Written questions

Social Media: Fraud

Commons · Question 122609 · Tabled 20 Mar 2026 · Department for Science, Innovation and Technology · Official record

Answered 2 Apr 2026

Question

Asked by James McMurdock

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what information her Department holds on the number of fraudulent or scam adverts on social media websites targeted at UK consumers in each year since 2020.

Answer

Answered by Kanishka Narayan, 2 Apr 2026

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology does not hold data relating to the number of fraudulent or scam adverts on social media or other regulated services.There are mechanisms in the Online Safety Act that allow Ofcom to collect information...