As we find ourselves in the midst of another heatwave, the advertising watchdog is warning people to be on high alert for misleading online ads for portable air conditioners.
With temperatures soaring, many of us are looking for affordable ways to stay cool. Unfortunately, we've seen some advertisers exploit that demand by promoting portable air conditioners with claims that sound too good to be true.
Some of the problems we've seen include:
- Claims that a small device can cool an entire room or even an entire home within minutes.
- Exaggerated claims about how much energy the product uses or how much money it could save compared with a conventional air conditioner.
- Claims that products are "British engineered" or developed using "revolutionary" technology.
- Fake or misleading customer reviews claiming dramatic temperature drops or exceptional performance.
- Fake stories about industry insiders or breakthrough inventions designed to make the product appear more credible.
With many of these ads appearing during hot weather, it’s easy to be drawn in by promises of quick, low-cost cooling. But in reality, many of these products simply can't deliver the performance advertised.
We’ve seen similar misleading ads before, particularly for mini-heaters during colder months, where exaggerated claims suggested small plug-in devices could replace conventional heating. We’ve taken action in response, including using our AI-based monitoring system to spot problem ads, issuing an enforcement notice instructing advertisers to get their ads in order and banning ads that break the rules.
While we’ll continue to take action where we see the rules being broken, the nature of some of the businesses behind these ads means enforcement alone isn’t enough to stop the problem.
Being able to recognise the warning signs of misleading claims can help people make more informed decisions and avoid wasting money on products that don’t do what they claim. This is why we’re taking our action one step further and issuing this public warning.
Red flags to watch out for:
- Promises that sound too good to be true. Be sceptical of claims that a small device can cool large rooms, entire homes or reduce the temperature by several degrees in just a few minutes.
- Dramatic backstories. Some ads include elaborate stories about secret inventions or industry breakthroughs. Ask yourself whether there's any evidence behind these claims.
- Customer reviews that seem unbelievable. Reviews describing dramatic results or reading as though they're too perfect may not be genuine.
- Poor grammar, spelling mistakes or inconsistent branding. These can all be signs that something isn't quite right.
Here’s what you can do if you’re unsure about a portable air conditioner ad you’ve seen:
- Check independent reviews rather than relying solely on testimonials on the seller's website.
- Look up the retailer and make sure they provide genuine contact details and a business address – scammers will often hide this.
- Compare the product's specifications with those of a genuine portable air conditioner to understand what it's actually capable of.
- If claims about performance or energy savings seem unrealistic, treat them with caution.
If you’re concerned about an air conditioner ad you’ve seen, report it to us via our website.