The Philippines Needs a Social Media Scam Hunter: A Proposal for a Dedicated Scam Verification Search Engine
The Rise of Social Media Scams and “Ad-scam”
For just 599 in one wallet, you can get 3,000 pesos up to 10,000 Cash! Did I hear that right? Okay, okay. Here’s how: just take the money in the wallet and use it to pay for the 599.
It’s no surprise that the combination of exploitation with social engineering and scamming, creating more convincing tactics that target victims 24/7. On the other hand Just like Facebook ads, it’s easy for criminals to create these scams — all they need is a budget to reach their target audience, or rather, their victims. I often see these scam ads whenever I refresh my Facebook tab or scroll through my feed. My algorithm is only getting worse, if you click on something, it will constantly bombard you with similar content every time you browse your feeds.
Every time I intend to click on miracle charms, money magnets, get-rich-quick schemes, or fake religious figures offering blessings, my Facebook feed seems to attract even more of these scams. How do I turn off the algorithm? That’s a question for Mark Zuckerberg, and maybe he won’t even have an answer.
The Facebook Algorithm
Think of Facebook as a massive, ever-expanding digital library, packed with posts, photos, videos, articles, and every kind of content imaginable. The Facebook algorithm acts like an overzealous librarian, constantly trying to figure out which content you’ll find most interesting in order to keep you scrolling. It isn’t a single, neatly defined program, but rather a complex network of algorithms working together.
This “librarian” analyzes several key factors: your past interactions on the platform (what you’ve liked, shared, commented on), the types of content you generally engage with (videos, links, etc.), the activity of your friends, the overall popularity of a post, and a whole host of other hidden signals. The goal is always to show you content Facebook believes will capture your attention for as long as possible.
The problem is, the Facebook algorithm has a major blind spot. It struggles to distinguish between legitimate content and carefully crafted scams. This is where the phrase “Blind Facebook Algorithm” theory comes from. Scammers understand how to manipulate the algorithm; they intentionally design ads that are flashy, use emotionally charged language, and promise something too good to be true. These factors often trigger the algorithm to prioritize the content, thinking it’s something you might find engaging. Worse yet, if you interact with a scam ad (even if just to criticize or investigate it), the algorithm may interpret this as genuine interest and start showing you even more similar scams!
I’ve tried reporting these posts, but it’s a frustratingly ineffective process. Facebook often leaves them up, offering only vague excuses. Even when you have zero interest in shopping on Facebook Marketplace, these ads invade your feed, violating your online space for the sake of profit. It’s incredibly annoying to be constantly bombarded with ads for things you don’t want. If these big tech companies truly respected users, they would restrict ads to designated areas of Facebook and only display them when you’re actively searching for related products — not while you’re simply scrolling your feed.
“When you’re searching for a product or business, it’s natural to turn to online searches. But what if you’re unsure whether a Facebook page, person, company, or product is genuine? To address this, I propose a dedicated search engine that helps you verify the exposed scammers tactics. This engine would maintain an updated list of known scammers, giving users more confidence when making decisions.
Think of it like ScamAdviser, a tool that analyzes websites for legitimacy, or VirusTotal, a service for checking files for malicious code. This proposal isn’t sponsored by either of those services, but they serve as examples of how helpful a similar tool could be for millions of Filipinos trying to discern scams from legitimate businesses.”
Members of the Scammer Alert | Philippines Facebook group (with a remarkable 120.7k members) work tirelessly to expose scams, often posting to verify the legitimacy of suspicious businesses or offers. The Scam Watch Pilipinas also plays a vital role in educating and helping victims of scams.
A dedicated search engine could be a game-changer, potentially tipping the odds in favor of consumers against scams. Why? Here’s the idea: knowing a centralized tool exists may deter scammers, as their tactics become exposed and easily searchable. Should Facebook implement this feature? Who knows? However, it’s possible that this feature could decrease their ad-based profits.
The fight against online scams is a complex one. While existing Facebook groups provide some help, a centralized search engine would offer a more efficient and proactive tool for Filipinos. Such a tool, while potentially decreasing ad revenue for tech giants, would ultimately benefit both consumers and legitimate businesses alike by discouraging scammers and creating a safer online environment. It’s time for tech companies to prioritize user safety and transparency over unchecked profits.
