Report a scam or misleading debt advice advert

Scams or misleading adverts may show up on social media or search engines. Report these for false advertising.

Searching for debt advice may bring up the false ads.

Report an advert if you think:

• It is misleading. Like claims about writing off debt that seem too good to be true

• They are not who they claim to be. They say they are government backed or their brand name sounds a lot like a trusted provider

• The advert seems unfair or irresponsible. They only promote debt solutions that make them money.

You can report scam adverts to:

• The publisher, such as Google or Facebook
• The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA)
• The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) deals with scam adverts if the company has FCA authorisation

Find out how to:

• Report misleading adverts on social media
• Report misleading adverts on search engines (Google, Bing)
• Report misleading adverts to regulatory bodies

Make sure it's us...

Report a misleading debt advice advert on social media

You can report an advert through the platform's website. The company reviews your report and takes action if needed.

• Report an ad on Twitter
• Report an ad on Instagram
• Report an ad on Facebook
• Report a user or a video on TikTok
• Report an ad on YouTube

Report a misleading debt advice advert on search engines

Google and Bing both have ways to report misleading adverts. Google adverts can appear on other websites. You report these the same way.

The Insolvency Complaints Gateway is for complaints about:

• An advert that appears to be from an IVA firm, or
• A company who lists an insolvency practitioner’s name on the website

Use their online form to complain to the Insolvency Service and their recognised professional body.

• Complain about an insolvency practitioner
• Insolvency Practitioners Association
• Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)

Clone firms

In January 2021, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld complaints about 'clone firms' that pretend to be debt advice charities.

Our own clients have told us about clone firms contacting them.

Misleading adverts are still online, making false promises about how to write off debts.

Some clone firms call people out of the blue, often pushing individual voluntary arrangements for profit.