Technologies

Meta Allegedly Profited by $16B From Scam Ads. US Senators Demand FTC, SEC Probe

The lawmakers say Meta’s platforms may be implicated in «about a third of all US scams» and linked to more than $50 billion in consumer losses last year.

US Senators Josh Hawley and Richard Blumenthal are calling for an investigation into Meta over its alleged role in profiting from scam-laden advertisements on Facebook and Instagram. The demand follows a Reuters investigation reportedly based on internal Meta documents that estimated that nearly 10% of Meta’s 2024 revenue — about $16 billion — came from alleged «illicit advertising.»

In a letter to the Federal Trade Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission, the lawmakers urged regulators to «immediately open investigations and, if the reporting is accurate, pursue vigorous enforcement action … to force Meta to disgorge profits, pay penalties and agree to cease running such advertisements.»

One document reportedly alleged that Meta earned $3.5 billion in just six months from what it classified as «higher-risk» scam ads.

The same internal records reportedly suggested that many ads allegedly violating fraud rules were permitted to run because they «did not apply to many ads… [that staff] believed ‘violated the spirit’ of its rules against scam advertising.»

Meta denies all of these allegations.

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

Why this matters for you

The scale of this alleged fraud raises serious concerns about Meta’s business model. Many question whether the company is doing enough to police its ad ecosystem, given that a major revenue stream appears to be tied to deceptive or outright fraudulent campaigns.

The senators allege that Meta’s lax enforcement — combined with the continued presence of gambling ads, payment scams, political deepfakes and other dangerous content in its public Ad Library — underscores significant risks.

In their letter, Hawley and Blumenthal highlighted that reducing reports of scam ads by 58% over 18 months — as Meta says — may not tell the whole story. They pointed to broader trends that, according to their own reading of the documents, Meta’s platforms may be allegedly implicated in «about a third of all US scams» and linked to more than $50 billion in consumer losses last year.

What Meta is saying

Meta responded defensively to this call for investigation.

Meta spokesman Andy Stone criticized the senators’ allegations as «exaggerated and wrong,» insisting that the company «aggressively fights fraud and scams because people on our platforms don’t want this content, legitimate advertisers don’t want it, and we don’t want it either.»

Ongoing misinformation on Meta platforms

Among the more provocative allegations is that some of the scam ads impersonate government figures or political leaders. The senators point to specific examples, including a bogus advertisement that falsely claimed President Donald Trump was offering $1,000 to food assistance recipients.

They also raise concerns that foreign cybercrime groups based in countries such as China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and the Philippines could be behind many of the scam campaigns.

In general, the senators’ push for FTC and SEC action seeks accountability for a social media giant whose ad system may be fueling fraud at an unprecedented scale, though Meta publicly underscores its commitment to user safety. With so much of Meta’s business potentially tied to high-risk ads, the outcome of any investigation could reshape not only its practices but also broader regulatory expectations for major tech companies going forward.

Technologies

I Found Over 40 Early Black Friday Gaming Deals, Including Alienware, Xbox, PlayStation and More

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Tuesday, Nov. 25

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Nov. 25.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: What Peter Pan teaches the Darling kids to do
Answer: FLY

4A clue: Cover-up for a curse
Answer: BLEEP

6A clue: Bird perched atop a cactus on Mexico’s flag
Answer: EAGLE

7A clue: Go off, as a volcano
Answer: ERUPT

8A clue: Short albums, for short
Answer: EPS

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Burning emergency signal
Answer: FLARE

2D clue: Slight advantage, so to speak
Answer: LEGUP

3D clue: Checks restaurant reviews on one’s phone, perhaps
Answer: YELPS

4D clue: Spell-off
Answer: BEE

5D clue: «What was the name of your first ___?» (common security question)
Answer: PET

Technologies

I Was Not Ready for How Good These Early Black Friday Motorola Deals Are, Especially the Razr

Motorola makes some of the best Android smartphones on the market, and right now you can score them for as much as $500 off ahead of Black Friday.

Looking for a new smartphone? The holiday season is usually the best time to upgrade with incredible savings all around. This year, Motorola is kicking off early Black Friday sale with some of its biggest discounts for 2025. This Black Friday, you can save up to $500 off the full Razr lineup.

There’s more — we found major savings on Motorola’s Edge and Moto G families, too, making these deals a solid choice for everything from a stocking stuffer to a personal upgrade. Whether you want a premium foldable, a clean Android phone with smooth software, great battery life or just an affordable smartphone that covers the essentials, these discounts make it a lot easier to hit the purchase button.

Some of the biggest savings are to be had on the Razr family of phones. Right now, you can pick up the top of the line 1TB model of the Motorola Razr Ultra for just $999, knocking off $500 from the phone’s usual $1499 list price. That’s an impressive price drop for one of the most premium compact foldables on the market. Between the bright cover display that can handle full apps, and a high refresh rate main screen that folds with almost no crease, you can’t go wrong with the hardware. Similarly, the 512GB variant off the phone can be had for just $899.

Eyeing something a bit more affordable? The Motorola Razr Plus 2025 gives you a slim foldable phone for just $649. The Motorola Razr 2025 brings that price down even further to just $599 while keeping much of the same feature set.

Steeper savings can be had by opting in for Motorola’s bundles. For example, a $400 bundle nets you a Motorola Razr 2024, the Moto Watch Fit as well as the Moto Buds Plus. Put together, that’s a $400 in bonus value. Elsewhere, the Motorola Edge is getting a solid discount too. The Motorola Edge 2025 can be had for just $400, which gives you a bright curved display, fast charging and the same clean Android experience as the rest of the line up.

Looking for something even more budget friendly? The Moto G line up is what you are looking for. Holiday savings mean that you can snag the Moto G Stylus for just $300. That phone remains a top budget pick thanks to its unique features like a built-in stylus and a large display.If battery life is a priority, you’ll want to take a look at the Moto G Power 2025, currently discounted to just $199. And finally, if you need an entry-level smartphone for basic calling and texting, you can’t go wrong with the $150 Moto G 2025. Clearly there’s something for everyone.

And if you are on thelook out for more Black Friday deals on tech and beyond, CNET’s team is rounding up the best steals this holiday season on everything from headphones to Apple products and more. Don’t give it a miss.

MOBILE DEALS OF THE WEEK

Get an iPhone 17 Pro Free With Trade-in and Qualifying Plan at T-Mobile
Samsung Galaxy S25 FE 256GB Unlocked Phone (JetBlack):

$650 (save $60)
Google Pixel 9 128GB Unlocked Phone (Obsidian):

$499 (save $300)
OnePlus 13R 256GB Unlocked Phone (Nebula Noir):

$551 (save $50)
Motorola Edge 256GB Unlocked Phone (2024 Model, Midnight Blue):

$250 (save $300)

Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article.

Why this deal matters

These are some of the best Motorola deals you will find this holiday season, and it covers everything from high-end foldables to ultra-affordable picks. If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your Android phone or gifting one, these Cyber Week savings go a long way toward making it easier to save before the holiday rush hits.

Join Our Daily Deals Text Group!

Get hand-picked deals from CNET shopping experts straight to your phone.

By signing up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to receive recurring marketing messages at the phone number provided. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Reply STOP to unsubscribe. Msg & data rates may apply. View our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.