Spotting This Year’s Deceptive Advertising Trends

<p></p> <img src="https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dcr-apis/wp_contents/uploads/DCR-ADMIN/deceptive.jpeg" alt="undefined" style="height: auto;width: auto"/> <p></p> <p>It’s helpful to know what’s trending in the advertising world, especially when it comes to widely advertised scams. Every year, <a href="https://truthinadvertising.org/" target="_self">Truth in Advertising</a> (TINA.org) publishes a report on trends that surfaced during the previous year and are expected to continue.&nbsp;</p> <p>For 2026, TINA.org cites five areas to be aware of and beware of! One troubling come-on is for expedited passport services. While processing usually takes four to six weeks through the U.S. State Department, these companies promise to deal with your passport in mere days. They also charge fees for forms that are free on government websites.&nbsp;</p> <p>Another deceptive marketing trend is food-related and referred to as “nutriwashing.” There have been numerous legal challenges to food labels where companies make unsubstantiated claims that their products are “natural” or “healthy.” There is no legal definition for these terms, so it’s always better to rely on ingredient lists on the packages.&nbsp;</p> <p>The other trending areas are deceptive pricing practices (phony discounts), exaggerated earnings claims made on reselling online digital products through multilevel marketing, and AI chatbot offerings to children and teens. In a recent case in Texas, the Federal Trade Commission exposed a company that offered a mental health tool to young people. Millions of kids were “manipulated and misled” into thinking they were interacting with real counselors and therapists, not chatbots.&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/" target="_self">Use Diamond Certified Resource to find top rated companies.</a></p> <p><strong>Related Articles</strong><br><a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/Guide/Savvy-Consumer/" target="_self">Your Guide to Being a Savvy Consumer</a><br><a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/find-expert-advice/" target="_self">Get Expert Advice From Owners of Top</a> <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/find-expert-advice/" target="_self">Rated Local Companies</a><br><a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/membership/" target="_self">Become a Diamond Certified Preferred Member (Always Free</a><br><a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/find-top-rated-companies/hub/ca/san-francisco-bay-area/" target="_self">Find Top Rated Companies in the San Francisco Bay Area</a>&nbsp;</p>