Subscription Trap: How Not to Pay for Unnecessary Services

Subscription Fraud: How It Works

Hidden subscriptions are a common scam method where users are signed up for paid services without realizing it. Such schemes can be used by both large services and scammers, disguising subscription fees as one-time payments.

Main Ways to Mislead: 

• Automatic charges from the card after a free trial period.
• Disguising regular payments as a one-time purchase.
• Lack of notifications about subscription renewal.
• Confusing service cancellation process.

Some subscriptions are activated through advertising banners embedded in apps when a user accidentally clicks the “Subscribe” button. In other cases, services use pre-installed settings implying service renewal without explicit consent.

There are also cases where a subscription is activated when downloading free content—books, movies, programs. The user gains access, but after a few days, the service charges money since the agreement terms included an automatic payment.

To avoid losing money, it is important to carefully study the terms of service and check payment settings.

Automatic Card Charges: What's the Danger

Automatic payments can become a problem if the user does not track their financial transactions. Charges often occur due to subscriptions activated without explicit consent or due to a complex cancellation mechanism.

Users of mobile devices and online stores are most vulnerable to such schemes. A subscription can be set up through:

1. Apps with a trial period requiring a bank card.
2. Websites offering content access after entering payment data.
3. Mobile operators automatically connecting subscription services.

Some online resources require payment data entry even for free access. The subscription terms are hidden in the user agreement, and cancellation requires complex actions, such as calling customer support.

There are also frequent cases where a service offers test access without payment but automatically saves card data. Subsequently, the subscription is extended on a paid basis without an additional request.

To protect yourself, you need to regularly check charges, disable unnecessary subscriptions, and use virtual cards for online payments.

Tricking into Paid Services and Hidden Online Subscriptions 

Some online resources intentionally hide information about the cost of their services. This can be expressed in invisible agreements, automatically activated subscriptions, and complex cancellation conditions.

Examples of such schemes:

1. Connecting additional services when placing an order in an online store.
2. Registering on a site where after the first free period, paid service begins.
3. Mobile apps with monthly payments listed in small print.
4. False notifications about the need to renew service access.
5. Fake sites offering subscription cancellation for an additional fee.

Some scammers create fake subscription cancellation pages. The user enters card details hoping to disable the service, but instead, the scammers continue to charge funds or pass the payment details to third parties.

To avoid falling victim to such scams, it is recommended to carefully read terms before registering, use banking limits on online payments, and control your subscriptions through mobile banking.

How to Cancel an Unwanted Subscription and Avoid Financial Traps 

Fighting imposed subscriptions requires attentiveness and regular financial control. To prevent unnecessary charges, you should:

• Check payment settings in the service's personal account or banking app.
• Disable automatic charges immediately after starting a trial period.
• Study cancellation rules before registering for paid resources.
• Use temporary payment data, such as virtual cards.
• Contact the service or bank support in case of difficulties with subscription cancellation.
• Check reviews before subscribing to avoid fraudulent schemes.
• Set up charge notifications in mobile banking for prompt control.
• Avoid entering payment data on suspicious sites requiring payment for minor services.

If standard methods do not allow canceling a subscription, you can file a request with the bank for a refund (chargeback) or block the card from which charges are made.

It is also worth checking for active subscriptions in smartphone settings. On Android and iOS, there are special sections where you can manage subscriptions and disable unnecessary services.

These measures will help avoid losses and protect against subscription service scams.