I apologise for the dangerous advert displayed recently

There was a dodgy advert, typical clickbait, showing "how to save 90% on your electricity bill" which was not the case and it was actually showing some dangerous wiring tactics.

Read the actual threads here:-

• What should be the code for this - C2 or C3 - https://www.electriciansforums.net/threads/what-should-be-the-code-for-this-c2-or-c3.197405
• Ladbrokes banner! - Dan is fixing the forum ads, and other things - Sorry lads! - https://www.electriciansforums.net/threads/ladbrokes-banner-dan-is-fixing-the-forum-ads-and-other-things-sorry-lads.197115/

What code should it be given

• C2 for exposed insulation
• C3 for device not in its enclosure
• C2 for no earth/CPC
• C3 for wrong wiring colours
• C2 for incorrect identification of line conductor
• C3 for mixture of devices (if there was an enclosure)
• C2 for no overcurrent protection
• C3 for no RCD protection

I'd like to apologise for:-

• Not giving advance notice of me changing the way we display the pay-per-click advertisements
• Showing the adverts to those who have paid to remove them
• And for allowing such clickbait to show on the forum

The first point there is a bit fluid, I tend to find resources which help us display such ads differently or give me more control over them and I tend to want to test them out, and alerting you all before I do such things might be a bit premature because by the time all people have read an email linking to a thread, I might have reverted back (and almost always would have done).

The second point there has a similar response. If I configured all usergroups for each change, I'd spend more time messing with usergroups than making the change, only to then need to spend the same time again undoing them as I've not gone ahead with said changes.

But the third point is a toughy.

I can't fix the internet.

Might be a bit harsh but that's the be all and end all of it. Collectively we can click on the X to report the ad. But the ad owner will only change the wording and resubmit it and Google will approve it all. They have a 'let us see the response and if it gets reported enough we will act' kinda policy. If I block the URL in my ad account, they will only add a subdomain and add it again. That costs them nothing. And if their whole domain is blocked (it never would be) they would buy another. £10 max.

They're click bait. The best response I find is to ignore them all. Don't react. And have faith in humanity and hope that people realise that once they click on the ad, it is actually just trying to sell you a thing or give you information contained in pop-ups and tracking cookies and god knows what else.

I'll send out an email to all linking to this, and hope you discuss it for a bit to show newbies what's going on. And that alone can help spread the news of clickbait, and perhaps it's a thread we link to from time to time when newbies are mentioning such things like "I've seen this online and wondered if I can do it" type questions perhaps.

Thanks to all for understanding. And thanks to those who contributed to the threads to alert me to the dodgy ad(s).

 

[littlespark]

I think he means the misleading power saving device

 

[Dan]

I think he means the misleading power saving device

pheeeewww thought I had something else to fix then!

 

[Fullerbull]

I hope that by now everyone knows that the Internet is full of crap and that EVEYTHING needs to be examined before purchase. As the financial bulletin boards say, "DYOR" (Do Your Own Research) before buying eg ask someone on this forum if an electrical item looks almost too good to be true! (though I have to admit I have made a couple of small errors with mechanical items in the past!)

 

[Duncan Norman]

super bit of work -- A thing of beauty is a joy forever-- Keats

 

[oracle]

Over the past few years there has many advertisements for bogus devices to cut your electricity bill, also devices to get free pay TV.

The dogiest con I saw to save 100 % on electrical was when I was inspecting a council house in Haringey. The guy removed the earth cable and used it to connect between the service fuse and his CCU main switch bypassing the meter completely.
I asked the guy for his account as I
needed the number on my CR. and he gave it to me. After I left I called his provider and described the situation and attached an electrical danger notification to my CR.
You may think I'm a ------- but we pay for the electricity they steal.

 

[Lister1987]

The dogiest con I saw to save 100 % on electrical was when I was inspecting a council house in Haringey. The guy removed the earth cable and used it to connect between the service fuse and his CCU main switch bypassing the meter completely.
I asked the guy for his account as I
needed the number on my CR. and he gave it to me. After I left I called his provider and described the situation and attached an electrical danger notification to my CR.
You may think I'm a ------- but we pay for the electricity they steal.

Nowt ----tish about reporting ----s, it's when ----s do social engineering and find your address etc, that's when it can get a bit messy

 

[Julie.]

I hope that by now everyone knows that the Internet is full of crap and that EVEYTHING needs to be examined before purchase. As the financial bulletin boards say, "DYOR" (Do Your Own Research) before buying eg ask someone on this forum if an electrical item looks almost too good to be true! (though I have to admit I have made a couple of small errors with mechanical items in the past!)

The problem with "do your own research" is that 99% of people are totally incapable of doing so!

The vast majority of people will search for the result they want on YouTube rather than proper research.

After all - we now live in a society where people DYOR and:

The world is flat
Space doesn't exist
Gravity doesn't exist
Covid isn't real
You can eat tide pods
Etc etc.

These are well planned advertisements, they provide links for people to follow in order for them to DYOR - which of course are as made up as the claims for these types of products.

Scams are well planned - they aren't a casual try at ripping people off, they are a full time job by professional scammers using the latest psychology techniques

As Sir Isaac Newton said:
"Whatever the sickest perversion you can think of, search on the Internet and you will find it"

(FACT - confirmed via the Internet!!!)

 

[Fullerbull]

The problem with "do your own research" is that 99% of people are totally incapable of doing so!

The vast majority of people will search for the result they want on YouTube rather than proper research.

After all - we now live in a society where people DYOR and:

The world is flat
Space doesn't exist
Gravity doesn't exist
Covid isn't real
You can eat tide pods
Etc etc.

These are well planned advertisements, they provide links for people to follow in order for them to DYOR - which of course are as made up as the claims for these types of products.

Scams are well planned - they aren't a casual try at ripping people off, they are a full time job by professional scammers using the latest psychology techniques

As Sir Isaac Newton said:
"Whatever the sickest perversion you can think of, search on the Internet and you will find it"

(FACT - confirmed via the Internet!!!)

Like it Julie! - but I'd like to think that you are a little harsh in thinking that 99% of people can't think sensibly. Inevitably there are a significant number who fall for scams, but in my experience people learn from their errors - or other people's! Having said that I fell off a ladder the other day and broke a bone in my foot (after umpteen years in industry working to the strictest safety rules), so I accept that it's not possible to protect all the people all the time, but one spin-off benefit from sites like this is that the scam profile is raised, which should have a beneficial effect on the stats. Looking forward to your 99% falling over the next few years! ?

 

[littlespark]

I had to ask my children what a “tide pod” was…..

It’s the squishy balls of liquid detergent that you throw in the washing machine. Still pods over here, but “tide” is a brand name common in US or Europe… dunno.

There was a stupid internet challenge to hold one of these things in your mouth…. Hence the “don’t put these things in your mouth” warnings on the packet.

 

[Julie.]

I had to ask my children what a “tide pod” was…..

It’s the squishy balls of liquid detergent that you throw in the washing machine. Still pods over here, but “tide” is a brand name common in US or Europe… dunno.

There was a stupid internet challenge to hold one of these things in your mouth…. Hence the “don’t put these things in your mouth” warnings on the packet.

Yup, that's what I was referring to.

I think the dare was to swallow it or something, - Darwin awards at the ready!

Loads of people - kids and adults in hospital over it - they had read it was safe on the Internet.


Yeah 99% is probably a bit pessimistic.

Go with 98% which might be too optimistic!!

 

[littlespark]

I think the UK in general were all told as children not to drink bleach…..
Did that message not reach over the pond?

I know there was a report of someone injecting themselves with it after the then “leader of the free world” suggested it as a covid cure.

Stick with the old challenges…. Like how many Trebor mints you can fit in your mouth at once.

 

[westward10]

A large shopping centre over Bury St Edmunds way went around all the retail outlets fitting large yellow HOT WATER signs to the kettles.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Nowt ----tish about reporting ----s, it's when ----s do social engineering and find your address etc, that's when it can get a bit messy

---- -- ------ - ---- ---!

 

[Mikegh]

A large shopping centre over Bury St Edmunds way went around all the retail outlets fitting large yellow HOT WATER signs to the kettles.

Reminds me of a company that has us doing all sorts of dangerous work

Mobile phones were strictly banned for H&S reasons(sic: timewasting)

Over the past few years there has many advertisements for bogus devices to cut your electricity bill, also devices to get free pay TV.

Green companies advertising free stuff too

Free hot water

Free electricity

 

[littlespark]

Hey @Dan , adverts are back. Are you fiddling with the code again?