'Cool in 90 seconds' - the fake portable air conditioners sweeping the internet
The Advertising Standards Agency has warned consumers about misleading online advertisements for portable air conditioners. These products, often promoted with fake reviews and AI-generated imagery, fail to deliver on exaggerated performance claims.
Why it matters
Consumers are being defrauded by sophisticated digital marketing tactics that exploit hot weather concerns to sell low-quality, overpriced fans.
Image source, Proper DIY By Laura Cress Technology reporter Published 11 minutes ago As parts of the UK brace for another hot weekend, online adverts have been appearing for portable air conditioners claiming to be "designed by former Nasa engineers" and able to "cool a room in 90 seconds".
The adverts have emerged on platforms including Facebook and YouTube, but the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) has now warned the products are often "too good to be true".
YouTuber Stuart Matthews, who bought several devices to test on his Proper DIY channel, told the BBC that despite paying £70 for one machine, it turned out to be "a small, simple fan worth only a few pounds".
The BBC has approached Meta and YouTube for comment.
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