Fake
Activity
Market
Observation system of
Unethical
Services

Newcastle University logo
University of Luxembourg logo

Our project seeks to expose and reduce the prevalence of fake online activities in Europe, such as influencer marketing fraud, phishing scams, and counterfeit product sales. By combining advanced technologies, including large language models and cybersecurity tools, the project will map and monitor fake activity shops operating across European countries. This interdisciplinary effort involves collaboration among social media platforms, regulatory bodies, academics, and the general public. The goal is to offer new tools, methodologies, and policy recommendations to protect online spaces and improve trust in digital ecosystems.

FAMOUS project timeline

Methodology & Timeline

We aim to deliver a platform featuring one year of collected Fake Activity Stores (FAS) data across multiple EU languages, interactive visualization maps, APIs, and analytical benchmarks. It will also provide actionable policy recommendations and educational tools to empower stakeholders. With this, researchers can analyse patterns and trends in fake online activities, policymakers can develop effective regulations using data-driven insights, and developers can build innovative tools to detect and mitigate fraudulent behaviors:

FAMOUS infographics with current results

Current results
(Jan 2025)

We started developing a data crawling infrastructure based on LLMs:  

Current collection results are visualized on a map that is updated monthly.

Event and reports

FAMOUS workshop on EMIF Winter Conference, December 2024 in Florence, Italy.
[PDF presentation]

Workshop for the Advisory Board and stakeholders is scheduled for March/April 2025.