Good advertising is persuasive – not deceptive. While there's always been examples of overreach in the industry, in recent years, there's been an increase in companies pulled up for misleading or flat-out false advertising claims. And they're not just getting their hand slapped. The penalties imposed by regulators have been nothing short of jaw-dropping.

Along with covering seven false advertising examples, we take a look at what constitutes deceptive advertising, opinions about why it occurs and advice on how to prevent the same thing happening to your brand.

But before we go on, it's important to note that companies in the main do not set out to actively deceive consumers. Well, sometimes they do, but a healthy portion of advertisers pursued by regulatory authorities for breaches did so unwittingly. For those that are not intentionally setting out to flout the law, there are plenty of preventative measures you can take.