Courtney Friel Unwittingly Shills for Sketchy Finance Site

What is it with sketchy websites using TV news anchors to sell their products? TVNewser has covered this phenomenon before, when “Today” anchor Matt Lauer was found to be unwittingly touting the benefits of Acai berries. Suffice it to say neither NBC nor Lauer were pleased with that “endorsement.”

The latest anchor to have their image used in a banner ad is Fox News Channel’s Courtney Friel, who appears in ad for a sketchy finance site. Note that the ad says the site “has been seen” on ABC News, CBS News and CNN. FNC is not mentioned, despite Friel’s photo. Also not mentioned is the context in which the financial product was “seen” on the channels.

Maybe Friel is supposed to be the vague “mom” mentioned in the ad? Either way, expect Fox News lawyers to be all over this.

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