Google announces steps to ban scam ads


Well done. That's the same scammer that I reported last week. And this scammer keeps popping up on Google AdWords even when previously taken down. The CBI and Google need to start sharing information on scammers.
 
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The point is to help others especially those that are vulnerable and/or trust Google AdWords.

Sometimes take down reports work. Sometimes the CBI have taken action. And the media seemed to take notice at one stage. I think it is worth trying in the hope that something will change.
 
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Lightning said:
The point is to help others especially those that are vulnerable and/or trust Google AdWords.
Click to expand...

Agree fully.

The fact that Google or the Central Bank is slow to act and that you feel that most of the time you are tilting at windmills, doesn't mean that you should give up.

If no one reported, then they would do nothing at all.

If someone loses money on a fake ad, after it has been reported to Google, then Google should be made responsible for the losses. That would wake them up.
 

Google just rejected my report about this scam despite the CBI warning against the scammer

Did Google reject your report too?
 
Meanwhile, the incoming Taoiseach is suing Google over scam ads. Fair play to him.

"Incoming Taoiseach Micheál Martin is taking legal action against Google over “fake and defamatory” ads that were “linked” to him."

And X is getting flooded with scam adverts too (even worse than Google).

‘Despicable’ – Simon Harris issues warning to Elon Musk as scam ads using the Taoiseach’s image flood X

The Government will clamp down on identity fraud, Taoiseach Simon Harris has said, after fake adverts with his image flooded X in recent days.
m.independent.ie
 
Reddit thread with more details on how these deposit comparison scammers, that Google allows advertise, work:

I have contacted the Central Bank of Ireland again and complained again about Google letting deposit scammers advertise and urged the CBI to work better with Google on these topics and to push the government into legislative action.
 
Despite the CBI warning, the lots of details, which were all sent to Google, and the fact that 'Best Rates' deposit comparison scam is so obviously a scam - I just got the following from Google after making multiple reports - Google have sent me a "final" response:

"We took another look at the ad you reported

Our team found that this ad doesn’t go against Google's advertising policies, so we decided not to take action against the ad.

We’ve closed this case, but you can still learn about your other options to dispute this decision. "



The options to dispute the decision lead to a webpage that only allows you dispute YouTube and not Google decisions. I.e. No way to appeal.



Once again, Google are truly unbelievable and incompetent with stopping scammers advertise on their platform.

Meanwhile, I have seen another, unregulated deposit taker, with a likely scam, pop up in Google search results. I have reported them, given that Google "only allow regulated deposit takers" (not reality but that's their policy) and await a random Google decision.

I'm going to send emails to a few politicians about the need for better regulations around the advertising of financial products online. And use this as an example. Not giving up!
 
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I salute your dedication and persistence.

But I feel it's trying to get sand off a beach with a tea spoon. While the govt allows trucks to dump more sand.

There's less controls than ever, hardly any enforcement, and everywhere is smothered in ads. Whatever Google does with one hand it's has 10 other hands doing the exact opposite.
 
MugsGame said:
I'm going to report to their registrar (Bahamas) and DNS & web host (Iceland, might get somewhere!) also.
Click to expand...
A "rate our support" request from the domain registrar of one of these sites prompted me to check what actually happened on foot of my abuse / scam reports. I never got a reply at the time, but I see that site is now down.

Also, Google results for related searches seem to have legitimate ads now. Not that you shouldn't still be suspicious of search results, but casual scamming of less sophisticated internet users seems to be harder now.
 
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Well done Mugsgame. Shocking that it takes these steps to address Google scam ads.

I just searched for multiple deposit terms. There seems to be less scams/suspicious websites.

But the problem is not fully solved. Google told the media that they would only allow regulated deposit takers advertise. One of the adverts I saw stated - "High Interest Savings Account | Deposit Interest 5.65% 12 mths" - not a plausible return - the link brings you to a company that claims to be based in Ireland. The company is not regulated by The Central Bank of Ireland nor any other regulator as their website admits. Their website/product looks sus at best. So much for Google only allowing regulated providers. I have reported the advert to Google and fully expect Google to reject the report.
 
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Playing ‘whack-a-mole’ with Meta over my fraudulent avatars

How is it possible that a company with such huge resources, including artificial intelligence tools, cannot deal with this?
www.irishtimes.com

Martin Wolf reports in the FT on "whack and mole" efforts to remove scam financial adverts from Meta which had his name in the adverts. He questions if Meta even care.

Meta, of course, blame the scammers rather than their lack of human checks on adverts.

Online advertising needs major regulation.
 
The Central Bank is now a trusted flagger of Coimisiún na Meán

Central Bank awarded with 'Trusted Flagger' Status

As concerns continue to grow about the proliferation of financial scams, fraud and illegal content on online platforms, a new step was taken today to protect consumers.
www.rte.ie

The online platforms must ensure that notices of the presence of illegal content, reported by Trusted Flaggers, are given priority and decided upon without undue delay or potentially face penalties.

So maybe report false ads to the Central Bank as well as Google?
 
Good to see the Central Bank of Ireland taking a more active role in flagging scam financial adverts on platforms.

You can report a financial scam to the CBI. Hopefully when you report the scam, the CBI will further flag this to the relevant online platform.

Whether X, Meta and Google will play ball with this or not will be key.

But scams should be caught before they end up displayed on the platforms.
 
Excellent WSJ article (paywall) with an investigation about scam adverts on Meta https://www.wsj.com/tech/meta-fraud-facebook-instagram-813363c8?mod=hp_lead_pos1 (here)

Some take-aways:
  • Meta is increasingly a cornerstone of the internet fraud economy. Almost 50% of scams reported are via Meta. 70% of new advertisers on Meta are scammers.
  • "Current and former employees say Meta is reluctant to add impediments for ad-buying clients who drove a 22% increase in its advertising business last year to over $160 billion. Even after users demonstrate a history of scamming, Meta balks at removing them."
  • Facebook Marketplace has turned into a hunting ground for scammers.
  • "Meta argued in U.S. federal court that it bears no legal responsibility to address the issue."
  • "Meta's ongoing ineffectiveness at governing fraud on its platforms has drawn less scrutiny—even though it causes widespread and tangible problems for consumers and businesses."
  • Ongoing ineffectiveness has led to pig butchering groups comprising hundreds of thousands of people, many trafficked.
  • Businesses saying "“We keep reporting pages to Meta, but nothing ever happens.”

Utterly shocking. Meta, Google and X need to be heavily regulated with adverts.
 
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Irish Independent article on scam financial adverts today here.

The Irish government want platforms to be forced to check if financial providers are regulated before placing the advert.

The right approach. And platforms cannot be trusted to do this unless there is legislation and fines if they didn't do it. But EC says the proposal goes against other legislation.
 
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