Consumer watchdog blasts platforms for onerous reporting mechanisms
Richard Speed Mon 26 Apr 2021 // 13:45 UTC Share
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UK consumer watchdog Which? has found that ad giants Google and Facebook are failing to remove online scam ads even after victims report them.
A third of those reporting scam ads to Google found the same offending ads still present, while the figure was a quarter for antisocial media site Facebook.
In terms of gullibility, of those who told Which? they d fallen victim to a malicious ad, just over a quarter were duped by something on Facebook, 19 per cent got caught through Google adverts, and a mere 3 per cent were tricked through Twitter.
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While Adam French, Which? Consumer Rights Expert, added: The vaccine roll out is just the latest hook that fraudsters are using to exploit the pandemic for their own financial gain. You should never share personal or financial information with any unsolicited communication, like emails, texts or phone calls, and don t follow any links - scammers will try to take advantage of the current uncertainty by any means possible. The government must now prioritise legislative options to stem the rising tide of scams across the UK and prevent more innocent people from falling victim to these crimes.
Action Fraud on their website offers advice on how to spot a coronavirus vaccine scam.
To give may be better than to receive but to receive can sometimes be rather underwhelming. Spare a thought for those whose presents included a used potato peeler or a second-hand bra.
Londoners were the most likely to find a new home for their presents, with a third of those from the capital saying they gave away or sold disappointing gifts compared to the country’s average of one in five.
Adam French, Which? Consumer Rights Expert, said: “Whether it is out of date booze or kitchen utensils, many of us have been left wondering how to get rid of an unwanted Christmas gift – and our research shows a fifth of people choose to give their presents away.”
The survey, from February, found women were more likely to get rid of unwanted presents as a quarter decided to find a new home for their disappointing presents last year compared to one in seven men.