Google announces steps to ban scam ads

[Lightning]

I got a Google ad just now for an entity the Central Bank recently issued a warning about:

Better Rates Today – Central Bank of Ireland Issues Warning on Unauthorised Firm

Better Rates Today – Central Bank of Ireland Issues Warning on Unauthorised Firm. This investment scam is an example of a “comparison website scam”, where fraudsters set up a website purporting to help consumers find and compare different investment or savings products.

www.centralbank.ie

Have reported with link to the above. The scammer website even links to the main Central Bank website!!

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.

 

[Lightning]

Sounds like people, with the best will and intentions in the world, may be fighting a losing battle trying to get takedowns on stuff like this with increasingly unregulated online corporate behemoths like Google. What's the point? Why not just ignore what are presumably obvious scam ads, use a different search engine/digital ecosystem, and/or give up on trying to white knight people who are probably going to get scammed one way or another anyway?

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.

 

[Brendan Burgess]

The point is to help others especially those that are vulnerable and/or trust Google AdWords.

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.

 

[Lightning]

I got a Google ad just now for an entity the Central Bank recently issued a warning about:

Better Rates Today – Central Bank of Ireland Issues Warning on Unauthorised Firm

Better Rates Today – Central Bank of Ireland Issues Warning on Unauthorised Firm. This investment scam is an example of a “comparison website scam”, where fraudsters set up a website purporting to help consumers find and compare different investment or savings products.

www.centralbank.ie

Have reported with link to the above. The scammer website even links to the main Central Bank website!!

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

Did Google reject your report too?

 

[Lightning]

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

 

[MugsGame]

No response to my report, yet.

 

[Lightning]

Reddit thread with more details on how these deposit comparison scammers, that Google allows advertise, work:

https://www.reddit.com/r/irishpersonalfinance/s/gX2bdNAqR9

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.