Written Question·Department for Science, Innovation and Technology·UIN 122609

Social Media: Fraud

Tabled: 20 March 2026

Answered: 2 April 2026

Question

James McMurdock

Independent — South Basildon and East Thurrock

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

Kanishka Narayan

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...

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