The Forbidden Facebook Ad Strategy That Gets Banned (But Works)
Facebook Ads is one of the most powerful advertising platforms, but it comes with strict policies. Some marketers have discovered a forbidden strategy that delivers incredible results but often gets banned.
If you’ve ever had a Facebook ad account suspended or ads rejected, you know how frustrating it can be. Yet, some advertisers keep using this risky method because it works too well.
In this article, we’ll reveal this controversial strategy, why it gets banned, and how some marketers still make it work (without losing their accounts).
Why Facebook Bans Certain Ad Strategies
Facebook prioritizes user experience, so they enforce strict ad policies. Some common reasons for bans include:
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Misleading claims (e.g., fake discounts, false scarcity)
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Circumventing systems (trying to bypass Facebook’s rules)
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Unacceptable business practices (dropshipping scams, fake reviews)
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Restricted content (CBD, weight loss, financial schemes)
The forbidden strategy we’re discussing falls under circumventing systems because it tricks Facebook’s algorithm into showing ads to audiences that would normally be restricted.
The Forbidden Strategy: Page Cloaking
What is cloaking?
Cloaking is when an advertiser shows one version of a page to Facebook’s review team (which complies with policies) and a different version to users (which may violate policies).
For example:
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Facebook sees: A harmless blog post about health tips.
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Users see: A direct sales page for a weight loss supplement.
This works because Facebook’s automated review system scans the initial page, approves it, and then the advertiser swaps it for the real (often policy-breaking) offer.
Why It Works (And Why It’s Banned)
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Higher conversions: Some offers (like weight loss or make-money schemes) convert extremely well but get rejected by Facebook. Cloaking lets them run anyway.
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Lower CPMs: Restricted audiences often have less competition, so ads are cheaper.
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Avoiding scrutiny: By hiding the real offer, advertisers dodge manual reviews.
However, Facebook’s AI is getting smarter at detecting cloaking. If caught, penalties include:
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Ad account bans
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Page shutdowns
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Payment method blacklisting
How Some Advertisers Still Make It Work
While cloaking is high-risk, some marketers tweak the approach to fly under the radar. Here’s how:
1. The “Soft Cloak” Method
Instead of a full bait-and-switch, they use a slightly altered version of the same page.
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Facebook sees: A sales page with toned-down claims.
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Users see: The same page but with stronger urgency (e.g., countdown timers added after approval).
This is harder to detect because the core content remains the same.
2. The “Redirect Delay” Technique
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Users land on an approved page first.
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After 3-5 seconds, JavaScript redirects them to the real offer.
Since Facebook’s bots scan instantly, they often miss the redirect.
3. The “User-Agent Cloak” (Advanced)
This method detects whether the visitor is:
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A Facebook bot → Shows a compliant page.
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A real user → Shows the real offer.
This requires coding skills but is one of the most effective (and dangerous) methods.
The Ethical Dilemma: Should You Try It?
While cloaking can bring insane ROI, the risks are real:
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Permanent bans (losing access to Facebook Ads forever).
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Legal issues (if running deceptive offers).
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Reputation damage (if customers feel scammed).
Safer Alternatives to Cloaking
If you want high-converting ads without the risk, try:
✅ Pre-Approval Landing Pages
Submit your landing page to Facebook for manual review before running ads.
✅ White Hat Urgency Tactics
Use real scarcity (limited-time discounts) instead of fake countdown timers.
✅ Alternative Ad Platforms
Try Google Ads, native ads, or influencer marketing for restricted offers.