Users in several countries say they are seeing a rise in misleading adverts on YouTube, including fake government schemes, miracle health claims, inappropriate content and AI-generated promotions that lead to suspicious websites.
Many of the ads redirect to imitation news pages or fake portals designed to collect personal information or small payments. Viewers say the scams often look polished, making them harder to spot at a glance.
Security researchers warn that criminals are using malvertising techniques to slip fraudulent ads into YouTube’s automated auction system. Cheap AI tools make it easy to generate endless scam variations that bypass basic checks, even as billions of harmful ads are removed each year.
Businesses can reduce exposure by training staff to recognise suspicious promotions, avoiding links in untrusted ads and using browser protections that block known malicious domains. Clear reporting routes and strong account security help limit the chances of employees being caught out.