Web shoppers duped by ads for fake gear
CROOKS flogging fake luxury brands are tapping a new market – by paying to advertise on mobile social media sites.
The sponsored posts appear in the feeds of users whose online search history shows an interest in designer clothes or expensive watches.
And experts warn the gangs behind them – often based in Eastern Europe and China – are feeding the money they rake in back into guns, drugs and prostitution.
Sites such as Instagram are paid to carry the ads for luxury brands ranging from Rolex watches to Moncler coats.
Appearing alongside reputable firms, the adverts feature a “shop now” link. But the goods themselves are either counterfeit – or never arrive at all.
After being alerted by the Sunday Mirror, the picture-sharing site launched an internal inquiry, removing those we brought to its attention.
A victim said: “I don’t know how they get away with buying ads on Instagram. It’s equivalent to a crook taking an ad in the middle of Coronation Street.” High-end fashion chain Moncler is among those targeted by the scams. Two ads on Instagram copied the firm’s website, claiming to be a Uk-based outlet store.
Its pages of cut-price deals included €670 coats for €200. We found others claiming to sell Rolex and Tag Heuer watches at hundreds of euro off.
The victim we spoke to, from Halifax, Yorkshire, said he realised the site he bought from was fake when the invoice came through – from China.
He said: “I was angry but I thought, I’ll wait for the coat and then send it back for a refund. That was weeks ago and I’ve received nothing.”
Instagram chiefs told us they have staff working to root out the scams.
They added: “We invest significant resources in automated and manual tools to enforce our ad policies.”
A crackdown by UK trading standards chiefs, working with social media sites, has removed thousands of fake pages.
Mike Andrews, of the ecrime Team, said: “People might think they are buying a bargain from a chap down the road. But the people behind shipping in these goods in bulk are organised gangs.”