In recent Facebook ad scams, con artists tricked a Queensland retiree into selling her house, swindled a GP who believed he was investing in a fixed-term deposit scheme and stole about $700,000 from a new father.

A months-long investigation by our papers has heard from devastated victims, cyber-fraud investigators and scamming syndicate insiders, including scammers themselves.

Today, investigative reporter Aisha Dow on how networks of sophisticated criminal groups deploy social media ad campaigns to fish for new victims, fleecing Australians and other victims worldwide.