unwanted scam and fraudulent advertising

[zanash]

I've just logged in and found the web pages strewn with advertising ...ok so I understand that this brings revenue in.

But and its a big but, advertising devices that you attach to your mains power supply that either fool or trick your electricity meter into giving the wrong values is illegal in the uk.

By promoting these you become complicit and liable to both prosecution or damage claims, as the site is promoting and promulgating them.

The particular advert is from motex "power saving "...if you google it you will see a great many posts suggesting that this is a scam [I've no idea if it is ?].

The second advert on the same page also from motex shows a uk three pin wall socket, where a pair of pliers appears to be inserting a nail into one of the receptacles.....need I say more ?

both these adds redirect you to google ad services if your daft enough to click on them.

[hifinutt]

yes i saw those ads for Motex on another forum . I have no idea if its a scam or what . highly likely . Many forums as you know gain income from these ads so as long as they are not too intrusive i can live with it . just because a site has ads i dont think it makes you complicit but recently amazon adjusted a device that told you to put pennys in a socket !!

I notice some newspapers carry ads for electric scooters to sell on the main road which is of course illegal

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-59810383

[walpurgis]

Might be your browser. Mine has an ad-blocker, so I don't see any.

[zanash]

I too have an add blocker !

its not the add but the content !

just finished the report form for the ASA advertising standards agency and submitted!

[walpurgis]

Our admin/tech support have been advised of your concerns.

[Macca]

I've just logged in and found the web pages strewn with advertising ...ok so I understand that this brings revenue in.

But and its a big but, advertising devices that you attach to your mains power supply that either fool or trick your electricity meter into giving the wrong values is illegal in the uk.

By promoting these you become complicit and liable to both prosecution or damage claims, as the site is promoting and promulgating them. .

The device does not work by fooling or tricking your electricity meter. It is IMO a scam since it won't do anything, but then this is true of a lot of hi-fi products also.

This site is not complicit or promoting anything, the site has no control over what Google ads cares to show.

The ASA has no legal powers , it is an organization set up by advertisers in order to ostensibly self-regulate. I doubt they will do anything about this but I'll be interested in their response if you get one.

[struth]

ive seen ads for those devices on nearly every page i look at on google tbh. not much you can do about it if likes of google are going to accept them.
often get loads of ads for fancy cheapish leather moccosin shoes too. i read somewhere they fall to bit upon putting them on and you get no refund.. from china

[dave2010]

Ads are the often the curse of the devil IMO. Now you even find them embedded in Youtube videos - complete pain. However, many of us don't want to pay much to site owners or content providers so put up with the irritation.

Some sites - including some worthwhile ones - do get extra revenue by embedding adverts - so presumably there is some financial sense to it, though I'd prefer it if generally that could be avoided.

I don't see them on this site, as I'm happy to pay a modest amount from time to time to avoid them.

[mikeyb]

Here's one I've just seen on another forum page!!

Reported to Google

[Macca]

committing suicide by electrocuting yourself will reduce your power consumption to zero. So that ad does seem to be genuine.