International Law

Online matchmaker's ads deceptive

Image by frankdasilva via Flickr

MyLuvCrush is being accused of sending fake romances ads.

MyLuvCrush couldn't sell you love, but it did rent the unfulfilled promise of romance for $10 a month.

That came to an end Monday, when the online horoscope service's parent company, Seattle-based Tatto Media, Inc., agreed to state demands that it stop placing deceptive advertisements on social networking sites such as Reunion.com and Facebook.com.

MyLuvCrush was one of a number of businesses to seek lonely hearts using the increasingly populous online communities. The new generation of Internet services has, some experts say, created new opportunities for fraud and identity crime.

Users were told a "crush" in their area was looking for them, then routed through a series of prompts ending with a demand that they sign up for a mobile phone text messaging service to see their nonexistent "crush."

The scam targeted users of social networking sites who were looking for companionship, Selis said. MyLuvCrush also was able to tailor messages to users so they included the city where the user was.

"This is somewhat unique, because it's creative," Selis said. "People, I think, are more cynical about spam e-mail, because they're used to receiving it. This is a little more mischievous, because it is geographically targeted and coming from a trusted site."

This is fairly clever - who doesn't want to find out that someone thinks they are appealing!

Would you resist?  It isn't clear from the beginning tha this is a something for nothing wild goose chase.

Full post as published by Misleading Advertising Law on November 18, 2008 (boomark / email).