Consumer affairs

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Brands using AI-generated influencers to promote products on social media

Advertising, Advertising Standards Authority, ai, AI (Artificial Intelligence), Artificial Intelligence, Computing, Consumer affairs, Instagram, Media, Meta, Money, Technology

Investigation finds AI content that purports to show genuine customers, prompting calls for greater transparencyBrands promoting their products online are quietly deploying AI-generated influencers on social media, an investigation has found, prompting calls for greater transparency.The findings suggest companies are increasingly turning to AI-generated content that purports to show genuine customer experiences while giving no […]

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How do people in the US describe customer service in 2026? ‘Debilitating, depressing, enraging. Ugh’

ai, AI (Artificial Intelligence), Artificial Intelligence, Business, Consumer affairs, Consumer rights, Consumer spending, US news

We asked people in the US about their customer service battles and hundreds responded on the financial and emotional costsGuardian readers from across the US wrote in to tell us about their battles with big companies, and the time, expense and emotional toll exacted by businesses they say are prioritizing the bottom line over all

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On the trail of the dotcom queen: how Julie Meyer left a pattern of unpaid bills, missing funds and broken dreams in her wake

ai, AI (Artificial Intelligence), Artificial Intelligence, Business, Consumer affairs, Entrepreneurs, Investigative journalism, Investing, Money, Scams, Technology, Technology startups, Venture Capital

Investigation: The entrepreneur was once the toast of London’s tech scene, a ‘global leader of tomorrow’ who starred on Dragons’ Den and promised untold riches for the startups she championed. But people she worked with in the last decade, from Malta to Switzerland, describe a very different realityJulie Meyer is sitting in a starkly lit attic,

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‘I should know better’: tech expert lost £70,000 in one simple phone call

ai, AI (Artificial Intelligence), Artificial Intelligence, Business, Consumer affairs, Lloyds Banking Group, Money, Scams, Technology, UK news, YouTube

After falling for a scam call, ‘The Tech Chap’ host Tom Honeyands realised he’d given away vital details in social media postsWhen Tom Honeyands realised he had been defrauded out of £70,000 he was furious and embarrassed – and left wondering if he had given away too many details on his social media vidoes.Honeyands was

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‘Poisoned’ AI: the ChatGPT shopping scams that lead to fake websites

ai, AI (Artificial Intelligence), Artificial Intelligence, Business, Consumer affairs, Money, Online shopping, Retail industry, Scams, Technology, UK news, US news, World news

Buyers are ripped off after assuming online stores were genuine because they are recommended by an AI toolYou want to buy a new bag and so you ask ChatGPT for help. You have always liked Russell & Bromley so you ask ChatGPT what is popular there at the moment.The artificial intelligence (AI) assistant gives you

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‘RAMageddon’: is the era of cheap phones and laptops over?

ai, AI (Artificial Intelligence), Artificial Intelligence, Business, Computing, Consumer affairs, Culture, Gadgets, Games, Laptops, Mobile phones, Money, Smartphones, Supply chain crisis, Technology, Technology sector, UK news, World news

Bargains are disappearing and the cost of gadgets such as MacBooks and PS5s is rising as AI competes for memory chipsThe end of the cheap laptop, the bargain phone and affordable games consoles may be on the horizon. Not because new models are more hi-tech, but because the cost of computer components has shot up.Recently,

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Ghost MOTs: drivers warned over fake certificates that lead to huge repair bills

ai, AI (Artificial Intelligence), Artificial Intelligence, Consumer affairs, Money, Motoring, Scams, Technology, UK news

Secondhand car buyers urged to carefully inspect vehicles, while owners told to beware tests that are suspiciously quickRise of the ‘ghost owner’: 18,000 UK vehicles in use without proper recordsYou have just bought a secondhand car. It was older than you wanted, but were reassured because it had recently passed its MOT.Within a few days,

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Rental platform unnecessarily collected the data of millions of Australians, privacy commissioner finds

ai, AI (Artificial Intelligence), Artificial Intelligence, Australia news, Consumer affairs, Data and computer security, Housing, Renting, Technology

2Apply’s over-collection of personal information adds to the power of the real estate industry in the competitive rental market, Carly Kind saysFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAn online rental platform has been urged to stop collecting users’ personal information after the Australian

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Booking.com warns customers of hack that exposed their data

ai, AI (Artificial Intelligence), Artificial Intelligence, Business, Consumer affairs, Cybercrime, Data and computer security, Hacking, Hotels, Internet, Netherlands, Scams, Technology, Travel

Undisclosed number of names, contact and reservation details are accessed in latest cybercrime attemptBusiness live – latest updatesThe accommodation reservation website Booking.com has suffered a data breach with “unauthorised parties” gaining access to customers’ details.The platform said it “noticed some suspicious activity involving unauthorised third parties being able to access some of our guests’ booking

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World’s oldest tortoise caught in viral crypto death scam

ai, AI (Artificial Intelligence), Animals, Artificial Intelligence, Consumer affairs, Cryptocurrencies, E-commerce, Environment, Internet, Money, Reptiles, Scams, St Helena, Technology, UK news, World news

Fake X account posing as his vet sparked global false reports of Jonathan’s death while soliciting crypto donationsAt 194 years old, Jonathan, the giant tortoise, was a youngster when Queen Victoria ascended to the throne – and has now lived long enough to fall victim to a crypto scam.News outlets including the BBC, Daily Mail

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