A sophisticated investment fraud dubbed “Nomani” expanded beyond Facebook to other platforms and rose 62% this year, according to cybersecurity firm ESET, which says it blocked more than 64,000 unique URLs tied to the scheme. The operation relies on higher‑fidelity deepfake endorsements and short‑lived, cloaked ad campaigns that increasingly use platform-native forms to harvest personal and payment data; victims are later targeted again with fake Europol and Interpol “fund recovery” pitches. While detections were up year-over-year, ESET reported a 37% drop in the second half of 2025, suggesting intensified law‑enforcement pressure. The trend highlights the broader challenge facing social media companies, as separate reporting has spotlighted the role of deceptive ads—including in China—in driving significant shares of platform ad revenue.
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