Facebook users in New Zealand are being cautioned about deceptive advertisements that exploit the country’s economic difficulties. According to Brent Carey, the chief executive of Netsafe, these fraudulent ads have been a persistent issue, with the latest versions claiming that various businesses are shutting down due to adverse economic conditions across the nation.
Carey highlighted that it is common for scam advertisements to claim that a business is closing down or to offer what appear to be significant discounts. These deceptive ads often create a sense of urgency for consumers to act quickly.
According to Carey, many of these businesses either do not exist or are not based in New Zealand at all.
Multiple businesses claiming to be based in Wellington are running deceptive advertisements with identical text. These ads assert that the owners have “sacrificed dreams and comforts” to keep their businesses afloat, yet state that “the economic demands of modern times have exceeded our strength.”
Individuals can report suspicious advertisements and request its removal from the platform. Carey also encourages people to reach out to Netsafe for assistance in removing unwanted content.
Moreover, it is advisable for consumers to verify the legitimacy of businesses they intend to purchase from by ensuring clear contact information is provided and understanding the return process. Checking that the domain name is valid is also crucial.
Facebook can prevent questionable ads from appearing by improving its algorithms and implementing more rigorous screening processes. Simplifying the reporting process for users and ensuring timely feedback after they report an advertisement would also be beneficial.
A representative for Meta, the parent company of Facebook, stated that the organisation is committed to eliminating scams from its platforms and is investing in tools and technologies to combat them.