook and Instagram ads that promoted fraudulent crypto schemes.

“Defendants actively participate in, assist, and encourage the creation,
placement, and targeting of scam ads,” Florida resident Niroshini Dassanayake, Georgia resident Kenneth Gugel and Illinois resident Andrew Svoboda allege in a class-action complaint filed late last
week in San Francisco federal court.

They allege that Facebook or Instagram ads led them to WhatsApp groups where they encountered scammers.

The scammers on WhatsApp in
turn directed the plaintiffs to transfer money or cryptocurrency to wallets.

When the plaintiffs tried make withdrawals, “the scammers would not allow them to do…