You're correct that there are some fake users. However, facebook is trying to fix that problem and is deleting likes from inactive accounts. Who knows how successful they will be though.

You're correct that the majority of those like farms are international. I never target international, except sometimes Canada, the UK and Australia, and then only if the campaign has proven to be a winner and it still makes sense in the context of whatever I'm selling.

However, I'm still refuting your original point that facebook ads are a total scam and there is no way to make money with them. I, and many people I know, are proof that isn't the case.

I see from your post history that you are involved in web development. Your argument would be similar to me (a non web developer) watching one video on one specific aspect of why web development is a scam and then going around claiming that it is impossible to make money through web development.

I would have gotten my information from one video that wasn't even made by a competent web developer and wouldn't have my own research/experience to back it up. Despite the fact that the video only covered one specific aspect of web dev. I would make sweeping unbending generalizations that encompassed all of web dev. and act like I was an authority on the topic.

Based on my own research and talking with other online marketers and facebook marketers the number of fake user likes is more like 20% to possibly 30% in certain instances. Is this an insignificant amount? No.

Does it suck for marketers? Yes, it does.

Is it a majority of users? No, it isn't.

Is it possible to make money using facebook ads? Yes, it is.

Are you likely to make money using facebook ads if you are completely inexperienced and don't have a mentor or large budget to learn? Probably not, but I would argue this is true for most advertising mediums.