- A prominent Qatari businessman, Wissam Al Mana, was caught off guard when his image was used without consent in fake cryptocurrency ads on Facebook that caused reputational damage.
- After a 3-year legal battle with Meta (Facebook), they have now reached a private settlement where Meta apologized and agreed to implement measures against future crypto scam ads.
- Al Mana said the scam ads caused “reputational harm, distress and embarrassment” even after they were removed, so he pursued the case to prevent repeat offenses by the scam artists.
A crypto scam has ensnared an unsuspecting victim – Wissam Al Mana, a prominent Qatari businessman. Al Mana was shocked to see his image used in fake cryptocurrency advertisements on Facebook without his consent. The ads caused “reputational harm, distress and embarrassment,” according to his legal team.
After a 3-Year Legal Battle, Meta Settles with Al Mana
Al Mana has been battling tech giant Meta (formerly Facebook) over these fraudulent ads since 2019. The ads were “published by malicious third parties” and Meta failed to prevent further incidents, per Al Mana’s lawyers. Now, after an expensive 3-year court fight in Ireland, Meta has publicly apologized and agreed to implement “robust measures” against future crypto scam ads.
Details of Settlement Remain Confidential
The settlement terms reached privately by Al Mana and Meta remain confidential. However, Al Mana’s legal team is seeking an order to force Meta to reveal identifying details about the scam ad buyers, including IP addresses and places of residence. This transparency could help prevent repeat offenses.
Al Mana: Ads Caused “Reputational Harm”
In a statement, Al Mana said the fake ads caused serious personal damage despite Meta removing them. He felt pursuing the case was necessary to stop the scam artists from simply creating new ads. The billionaire said the ads resulted in “reputational harm, distress and embarrassment.”
Al Mana’s Background: Businessman and Janet Jackson’s Ex
So who is Wissam Al Mana? The 48-year-old helps run his family’s business conglomerate Al Mana Group, which distributes luxury brands like Hermès in Qatar. Al Mana was previously married to pop star Janet Jackson. The pair have one child together before divorcing in 2017.
Crypto Scams Persist as Industry Struggles
Unfortunately, Al Mana’s case highlights the ongoing issue of cryptocurrency scams amid the turbulence facing the crypto industry. <a href="https://blocknews.com/takedown-of-fraudulent-cryptocurrency-networks-in-bulgaria-cyprus-and-serbia/" title="<strong>Takedown of Fraudulent Cryptocurrency Networks in Bulgaria, Cyprus, and SerbiaFraudulent ads and schemes persist in stealing money from unwitting victims. Meta, Google and crypto companies still have more work to do in shutting down these bad actors and protecting consumers.
