Advertising Fraud: Why We Believe False Promises and Lose Money

In the modern information environment, advertisements have become the primary tool for attracting attention and selling products and services. However, with the advancement of technologies, advertising campaigns are also being exploited by fraudsters. Fraud through advertising has become a widespread threat, and false ads, fake discounts, and false promises on the internet can lead to financial losses and loss of trust in online business.

Advertising Fraud: A Danger to Users 

Advertising fraud has become a pressing issue in recent years. Numerous fake ads have appeared online, promoting products and services that do not exist. Scams through targeted ads have become especially popular among fraudsters, as advertising on social media and other platforms is becoming increasingly personalized. This allows criminals to precisely target their offers to people interested in certain products and services.

One of the main methods used by fraudsters is fake promotions and discounts. Such ads attract attention by offering enticing deals, promising products at incredibly low prices. However, after placing an order, buyers either do not receive the product at all or encounter other issues.

False Ads: How to Identify Them?

The main task when detecting suspicious ads is identifying signs of fraud. Here are some tips to help avoid falling into a trap:

1. Check the company: Always verify information about the company or website advertising the product. If it's a new or unfamiliar firm, it is recommended to review feedback and ratings.
2. Check the promotion or discount: Pay attention to the price of goods or services. Extremely large discounts that seem too good to be true can be a sign of fraud.
3. Suspicious payment methods: Fraudsters often offer unconventional payment methods or require prepayment through unverified channels.
4. Return issues: Companies involved in fraud often do not provide the opportunity to return the product or money.

Social Media Scams: Ways to Protect Yourself from Deception 

Social networks have become one of the most popular platforms for conducting fraudulent advertising campaigns. False ads offering goods that do not actually exist regularly appear on Facebook and Instagram. Often, fraudsters use fake accounts that look like official pages of well-known brands. To protect yourself from such scams, it is important to adhere to a few simple rules:

• Be cautious with personal information: Do not share personal data with suspicious pages or respond to dubious offers.
• Check links: Before clicking on a link from an ad, make sure it is genuine. Some fraudsters may substitute links with fake sites.
• Pay attention to the form of advertising: False promotions are often accompanied by urgent offers, such as "apply within 5 minutes, or the discount will disappear".

How to Identify Frauds in Advertising? 

Deception through contextual advertising and targeted ads is another important aspect of fraud. Unlike traditional advertising, contextual ads appear on pages depending on the user's interests, allowing fraudsters to precisely target their offers. To avoid being deceived, it is important to remember several key signs:

1. Unclear terms: If an offer lacks clear conditions or there is no information about the product on the site, this should raise suspicion.
2. Unusual products or services: Ads for products that seem too exotic or unreliable may be a sign of fraud.
3. Suspicious sites: Using unprofessional or suspicious sites that appear unfinished is an indicator that this may be false advertising.
4. Unrealistic reviews: Often, fraudsters create fake reviews about a product to increase trust. It is important to check reviews on third-party resources to understand if they are real.

Fraudulent promotional campaigns have become a serious problem for internet users. Advertising, as a tool for deception, is becoming more sophisticated every day. False ads pose a danger to users who are not aware of protection methods and the specifics of working with online advertising.

Fraud Schemes on the Internet: What to Do for Protection? 

To avoid becoming a victim of fraudsters, it is important to follow a few basic recommendations:

1. Regularly verify information about the company or product.
2. Be cautious with offers of unusual discounts or promotions.
3. Do not disclose personal data on unverified sites.
4. Use antivirus programs and tools to protect against fraudsters.

Fraud through advertisements is a serious threat to internet users, but by following basic precautions, you can avoid falling into the trap of scammers.