Rhode Island Sues Meta Over Scam Ads, Seeks Money Back for Consumers

Rhode Island Sues Meta Over Scam Ads, Seeks Money Back for Consumers Attorney General Peter Neronha sued Meta on Thursday, alleging the company helped create and profit from scam ads on Facebook and Instagram while publicly claiming to fight fraud. The state is seeking restitution for affected Rhode Island consumers. Why This Matters The suit seeks restitution for Rhode Islanders hurt by scam ads on Meta’s platforms, plus penalties and a court-appointed monitor. The state alleges Meta used account data to target people most likely to engage with scam ads, including seniors. An ad promising to reverse Alzheimer’s disease in 45 days, with more than 2,000 versions in Meta’s own ad library. That is one of the examples Attorney General Peter F. Neronha’s office put in front of a judge Thursday. His office says Rhode Island is the first state to sue Meta over this alleged conduct: scam advertising on the company’s platforms. The suit was filed in Providence County Superior Court under Rhode Island’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act. It does not accuse the parent company of Facebook and Instagram of simply missing bad ads. Neronha alleges Meta helped create, refine and distribute advertisements that promoted fraudulent schemes, deceptive offers
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