Tesco alerts police as supermarket becomes latest victim of scam ‘endorsement’ ads

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Intelligence Network • Data Science • AI Research • World News
Published: 2026-09-13T06:03:30.571Z • Permanent link

Tesco, the British multinational grocery and general merchandise retailer, has become the latest victim of a growing scam targeting high-profile individuals and institutions by hijacking their images through advertisements. The supermarket giant has alerted City of London police in response to such a scam, highlighting the increasing sophistication and reach of this type of cybercrime. In recent months, other prominent figures, including footballers Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland, have also fallen prey to this form of deception. According to reports, the scammers use stolen images or manipulated graphics to create fake advertisements, often in the guise of official endorsements, with the aim of deceiving unsuspecting victims into purchasing counterfeit goods or investing in fraudulent schemes.

One notable example of this scam involved a fake advertisement for a popular energy drink, featuring an image of none other than football star Jude Bellingham. The ad claimed that the drink was endorsed by the young Englishman, but in reality, Bellingham had no connection to the product. Similarly, another scam targeted sports star Erling Haaland, with fake advertisements purporting to show the Norwegian striker endorsing a line of sports equipment. In both cases, the scammers used stolen images or manipulated graphics to create the false advertisements, which were then disseminated online and through social media channels. Tesco's alert to the police comes as the company seeks to protect its brand and reputation from such scams.

Tesco's decision to alert the police highlights the growing concern among businesses and law enforcement agencies about the spread of this type of cybercrime. As more and more companies and individuals fall victim to these scams, there is a growing need for greater awareness and cooperation between businesses, regulators, and law enforcement agencies. In the coming months, it is likely that we will see a significant increase in the number of high-profile cases of this type of scam, as scammers continue to adapt and evolve their tactics in response to law enforcement efforts.

The rise of this type of scam has significant implications for the Data Sources domain, particularly for companies and research communities that rely on data and analytics to inform their business decisions. When companies like Tesco and football stars like Bellingham and Haaland are targeted by these scams, it can have a major impact on their brand reputation and customer trust. In the case of Tesco, the supermarket giant's reputation for quality and authenticity is at risk, which could have significant consequences for its business and bottom line. Research communities, meanwhile, may be affected by the spread of these scams, as they seek to identify and understand the tactics used by scammers in order to develop effective countermeasures.

Furthermore, the impact of these scams can also be seen in the wider market and policy environments. As more and more companies fall victim to these scams, there is a growing need for greater regulation and oversight to prevent such incidents from occurring in the first place. In the UK, for example, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has already taken steps to crack down on scams targeting consumers, including the introduction of new regulations aimed at preventing the spread of fake advertisements. As the situation continues to evolve, it is likely that we will see greater pressure on regulators and law enforcement agencies to take action against scammers and to protect consumers from these types of scams.

The rise of this type of scam is part of a larger pattern of cybercrime and deception that has been growing in recent years. In the past decade, we have seen a significant increase in the number of high-profile cases of identity theft, phishing, and other forms of cybercrime, often targeting individuals and companies with significant reputations and brands. One notable example is the 2019 hack of the Colonial Pipeline, which resulted in the theft of millions of dollars' worth of fuel and had significant implications for the US energy market. Similarly, the 2020 hack of the SolarWinds software company, which exposed the personal data of thousands of US government officials and contractors, highlighted the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to cyber threats.