VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Social Media: Fraud

Asked by James McMurdockIndependentDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled Answered 2 April 2026UIN 122616

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has made an estimate of the revenues generated by social media platforms from advertisements later identified as fraudulent.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology does not hold data relating to the number of fraudulent or scam adverts on social media or other regulated services.

There are mechanisms in the Online Safety Act that allow Ofcom to collect information from categorised services on the incidence and dissemination of illegal content, which would include fraudulent advertising content. Ofcom is required under the Act to publish annual transparency reports.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim