Did TikTok weaken its scam-ad enforcement, as Forbes reports?
Forbes says TikTok weakened advertiser-ban rules. The company rejects the allegations and says enforcement has strengthened. The dispute concerns internal sanctions against advertisers whose customers never receive purchases.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
The investigation (opens in a new tab) cites documents and four insiders. Paul DelPonte criticizes advertiser vetting. Forbes Australia (opens in a new tab) carries the same report and company response. The documents have not been independently obtained. Complaint totals alone do not establish that policy changes caused more scams.
Timeline
1 timeline entry on this page. Dates: October 7, 2026
October 2026
1 event
Forbes publishes investigation and TikTok's response
Source release
Forbes reported weakened advertiser-ban rules and included TikTok's rejection of its allegations.
[01]Forbes investigation of TikTok advertiser-ban rules, October 7, 2026
Forbes reports internal policy changes and includes TikTok's rejection of its allegations.
Forbes investigation of TikTok advertiser-ban rules, October 7, 2026Internal advertiser-ban rules and Jessica Casano-Antonellis's response[02]Forbes Australia republication of the TikTok advertiser-enforcement investigation
Licensed republication of the same investigation, including the company response.
Forbes Australia republication of the TikTok advertiser-enforcement investigationParagraphs on advertiser violations, TikTok's statement and Paul DelPonte's interviews
Response record
Responses
Latest recorded positions: 2. Dates: October 7, 2026
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
2 responses on this page
TikTokTikTok spokesperson Jessica Casano-Antonellis, in a statement quoted by ForbesDirectly involved "These false allegations misrepresent TikTok’s commitment to advertiser safety, platform integrity, and enforcement ... TikTok strictly prohibits fraudulent and deceptive advertising, and we have continuously strengthened our policies and enforcement systems to address evolving risks and safeguard our community and partners."
DeniedCase context: Did TikTok weaken its scam-ad enforcement, as Forbes reports?
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TikTok spokesperson Jessica Casano-Antonellis said in a statement that the allegations are false, that TikTok strictly prohibits fraudulent and deceptive advertising, and that it has continuously strengthened its policies and enforcement systems. Forbes reported that she did not answer a detailed list of questions about why TikTok changed its policies.
Before the statement
Forbes reported that advertisers are removed only if they violate one of the few remaining zero-tolerance policies, such as those on child sexual abuse material, promotion of terrorism or narcotics.
After the statement
Forbes reported that Casano-Antonellis did not answer a detailed list of questions about why TikTok changed its policies and how much money it makes from scam ads.
Forbes investigation of TikTok advertiser-ban rules, October 7, 2026Internal advertiser-ban rules and Jessica Casano-Antonellis's responseForbes Australia republication of the TikTok advertiser-enforcement investigationParagraphs on advertiser violations, TikTok's statement and Paul DelPonte's interviewsWhy this label?
The reference point is whether TikTok weakened its scam-ad enforcement, as Forbes reports. The spokesperson says the allegations are false and that TikTok has continuously strengthened its enforcement, which rejects the claim that it weakened enforcement, so we labeled it Denied. The closest competing label is Challenged the characterization, because she disputes Forbes's account; she denies the weakening itself rather than only its description, so it loses.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
National Crime Prevention CouncilExecutive director of the National Crime Prevention Council, quoted by Forbes "You owe it to your customers and users that the ad you just made money on is from a legitimate enterprise at a very minimum"
CondemnedCase context: Did TikTok weaken its scam-ad enforcement, as Forbes reports?
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Paul DelPonte, executive director of the National Crime Prevention Council, told Forbes that platforms owe their customers and users, at a very minimum, that an ad they made money on comes from a legitimate enterprise. Forbes reported that the council had flagged fake Aerie ads to TikTok.
Before the statement
Forbes reported that TikTok told the council it took down fake Aerie ads the council had flagged in late October 2025, while more than 30 people reported to the Better Business Bureau between November and February 2026 that they bought from a fake Aerie site after seeing it on TikTok.
After the statement
Forbes reported that multiple sources said TikTok's automated review may remove individual ads but does little to stop repeat offenders because the platform lacks an escalating advertiser-violation system.
Forbes investigation of TikTok advertiser-ban rules, October 7, 2026Internal advertiser-ban rules and Jessica Casano-Antonellis's responseForbes Australia republication of the TikTok advertiser-enforcement investigationParagraphs on advertiser violations, TikTok's statement and Paul DelPonte's interviewsWhy this label?
The reference point is whether TikTok weakened its scam-ad enforcement, as Forbes reports. DelPonte, whose council flagged fake ads to TikTok, says platforms owe users at least that an ad they profit from comes from a legitimate enterprise, which criticizes the lax advertiser screening that Forbes describes, so we labeled it Condemned. The closest competing label is Challenged the characterization, because he speaks about platforms in general; he says it in a report about TikTok's scam ads, so it loses.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(2)
Reporting
Forbes investigation of TikTok advertiser-ban rules, October 7, 2026
Relevant passage: Internal advertiser-ban rules and Jessica Casano-Antonellis's response
About this source
Forbes reports internal policy changes and includes TikTok's rejection of its allegations.
- Author
- Katharine Schwab and Iain Martin
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Forbes Australia republication of the TikTok advertiser-enforcement investigation
Relevant passage: Paragraphs on advertiser violations, TikTok's statement and Paul DelPonte's interviews
About this source
Licensed republication of the same investigation, including the company response.
- Author
- Katharine Schwab
- Published
- Accessed
Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Did TikTok weaken its scam-ad enforcement, as Forbes reports?
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/cases/tiktok-scam-ad-enforcement-forbes-investigation
The Dispute Index. "Did TikTok weaken its scam-ad enforcement, as Forbes reports?". First published: 2026-10-10. Last updated: 2026-10-10. https://disputeindex.com/cases/tiktok-scam-ad-enforcement-forbes-investigation