What are Subscription Renewal Scams?
Subscription renewal scams are a type of financial fraud that involves tricking individuals into renewing a subscription or service that they may not even be aware they have. These scams often involve the use of deceptive marketing practices, such as automatically renewing a subscription without the customer’s knowledge or consent, or charging for a service that the customer did not sign up for.
Subscription renewal scams can be financially devastating for victims, who may be left with unexpected charges on their credit card or bank account, and can be difficult to resolve due to the complexities of canceling a subscription or disputing unauthorized charges.
Examples of Subscription Renewal Scams
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Free Trial Scams
Offers for a “free trial” of a product or service, such as a streaming service or a subscription to a magazine, can be a popular way for scammers to trick individuals into renewing a subscription they may not even be aware they have. The fine print of these offers often includes terms that automatically renew the subscription at the end of the trial period unless the customer cancels. Additionally, these offers may include charges for additional services or products that the customer is not aware of.
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As a result, once the trial period ends and the customer is charged for the subscription, they may be unaware that they have been enrolled in a recurring service and may be unable to cancel or dispute the charges.
Continuity Program Scams
Another example of a subscription renewal scam is the “continuity program” scam. In this scam, individuals are offered a discounted or free product or service, such as a beauty or wellness product, in exchange for agreeing to participate in a continuity program. The continuity program may involve automatically shipping and billing the customer for additional products or services on a regular basis, and may be difficult for the customer to cancel or opt out of.
Our investigations into Common Scams of 2024
How to Spot a Subscription Renewal Scam
There are several telltale signs that individuals should be aware of when it comes to subscription renewal scams. One red flag is if the offer includes a free trial or discounted product or service that requires the customer to provide their credit card information.
It’s important to be cautious of any offers that require payment information and to carefully read and understand the terms and conditions of the offer before agreeing to it.
Another warning sign is if the offer includes automatic renewal or continuity program terms that the customer may not be aware of or may have difficulty canceling.
This may be an indication that the offer is a scam and that the company is attempting to deceive the customer into enrolling in a recurring service.
GET FREE SCAM ALERTS VIA EMAIL AS SOON AS THEY ARE EXPOSED
NEVER GET SCAMMED AGAIN!
Scammers never stop devising schemes to separate us from our hard-earned money. So, make sure to sign up for our weekly email scam alerts. TotalScam!™ Alert will notify you as soon new scams are discovered.
How to Protect Yourself from Subscription Renewal Scams
In order to protect themselves from subscription renewal scams, individuals should take the following precautions:
- Be cautious of any offers that require payment information, and carefully read and understand the terms and conditions of the offer before agreeing to it.
- Pay attention to the fine print of any offer, including terms related to automatic renewal or continuity programs.
- Keep track of any subscriptions or services that you have signed up for, and cancel any that you are no longer interested in or do not wish to continue.
- Regularly review your credit card and bank account statements to ensure that you are not being charged for any unauthorized subscriptions or services.
- If you suspect that you have been the victim of a subscription renewal scam, contact your bank or credit card issuer to dispute the charges and cancel the subscription.
Subscription renewal scams can be financially devastating for victims and can be difficult to resolve, but by being aware of the telltale signs and taking precautions, individuals can protect themselves from these types of scams.
It’s important to be cautious of offers that require payment information and to carefully read and understand the terms and conditions of any offer before agreeing to it.
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FAQ
Subscription renewal scams are a type of financial fraud that involves tricking individuals into renewing a subscription or service that they may not even be aware they have. These scams often involve the use of deceptive marketing practices, such as automatically renewing a subscription without the customer’s knowledge or consent, or charging for a service that the customer did not sign up for.
Subscription renewal scams may involve offering a free trial or discounted product or service, such as a streaming service or a subscription to a magazine, and including terms in the fine print that automatically renew the subscription at the end of the trial period unless the customer cancels. These scams may also involve enrolling the customer in a continuity program, where the customer is automatically shipped and billed for additional products or services on a regular basis.
Some common examples of subscription renewal scams include:
- Free trial scams: These scams involve offering a free trial of a product or service and including terms in the fine print that automatically renew the subscription at the end of the trial period unless the customer cancels.
- Continuity program scams: These scams involve offering a discounted or free product or service in exchange for agreeing to participate in a continuity program, which may involve automatically shipping and billing the customer for additional products or services on a regular basis.
There are several warning signs that individuals should be aware of when it comes to subscription renewal scams. Some red flags to watch out for include:
- Offers that require payment information, such as a credit card number, to sign up for a free trial or discounted product or service.
- Fine print that includes terms related to automatic renewal or continuity programs that the customer may not be aware of or may have difficulty canceling.
- Unfamiliar or unexpected charges on a credit card or bank account that may be related to a subscription or service that the customer did not sign up for.
To protect yourself from subscription renewal scams, consider taking the following precautions:
- Be cautious of any offers that require payment information, and carefully read and understand the terms and conditions of the offer before agreeing to it.
- Pay attention to the fine print of any offer, including terms related to automatic renewal or continuity programs.
- Keep track of any subscriptions or services that you have signed up for, and cancel any that you are no longer interested in or do not wish to continue.
Attention: Consumers who have been contacted by scammers could have had their personal information breached. TotalScam!™ highly recommends that consumers whose information has been breached obtain an identity theft protection service immediately.
There are several companies that offer identity theft protection in the US. One of the most inexpensive options we were able to find is the protection offered by LifeLock. You can start your protection here.
Disclaimer: The information and opinions contained on this site are not endorsed by LifeLock. TotalScam!™ receives compensation from LifeLock. This helps support our scam prevention efforts.
Our investigations into Common Scams of 2024
