MPs to quiz Facebook chief over fake money saving ads

A Facebook chief is to be grilled by MPs over alleged fake adverts appearing on the site using the name of MoneySavingExpert founder Martin Lewis.

Conservative MP Damian Collins, who chairs the Commons digital, culture, media and sport committee, stressed it was a “serious issue” and is demanding answers from the tech giant.

Mr Lewis is launching a High Court legal battle to “give Facebook a bloody nose” and change the way it operates over claims the site is publishing scam adverts allegedly causing vulnerable people to hand over thousands of pounds to criminals.

He is due to lodge court papers today for a defamation lawsuit, claiming it has published more than 50 fake posts bearing his name in the past year.

Mike Schroepfer, Chief Technical Officer for Facebook, is to appear before the Commons committee on Thursday for its inquiry into fake news and will face questions about Mr Lewis’ case.

Mr Collins said: “Martin Lewis has hit on a really serious issue about misleading advertising claims on Facebook.

“It’s also concerning that these issues have been brought to Facebook’s attention in the past and they have failed to act against this harmful content.”

Mr Lewis has described his legal action as the result of months of frustration with scammers piggybacking on his reputation and preying on Facebook users with get-rich-quick schemes.

Any damages won through the lawsuit will be donated to charity, but Mr Lewis said the real aim was to force Facebook to change its policy.

“There are customers who have lost a lot of money… they’ve seen my face on the advert and think it’s me who has scammed them — it’s an absolute disgrace,” Mr Lewis said.

“It’s affecting my reputation but, more importantly, it is affecting real people who are handing over money in good faith while the scammers are raking in the cash. I’m trying to give Facebook a bloody nose and get some changes made — or at least get people talking about this.”

He said he would call a halt to the defamation claim if Facebook pledged to tackle the alleged scam adverts.

Facebook said: “We do not allow adverts which are misleading or false on Facebook and have explained to Martin Lewis that he should report any adverts that infringe his rights, and they will be removed.

“We are in direct contact with his team, offering to help and promptly investigating their requests, and only last week confirmed that several adverts and accounts that violated our advertising policies had been taken down.”