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3 min read
How to report scam ads impersonating your brand on Google and Meta
How to report Google and Meta ads that impersonate your brand, when to file a trademark complaint, and how to find scam ads before customers do.
ChainPatrol
To report a Google ad impersonating your brand, use the ad's menu to report it, and file Google Ads' trademark complaint form if the ad uses your trademark. To report a Meta ad on Facebook or Instagram, use Report ad and choose the scam, fraud or impersonation option, or file through Meta's Brand Rights Protection if you're enrolled. Then deal with the page the ad points to, because that's where customers lose money.
Here's how scam ads target customers, how to report them on each network, and how to find them early.
How scam ads target your customers
Search ads on support terms. Ads bought on "[brand] login", "[brand] customer service" or "[brand] phone number" send people to cloned pages or fake support numbers.
Social ads using your name and logo. Fake promotions, giveaways and "investment" offers on Facebook and Instagram.
Ads using your executives. Fake endorsements by your leaders, sometimes with edited or synthetic video.
Reporting on each network
Network | Report the ad | Formal route |
|---|---|---|
The ad's menu, then report the ad | Google Ads trademark complaint form, with registration details and screenshots | |
Facebook and Instagram | Report ad, then the scam, fraud or impersonation option; also findable in Meta's Ad Library | Meta's trademark report form, or Brand Rights Protection if you're enrolled |
Microsoft (Bing) | Microsoft Advertising's report form | Microsoft Advertising's trademark process |
What to include
A screenshot of the ad and the search term or placement where it appeared.
The ad's destination URL.
Your trademark registration details for a trademark complaint.
A link to your official website and support page.
Take down the destination too
Removing the ad stops new traffic. The page it pointed to can still be shared elsewhere. Report the landing page to its registrar and host. Once a malicious website or phishing link is confirmed, ChainPatrol gets it flagged in 20+ wallets in about 5–10 minutes and in browsers in about 1–3 hours. Blocking applies to web domains and URLs; fake social profiles and chat accounts are removed through platform takedowns. See how to take down a phishing site.
Find scam ads before customers do
Search your brand plus "login", "support", "phone" and "refund" regularly, from more than one location if your customers are in several countries.
Check Meta's Ad Library for active ads using your name.
Ask your support team to log any ad a customer mentions, with a screenshot.
In the UK, consumers and businesses can also report scam ads to the Advertising Standards Authority.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a trademark to get a scam ad removed?
Scam and impersonation reports don't require one. A trademark complaint does, and it's often the stronger route for ads using your name.
Can competitors bid on our brand name?
Bidding on a brand keyword is often allowed. Using your trademark in the ad text to mislead, or impersonating you, isn't. Check each network's trademark policy.
Why do scam ads come back after removal?
Scam advertisers often run new accounts with small changes. Keep a log of removed ads and their destinations, and report repeat patterns together.
See which scam ads and fake pages are using your name. Get a free scan, with results within 48 hours.
Sources
Accessed October 2026. Platform processes change; check each source for the latest.
Fakes of your brand already out there?
ChainPatrol finds them, blocks the links in wallets and browsers, and files the takedowns for you.
