The Office of Fair Trading are fighting fire with fire. In a new campaign to help promote public vigilance against internet scammers - who set-up fake weight loss sites and products - The Office of Fair Trading have themselves created fake weight loss product sites which when the unaware user signs up to make payment or receive more information they are greeted by the ‘Truth’ : that they were just about to sign-up for a fake ad.
Using tried and trusted Search Marketing techniques, OFT (Office of Fair Trading) has bought banner ad space and also sponsored links on search engine sites to drive people to the fake OFT websites, preventing the scammers from doing business. The sites are quite realistic in their look and feel :
FatFoe is a pad or patch that you place on the sole of your feet before you go to bed and allows you to continue to eat all your favourite foods such as pizza, chips and fizzy cola but lose weight thanks to the FatFoe pad.
According to OFT research, most victims of health scams are women aged between 35 and 64. Mike Haley, the OFT’s director of consumer protection, said scammers target “vulnerable people who are desperate to lose weight or find a cure. These products are often worthless and can even be dangerous with untested and potentially harmful ingredients. Always seek advice from your doctor or pharmacist before you part with your money.”
I think it is a shame that the whole market gets tarnished with the same blanket. People have freedom of choice to spend their money on whatever they like, people buy alcohol and all kinds of products that are freedom of choice products. I am not agreeing that people should be tricked out of money though.