National Consumers League Joins Effort To Protect Internet Users From Deceptive Online Ads

National Consumers League Joins Effort To Protect Internet Users From
Deceptive Online Ads
Recent Google Trademark Policy Changes Have Consumer Organizations and Brands
on High Alert

NEW YORK, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Consumers League [NCL], a
private, nonprofit advocacy group working to protect and promote social and
economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad, is
the newest member of the Alliance Against Bait & Click [AABC], an organization
dedicated to safeguarding search and protecting internet users from deceptive
online ads, also known as SCADS or scam ads. Comprised of leading e-commerce
marketers and academic experts, the AABC raises awareness of "bait & click",
when consumers are lured to potentially dangerous sites by unauthorized and
unaffiliated brand names.

"NCL joining AABC significantly strengthens our ability to educate Internet
users of the risks posed by sponsored search results, including exposure to
fraud, viruses and spyware," said Heather Geisler, spokesperson for AABC. "We
are thrilled to have NCL join in the fight against deceptive online ads."

The National Consumers League joins fellow industry leaders including 1-800-
Contacts, InterContinental Hotels Group, Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, Northwest
Airlines, Rosetta Stone, ResortQuest, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, nero,
Cyveillance, and Marriott International as a member of the organization.

"We believe that the issues raised by AABC are of clear concern to consumers,
particularly as it relates to fraud online - an issue we are very much
involved with," said John Breyault, Vice President of Public Policy,
Telecommunications and Fraud, National Consumers League. "With American
Internet users averaging eight billion searches per month, the potential
impact of fraud committed via sponsored search results is very large."

Brand owners are on high alert to protect their trademarks from being used to
mislead consumers. On June 15, Google implemented a new policy that allows its
advertisers to use "trademark terms in their ads texts even if they do not own
that trademark or have explicit approval from the trademark owner to use it."

AABC delivered an open letter to Google expressing its concern over dishonest
marketers who now have the ability to abuse the new policy and use trusted
brand names to lure Internet users to deceptive websites that may sell pirated
products or spread spyware or viruses. In the letter, AABC asked that Google
suspend the new policy and return to its original policy of requiring
unauthorized advertisers to submit such ads to brand owners in advance, so
that they can help determine if a listing is deceptive in order to protect
consumers from phishing, counterfeiting and other fraudulent practices.

The National Consumers League co-signed the letter with InterContinental
Hotels Group, Marriott International, Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, United
Airlines, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, the National Basketball Association,
Major League Baseball, Collegiate Licensing Company, Hertz, 1-800-Contacts,
ResortQuest, TiVo, 1-800 PetMeds, nero, Hearts on Fire and Cyveillance.

For more information on the Alliance Against Bait & Click or how to spot
"scads", please visit www.stopscads.org.

ABOUT THE ALLIANCE AGAINST BAIT & CLICK
The Alliance Against Bait & Click protects consumers from deceptive search
engine marketing practices. We believe that buying & selling search terms for
brands you don't have the right to use is wrong. Internet users should be able
to click on an ad without worrying about being misled or getting ripped off.
The impact of scads - or scam ads - spreads beyond their effect on legitimate
advertisers. When a user can't trust the results of sponsored links, it erodes
consumer confidence in search. Join the Alliance Against Bait & Click. Stop
scads.

SOURCE Alliance Against Bait & Click

Heather Geisler for Alliance Against Bait & Click, +1-212-419-3407,
media@stopscads.org