Guide to Investigating Meta Facebook/Instagram Advertisements for Police and Law Enforcement Agencies

Guide to Investigating Meta (Facebook/Instagram) Advertisements for Police and Law Enforcement Agencies

Online fraud is one of the fastest-growing cyber threats globally, and India has not been spared. In 2024 alone, the country lost over ₹22,845 crore to online fraudsters, according to official government figures. Among the various tactics used, scam advertisements on Facebook and Instagram (Meta platforms) are increasingly becoming a preferred tool for criminals.
With over 500 million Indian users on Facebook alone, Meta ads allow fraudsters to precisely target victims based on “interests” and demographics. These advertisements can be used not only for fake product marketing but also for money laundering, mule account infrastructure, sale of restricted goods, and spreading divisive content. For investigators, this makes ad-tracing a critical component of cybercrime investigation.
This guide explains step-by-step methods for law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to effectively investigate suspicious advertisements on Meta platforms.

1. Capturing the Advertisement Link

The ad link is the starting point of any investigation. Unlike regular profile or post links, investigators must capture the Ad Library Link, which is unique for each advertisement.

• Click on the three dots (⋮) shown on the ad.
• Select “Why am I seeing this ad?”
• From there, click “See Ad Detail in Meta Ad Library”.

• Copy the complete Ad Library URL.

Example:

• https://facebook.com/ads/library/?id=768684092693090
• Here, the Library ID is the unique identifier for the advertisement.

⚠️ Important: Do not copy the Facebook/Instagram profile link of the advertiser. Only the Ad Library link is valid for official requests.

2. Preservation Request on Meta LERS Portal

• Link :-https://www.facebook.com/records/

• Once the ad link is captured, investigators should immediately send a Preservation Request through the Meta Law Enforcement Request System (LERS) Portal.
• Select the “Facebook Ads” option.
• Enter the date and time of the suspected ad activity.
• Meta will preserve the data, even if the advertiser deletes the content later.

💡 If the ad link seems inactive, investigators can adjust the timeline parameters to match the duration when the ad was active.

3. Formal Data Request

After preservation, the next step is to submit a Data Request through the same LERS portal. This request should be backed by Indian laws for legitimacy.

Recommended references:

• Section 3(1)(j) of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021
• Section 94 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023

BNSS, 2023 – Section 94 (Relevant Extract):
“The intermediary shall, as soon as possible, but not later than seventy-two hours… provide information under its control or possession, or assistance to the Government agency… for the purposes of verification of identity, or for the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution, of offences under any law in force, or for cybersecurity incidents…”
If Meta fails to provide the data within the stipulated 72-hour window, investigators should send a reminder notice.

4. Importance of Advertisement Data Disclosure

Advertisement data from Meta can reveal critical details such as:

• Advertiser’s identity (real or fake)
• Billing/payment methods used
• Geographic targeting of victims
• IP addresses and device logs used by the advertiser
• Linked business pages/accounts

Such disclosures can help trace not only small-time fraudsters but also larger syndicates engaged in laundering, cyber scams, and even terror financing.

5. Challenges and Advantages

While many countries lack designated contacts at BigTech firms, India has a relatively robust framework:

• Nodal officers are recognized by intermediaries.
• Emergency response mechanisms exist under IT Rules.

Indian LEAs can directly escalate matters in urgent cases (e.g., communal tensions or large-scale fraud).
Thus, Indian investigators are empowered with sufficient legal and procedural tools to extract critical data from global platforms like Meta.
Meta advertisements have become a double-edged sword—an effective business tool for legitimate marketers but equally powerful in the hands of cybercriminals. To stay ahead, Indian law enforcement must master the process of ad link collection, preservation, and data request filing.
This structured approach not only preserves crucial digital evidence but also ensures legal compliance under IT Rules, 2021 and BNSS, 2023.
By following these steps, police agencies can turn scam ads from a threat into an opportunity for intelligence gathering, thereby protecting citizens and strengthening India’s cyber resilience.

📌 Note: This post is created to fill the knowledge gap for law enforcement officers. It is based on inputs from investigators and aims to provide a practical roadmap for Facebook/Instagram advertisement investigation.