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Google search for a local restaurant returns scammer’s ad as top result

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Re: Google search for a local restaurant returns scammer’s ad as top result

#31

Post by darreninthenet »

polotics wrote: post #9
SillyUsername wrote: post #7

Seems to me to be perfectly legal, if not morally right. Did I miss something? Perhaps not being morally right is something to have outrage about.

How is it legal? If you mislead a customer by assuming an identity that is not yours, how is this not identity theft? (not legal) The fraudsters' website says "Kiin Thai eatery - Official Website". Anyways that is for a judge to decide.

Representing yourself as something you aren't for an advantage is literally one of the legal definitions of fraud in the UK.

Re: Google search for a local restaurant returns scammer’s ad as top result

#33

Post by sneak »

gumby wrote: post #14

Parasites like this have also colonized plumbing, locksmiths etc, as has been discussed on this site in the past. Seems like straight up fraud to me.

A lot of the institutions who historically would have prevented fraud seem to have abdicated their responsibilities in the last few dozen years.

Doctorow calls them out in the thread: AmEx and Google in particular.

Re: Google search for a local restaurant returns scammer’s ad as top result

#35

Post by dTal »

izacus wrote: post #30
polotics wrote: post #8

In this instance isn't Google guilty of fraud? They put on their website something that defrauds, it being called "search" makes no difference IMHO. Isn't there in the US a small claims court for the restaurant to seek takedown and compensation for damages?

No, the person creating the fake ad is guilty of fraud. Google is guilty of not verifying it enough. Same as Apple/Google aren't guilty of creating malware apps then it slips through, but the predatory ass who coded the app and published it is. Same as Walmart isn't guilty of poisoning people when they stock a product that's spoiled in production, but merely failing to verify proper credentials set up by regulators.…

I don't follow - you say "Google is guilty of not verifying it enough", then you turn around and say it's bad that people "demand that megacorporations control access to your products". Which is it?

Re: Google search for a local restaurant returns scammer’s ad as top result

#36

Post by SideburnsOfDoom »

unxdfa wrote: post #17

[flagged]

> I expected better from the author.

better than an essay explaining the scam and digging into root causes? For the benefit of less sophisticated people.

But yeah, a journalist interested in this specific topic could have run an adblock instead.

Re: Google search for a local restaurant returns scammer’s ad as top result

#37

Post by izacus »

dTal wrote: post #35
izacus wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, the person creating the fake ad is guilty of fraud. Google is guilty of not verifying it enough. Same as Apple/Google aren't guilty of creating malware apps then it slips through, but the predatory ass who coded the app and published it is. Same as Walmart isn't guilty of poisoning people when they stock a product that's spoiled in production, but merely failing to verify proper credentials set up by regulators.…

I don't follow - you say "Google is guilty of not verifying it enough", then you turn around and say it's bad that people "demand that megacorporations control access to your products". Which is it?

Both. It can be both.

Compare to food: it's like demanding that Walmart screen all the food itself to protect you and then you'd screech at Walmart and only Walmart for not making sure Keloggs cereal is healthy while letting the manufacturer off the hook with zero (I repeat, zero, none, null, NADA) consequences for fraud and damage they caused.

The way media, HNers and other people behave is creating a situation that's terrible to the extreme.

Now, do a thinking experiment: how did we ensure product quality in food/electronics/other parts that DID NOT hang on the fact that Walmart has 100% monopoly on all sales of those products and completely locks out you ability to go to any other store? How did we build a system that holds manufacturer of fradulent good accountable, not the megacorporation doing the distribution?

Re: Google search for a local restaurant returns scammer’s ad as top result

#38

Post by blooalien »

samtho wrote: post #25
polotics wrote: post #8

In this instance isn't Google guilty of fraud? They put on their website something that defrauds, it being called "search" makes no difference IMHO. Isn't there in the US a small claims court for the restaurant to seek takedown and compensation for damages?

It will likely be harder than you think to find them. KYC is a joke, a regulatory checkbox that must be ticked to not get in trouble with federal authorities.

> "KYC is a joke, a regulatory checkbox that must be ticked to not get in trouble with federal authorities."

Also a law to hoover up more personal information with zero repercussions…

Re: Google search for a local restaurant returns scammer’s ad as top result

#39

Post by pjc50 »

SillyUsername wrote: post #15
polotics wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is it legal? If you mislead a customer by assuming an identity that is not yours, how is this not identity theft? (not legal) The fraudsters' website says "Kiin Thai eatery - Official Website". Anyways that is for a judge to decide.

Aside from "Official website" they are offering the product from the company that sells it, not a knock off. I could sell Armani, and buy from their site, I'd be an unofficial reseller. The point in general (slight change of position here) is that had they not stated "official", reselling is perfectly fine. As you point out trademark infringing (representing yourself as them by saying official) is not.

> I could sell Armani, and buy from their site, I'd be an unofficial reseller.

Poor example, I'm fairly sure that the designer brands are most likely to sue parallel importers and grey marketers.

Re: Google search for a local restaurant returns scammer’s ad as top result

#40

Post by izacus »

antihero wrote: post #32

I’m just amazed Cory Doctorow of all people doesn’t use uBlock and got duped by this. I’ve always seen Google Ads as about as reliable as the fake download buttons on crappy file websites. You tune them out or block them.

I'm sure he personally does use it, but that doesn't stop him from highlighting these issues and talking about it. That's what he's been all about for years now.
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