Subscription and Membership Scams

Subscription and membership scams exploit consumers through deceptive practices that lock them into unwanted recurring charges. Two prevalent forms—free trial scams and subscription traps—use psychological tactics, hidden terms, and digital manipulation to siphon money from victims. Below, we dissect how these scams operate, their real-world impacts, and strategies to avoid them.

Free Trial Scams

Fraudsters lure victims with offers of "risk-free" trials for products like skincare supplements, diet pills, or streaming services. The catch? Victims unknowingly consent to costly subscriptions.

How They Work

• Fake endorsements: Ads often feature fabricated celebrity testimonials (e.g., "one tip for a tiny belly") to build credibility[2][6].
• Buried terms: Victims are charged $50–$200/month after providing payment details for "shipping," which scammers interpret as consent for recurring bills[4][8].
• Affiliate networks: Scammers partner with affiliates to place ads on legitimate sites, directing users to landing pages with predatory terms[2][14].

Real-World Examples

• A skincare trial charged users $94.31/month after they clicked a "Complete Checkout" button twice, doubling fees to $188.62[4].
• Netflix impersonators stole credit card details under the guise of free 12-month subscriptions[4].
• The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) reported a 3,800% surge in losses from free trial scams in 2018[2].

Subscription Traps

These scams trick users into long-term contracts through misleading interfaces or unclear terms.

Common Tactics

• Dark patterns: Pre-checked boxes, confusing cancellation processes, and "Hotel California" designs (easy to subscribe, hard to unsubscribe)[11].
• Forced continuity: Free trials auto-renew into paid plans unless canceled within narrow windows (e.g., 14 days)[2][5].
• QR code hijacking: Scanning codes for services like ITVX or Tesco led to unauthorized $29.99/month charges from fake companies[6].

Notable Cases

• Amazon Prime: Users in the EU needed 7+ clicks to cancel vs. 1–2 clicks to subscribe. A 2021 legal complaint forced Amazon to simplify cancellation[11].
• Katy’s story: A UK student was charged £230 annually for a forgotten subscription, exacerbating financial and mental health struggles[5].

How to Protect Yourself

Regulatory Responses

• The FTC fined a Canadian company $15 million for trapping 1.3 million users in subscriptions[12].
• EU mandates require clear cancellation processes after the Amazon Prime case[11].

By understanding these tactics and remaining vigilant, consumers can avoid falling prey to modern subscription scams.

Citations:
[1] https://www.ravelin.com/blog/how-are-fraudsters-targeting-your-subscription-business
[2] https://www.bbb.org/all/scamstudies/free_trial_scams/free_trial_scams_full_study
[3] https://lawpath.com.au/blog/subscription-traps-what-businesses-should-be-aware-of
[4] https://www.mypointcu.com/learn/blog/dont-get-caught-in-a-free-trial-scam
[5] https://wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/subscription-traps-enough-is-enough-e475bd221c1f
[6] https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/5-subscription-scams-and-traps-to-watch-out-for-aYwJA0u8EFZ9
[7] https://www.carpro.com/blog/look-out-for-fake-subscription-scams-in-your-email
[8] https://westreet.org/flashy-free-trial-scams-on-the-rise/
[9] https://www.kkv.fi/en/consumer-affairs/scams/subscription-traps/
[10] https://www.reddit.com/r/Scams/comments/164nv3u/beware_of_the_free_trial_trap/
[11] https://www.choice.com.au/consumers-and-data/data-collection-and-use/how-your-data-is-used/articles/subscription-traps
[12] https://competition-bureau.canada.ca/fraud-and-scams/tips-and-advice/subscription-traps
[13] https://www.mybanktracker.com/money-tips/money/subscription-scam-296704
[14] https://www.nwcu.com/learn/avoid-free-trial-scams
[15] https://competition-bureau.canada.ca/fraud-and-scams/tips-and-advice/subscription-traps
[16] https://www.flagright.com/post/understanding-subscription-fraud
[17] https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/getting-and-out-free-trials-auto-renewals-and-negative-option-subscriptions
[18] https://www.europe-consommateurs.eu/en/shopping-internet/internet-fraud-and-scams/subscription-traps.html
[19] https://diro.io/subscription-fraud/
[20] https://www.agfed.org/blogs/moneydig/all-you-need-to-know-about-free-trial-scams/
[21] https://wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/subscription-traps-enough-is-enough-e475bd221c1f
[22] https://www.idtheftcenter.org/post/subscription-renewal-scams-are-another-way-to-steal-your-identity-itrc/
[23] https://www.riograndecu.org/free-trial-scams
[24] https://subaio.com/subaio-explained/what-are-subscription-traps-and-how-can-subaio-protect-you-against-them
[25] https://www.bitdefender.com/en-us/blog/hotforsecurity/what-are-subscription-renewal-scams-and-how-do-you-protect-against-them
[26] https://consumer.ftc.gov/media/79876
[27] https://www.bbb.org/all/scamstudies/free_trial_scams/free_trial_scams_full_study
[28] https://subaio.com/subscription-economy/4-ways-to-get-caught-in-a-subscription-trap
[29] https://oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/magazine-scams
[30] https://www.vox.com/the-goods/22374466/free-trial-subscription-scam
[31] https://www.ukecc.net/news-publications/case-study-one-most-common-subscription-traps
[32] https://www.nofraud.com/blog/subscription-fraud-what-is-it-and-how-to-protect-your-business/
[33] https://www.npr.org/2024/10/25/nx-s1-5164465/the-planet-money-team-examines-the-subscription-trap
[34] https://www.reddit.com/r/apps/comments/160nigh/is_it_just_me_or_is_rocket_money_a_scam/
[35] https://theconversation.com/why-is-it-so-hard-to-cancel-subscriptions-or-end-free-trials-report-shows-how-companies-trap-you-into-paying-237236
[36] https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2021/10/ftc-ramp-enforcement-against-illegal-dark-patterns-trick-or-trap-consumers-subscriptions
[37] https://bobsullivan.net/gotchas/finally-the-end-of-subscription-traps-is-in-sight-unless-new-ftc-rule-is-put-on-hold/
[38] https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/data-visualizations/data-spotlight/2022/12/who-experiences-scams-story-all-ages
[39] https://forms.fbi.gov/seeking-victims-in-magazine-subscription-scams-investigation
[40] https://www.sticky.io/post/ecommerce-insights-free-trials-arent-dead
[41] https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/10/federal-trade-commission-announces-final-click-cancel-rule-making-it-easier-consumers-end-recurring
[42] https://news.gallup.com/poll/544643/scams-relatively-common-anxiety-inducing-americans.aspx
[43] https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/12/buyer-beware-is-that-free-trial-really-free.html
[44] https://www.mypointcu.com/learn/blog/dont-get-caught-in-a-free-trial-scam
[45] https://www.security.org/scams/prevention/
[46] https://www.dglaw.com/not-careful-enough-ftc-settles-8-5-million-action-against-care-com-for-deceptive-marketing-claims-and-subscription-traps/
[47] https://kount.com/blog/subscription-fraud-scams-9-expert-fraud-detection-tips-to-reduce-risk
[48] https://www.reddit.com/r/SaaS/comments/17qo92d/how_do_you_stop_freetrial_fraudsters_in_a_saas/
[49] https://www.reuters.com/world/us/ftc-takes-subscription-traps-with-click-cancel-rule-2024-10-16/
[50] https://www.customerexperiencedive.com/news/ftc-cracks-down-on-subscription-traps/726766/
[51] https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/press-releases/consumers-spend-688-million-on-unused-subscriptions-in-the-last-year/
[52] https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/mental-health-impact/
[53] https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/free-trial/
[54] https://www.moneyandmentalhealth.org/escaping-subscription-trap/
[55] https://www.moneyandmentalhealth.org/online-scams-mental-health/
[56] https://www.wrvo.org/2024-10-19/the-subscription-trap
[57] https://www.internetmatters.org/hub/expert-opinion/financial-scams-impacts-young-people/
[58] https://www.genisyscu.org/blog/3-reasons-to-avoid-the-free-trial-trap
[59] https://sift.com/blog/how-to-prevent-subscription-fraud
[60] https://oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/free-trial-offers
[61] https://www.subscriptionflow.com/2023/08/strategies-for-magazine-subscription-fraud-prevention/
[62] https://financebuzz.com/avoid-free-trial-scams
[63] https://www.getsafeonline.org/personal/articles/subscription-traps/
[64] https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/newsroom/cfpb-issues-guidance-to-root-out-tactics-which-charge-people-fees-for-subscriptions-they-dont-want/