If someone is searching for Signal, what makes them see Messenger and decide to click that instead? I don't understand how this isn't throwing money into a fire.
Most people outside the tech bubble can't tell an ad from a search result.
They don't use ad blockers either, that's why banners saying "DOWNLOAD NOW" in flashing red letters work so well, leading them to download something completely different from that antivirus or PDF reader software they originally searched for.
Their target audience are the elderly and those who are illiterate in technology in general. I have personally seen people around me click the first result that shows up without even stopping to read what is written on it. They just assume that "I asked for Signal and it is Signal". That is the amount of trust they have. It is only when they get fooled do they go through multiple stages of confusion before they finally realize what is up: Hey why do I have this app? -> I never downloaded it -> Is this a virus? -> Have I been hacked? -> Let me ask my relative/friend who is a computer geek -> Oh it is something I download myself? -> Oh this isn't Signal? -> Oh okay I get it now -> Shall I uninstall it? -> Okay I'll uninstall.
There are some who skip this and just assume that the app they downloaded is Signal even if the app clearly says Facebook Messenger.
^ This is how scamsters take advantage of the elderly and those who do not have basic tech know-how. You'll be surprised to know that there are millions like that.