Webshop Bicep Papa must stop using fake followers and fake likes on social media such as Instagram by the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM). According to the watchdog, the online store of influencer Mo Bicep misleads consumers.
The influencer, who sells nutritional supplements, among other things, advertises via social media. According to ACM, he uses the fake accounts and likes to promote his products.
An ACM investigation shows that Bicep paid Papa for the fake likes and followers. Over the period September 2018 to August 2020, this concerns 98,000 followers and 27,000 likes. There are no real consumers behind this, ACM writes.
Penalty
If Bicep Papa BV does not stop with the fake likes and followers, it must pay a penalty of up to 100,000 euros. The company must also remove all fake followers and likes.
It is the first time that ACM has imposed a sanction for misleading consumers in this way. Bicep Papa says he has stopped buying fake likes and followers, ACM writes. The company was not available for comment this morning.
Purchased followers and neplikes: Instagram is full of it. In this video NOS op 3 explains how that works: