Business & Finance
Tesco alerts authorities over fraudulent casino ads on Meta platforms
The supermarket contacted police after its branding appeared in unauthorized gambling promotions, according to The Guardian.
The short version
- Tesco notified the City of London police and the National Cyber Security Centre after its branding was co-opted in unlicensed casino promotions on Facebook and Instagram.[The Guardian]
- Meta removed the advertisements following inquiries, though the platform maintains advertisers are responsible for regulatory compliance.[The Guardian]
- City of London police confirmed receiving Tesco's complaint, but the report has not yet been assigned to a police force for investigation.[The Guardian]
- The Gambling Commission expects to gain expanded statutory powers in the autumn to target unlicensed websites.[The Guardian]
Key facts
- Tesco referred concerns to the National Cyber Security Centre and the City of London police after its branding appeared in scam casino advertisements across Facebook and Instagram.[The Guardian]
- Meta took down the offending ads following inquiries from The Guardian.[The Guardian]
- The Gambling Commission anticipates receiving additional enforcement authority in autumn through the crime and policing bill to remove illicit sites.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- The City of London police confirmed receipt of Tesco's report but noted the matter has not yet been forwarded to a police force for an investigation.[The Guardian]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.