How Do I Report a Facebook Ad? Step-by-Step Guide

Quick Answer

To report a Facebook ad, click the three-dot menu in the top right corner of the ad, select "Report ad," and choose the reason from the list (scam, misleading, offensive, etc.). Facebook will review the ad within 24–72 hours. If the ad violates Meta's Advertising Standards, it will be removed and the advertiser may face account restrictions.

When to Report a Facebook Ad

Meta's Advertising Standards prohibit several types of content. Report an ad if it shows any of the following:

• Scam or misleading product claims
• Counterfeit goods
• Adult or sexual content
• Hate speech or discrimination
• Misinformation about health, elections, or news
• Spam or repeated content
• Violation of intellectual property
• Personal attributes like race or religion used to target you
• Illegal products such as weapons or drugs

If the ad is just annoying or irrelevant, you should hide it instead of reporting it. Reporting is reserved for genuine policy violations.

Report vs Hide vs Block

Action	What it does	When to use
Hide ad	Removes the ad from your feed	The ad is irrelevant or repetitive
Block advertiser	Stops you seeing any ads from that page	You never want this brand to advertise to you
Report ad	Sends to Meta for policy review	The ad violates Meta's standards
Snooze for 30 days	Hides ads from this advertiser temporarily	You are tired of seeing them but do not want a permanent block

Step-by-Step: Reporting an Ad on Desktop

1. Find the ad in your Facebook feed
2. Click the three-dot menu in the top right corner of the ad
3. Select "Report ad"
4. Choose a reason from the list (e.g., "Scam or fraud," "Misleading," "Sexually inappropriate")
5. Add details if requested
6. Click "Submit"

You will receive a confirmation that your report has been submitted.

Step-by-Step: Reporting an Ad on Mobile

1. Tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner of the ad
2. Tap "Report ad"
3. Select the reason
4. Tap "Submit"
5. You will see a confirmation screen

The mobile process is identical on both iOS and Android.

Reporting an Ad on Instagram

The process is similar on Instagram:

1. Tap the three dots above the ad
2. Tap "Report ad"
3. Select the reason
4. Tap "Submit"

Instagram and Facebook share the same backend, so reports are processed by the same Meta team.

Template: What to Include in Your Report

If the report form lets you add details, include the following:

• What the ad claims: "This ad claims to sell Apple AirPods for £5"
• Why it is misleading: "When I clicked the link, the site asked for payment information without delivering the product"
• Evidence of fraud: "The website is not operated by Apple and the URL is suspicious"
• What harm it could cause: "Anyone who buys is likely to have their card details stolen"

The clearer your report, the faster Meta can act.

What Happens After You Report

After you submit a report, Meta's review team checks the ad against the Advertising Standards. The process is mostly automated, with human review for edge cases. Reviews typically take 24–72 hours. If the ad is found to violate policy, three things happen:

1. The ad is removed from circulation
2. The advertiser is notified
3. If the violation is severe, the ad account may be restricted or disabled

You will not always be told the outcome of your specific report, but Meta does send notifications for serious violations.

What If Facebook Does Nothing

If you report an ad and it stays live, you have a few options:

• Report it again with more detail
• Use the "I see something illegal in the EU" option (for EU users)
• Report the advertiser directly to your country's consumer protection agency
• Contact Action Fraud (UK), the FTC (US), or the equivalent in your country
• Block the advertiser so you never see their ads again

Why This Matters for Honest Advertisers

If you are a legitimate advertiser, the reporting system protects you. Scam ads erode trust in Facebook ads as a whole, making it harder for honest brands to convert. Every reported scam is one less competitor wasting users' attention.

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