Tesco alerts police to unlicensed casino scams using brand imagery

Tesco has alerted the City of London police after unlicensed online casinos used the supermarket’s branding and logos in fraudulent advertisements on Facebook and Instagram. The scams, which claim to be the “official Tesco casino,” have used the company’s reputation to target consumers by suggesting their games are as organized as Tesco Extra aisles.

Tesco is not the only major entity targeted. Barclays reported that its name was used in ads alongside F1 driver Lewis Hamilton, while Monzo described similar advertisements for “Monzo slots” as an “AI-based scam.” Other high-profile figures and brands, including Tyson Fury, Jude Bellingham, Bruno Fernandes, and Erling Haaland lookalikes, have had their images hijacked by rogue gambling firms to promote unlicensed services.

The UK Gambling Commission and the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) are investigating the issue. The Gambling Commission described the use of trusted brands to funnel users toward unlicensed products as a “particularly cynical” form of illegal activity. Regulators are seeking additional enforcement powers under the upcoming Crime and Policing Bill to combat these digital scams.