Misleading Advertisements
Consumers are being urged to wise up to misleading advertisements and not allow tricksters to take their cash.
'Miracle cure' health, beauty and slimming products, are some of the advertisements which are of concern to Trading Standards, The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and the Office of Fair Trading.
Misleading advertisers make false promises about what their products can do, or conceal or leave out important facts, creating a false impression. Often they target the most vulnerable members of our society, using wild claims to sell their products.
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Spoof Advertisements
Below are a series of invented advertisements. Although spoof they reflect some of the unscrupulous advertising found in some newspapers and magazines.
Advertisements for health, beauty and slimming products which target vulnerable consumers and which may mislead them by promising instant weight loss without reducing calorie intake, 'miracle cures' for serious illnesses or other conditions such as baldness, or 'overnight transformations' as a result of using a product, should be treated with extreme caution.
How consumers can protect themselves
Consumers can help protect themselves against misleading advertisements by:
- Being wary of products or treatments that are advertised as a quick and effective cure-all for a wide range of ailments.
- Being cautious of testimonials claiming amazing results.
- Watching out for advertisers who use phrases such as 'overnight transformation', 'miraculous cure', and 'secret ingredient'.
- Consulting their pharmacist or other health professional before they buy.
- Complaining to their local trading standards service or the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) about advertisements which they believe could be misleading.
Complaints about health, beauty, and slimming products are high. A worldwide sweep of the internet earlier this year found over 1000 web sites advertising health, beauty, and slimming products which were potentially misleading.
Consumers who feel they may have been mislead can contact Warwickshire Trading Standards Service |