Tesco alerts police as supermarket becomes latest victim of scam ‘endorsement’ ads
Tesco has alerted police after its brand identity was hijacked by unlicensed offshore casinos using fake endorsement ads on Facebook and Instagram. This incident is part of a broader trend where major companies and celebrities are exploited to lend false credibility to illegal gambling operations.
Why it matters
The misuse of trusted brand names on social media platforms highlights ongoing challenges in digital advertising regulation and platform accountability.
The fake ‘Tesco casino’ ad on Facebook which even had its own page on the platform until the Guardian sent questions to the social media site’s owner, Meta. Photograph: Screenshot The fake ‘Tesco casino’ ad on Facebook which even had its own page on the platform until the Guardian sent questions to the social media site’s owner, Meta. Photograph: Screenshot Scams Tesco alerts police as supermarket becomes latest victim of scam ‘endorsement’ ads Exclusive: Supermarket joins line of firms and sports stars including Bellingham and Haaland to have their image hijacked via ads
Prefer the Guardian on Google Tesco has alerted City of London police after it became the latest in a string of companies and sports stars, including Barclays bank and Lewis Hamilton , to have its image hijacked in a “scam” by unlicensed casinos advertising via Facebook and Instagram.
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