Meta has taken down a series of Facebook and Instagram ads after Indian authorities flagged a scam campaign that used adult content to lure users into downloading banking malware, highlighting the growing scale of cyber fraud in India.
Meta has removed a series of Facebook and Instagram advertisements after Indian authorities warned that they were being used to lure people into downloading malware disguised as adult content, according to Reuters and several Indian news reports. The campaign used names such as “Night Play” and “Kyss” and pushed users towards phishing websites before prompting them to install Android apps that appeared to offer pornography but were designed to steal financial data.
The apps were reportedly capable of capturing banking credentials, one-time passwords and PINs stored on a victim’s device. Reuters said one ad it reviewed promised access to hundreds of explicit videos and then directed users to download a file called “Movexa.apk”. Indian officials warned that criminals could use the stolen information to move money out of accounts without the holder’s knowledge.
Reuters reported that at least 39 such ads were still visible after the government issued its advisory on Monday, before Meta removed them once the company was alerted. Meta’s advertising rules bar adult nudity, sexual activity, deceptive conduct and scams aimed at extracting money from users, although the episode again highlights how quickly malicious operators can adapt their tactics to platform controls.
The case lands against a broader surge in online fraud in India. Government data cited by multiple outlets shows cyber-fraud losses there reached almost $2.4 billion in 2025, underlining the scale of abuse targeting the country’s fast-growing digital payments market. It also follows other enforcement actions, including orders for Google to shut down hundreds of Firebase accounts allegedly used to impersonate banks, as well as temporary restrictions on Telegram over claims that leaked exam papers were circulating on the app.
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