Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and other social media platforms earned more than €36m from scam ads targeting Irish users last year, according to analysis by banking app Revolut, which accused the big platforms of being incentivised to host fraudulent content. Revolut commissioned a new peer-reviewed study, carried out by Juniper Research, which shows social media platforms earning €4.4bn across Europe last year from scam ads. They said for Ireland specifically, one in ten ads on social media are now fraudulent, with the platforms earning an estimated €36.1m from running such ads to Irish consumers. While the level of scam ads encountered by Irish users is less than that of their European counterparts, the average amount lost per scam social media ad in Ireland is just over €1,500, the highest level in Europe. "Social media platforms have the primary responsibility of reducing both the prevalence and subsequent impact of scam ads.

Source: Irish Examiner February 09, 2026 15:52 UTC