Tesco alerts police over scam casino ads on Facebook and Instagram
UKPulse Money Desk
Tesco has reported to City of London police that its image has been used in a scam by unlicensed casinos advertising on Facebook and Instagram. Other companies and sports stars have also been targeted.
- Tesco's branding has featured in ads and websites promoted via Meta, giving the false impression the supermarket had launched its own casino.
- Barclays, Monzo, and sports stars including Lewis Hamilton, Tyson Fury, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, and Bruno Fernandes have also had their images used without consent.
- The Gambling Commission and Advertising Standards Authority are aware of the issue, and the Gambling Commission expects to have more powers from autumn to take down unlicensed websites targeting UK consumers.
Tesco has alerted City of London police after its image was reportedly hijacked in a “scam” by unlicensed casinos advertising on Facebook and Instagram. The supermarket chain is among several businesses and sports stars, including Barclays bank and Lewis Hamilton, to have been targeted.
The branding of these entities has appeared in ads and on websites, promoted via Meta, which falsely suggested the businesses had launched their own casinos. A fake “Tesco casino” was advertised on Facebook and had its own page on the platform until inquiries were made.
Sports figures such as Lewis Hamilton, Tyson Fury, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, and Bruno Fernandes have also had their images used without consent. Monzo stated this was an “AI-enabled scam where criminals take advantage of our much-loved brand to trick people.”
Both the Gambling Commission and the Advertising Standards Authority are aware of the problem. The Gambling Commission has previously criticised Meta for its failure to act on unlicensed casinos and expects to gain more powers from autumn through the crime and policing bill to take down unlicensed websites targeting UK consumers.
Why this matters: Unlicensed casinos operating illegally in Britain are exploiting brand recognition of established companies and public figures, potentially misleading consumers.
What this means for you: Consumers are urged to be alert to material that falsely suggests well-known brands or public figures endorse casino services, as these may be unlicensed and operating illegally.