Post by "Pop" Stran on Jul 19, 2003 14:55:06 GMT -5
We have received complaints recently about the unauthorized charging of credit cards resulting from site visitors joining up for free trial periods or trial periods at discounted costs.
In each case the scam site charges unauthorized amounts to the visitors credit card.
In some cases the site fails to tell you that your failure to cancel the membership during the free or discounted trial period results in the automatic activation of a full-time membership.
Many of the credit card scams are occurring at adult websites.
Remember these tips:
-Never give out your credit card number unless you are purchasing an item online with a well known site.
-Be suspicious of any site that requires your credit card number for age verification.
This usually is a common scam at adult sites.
-There is no reason to give your credit card number for a free trial period.
-Be cautious at sites that offer a discount introductory trial period, especially online adult sites.
-Always read the fine print to determine how to cancel your trial offers or memberships. Some free trial periods actually require you to join a 3 month membership as a minimum.
-Review your credit card invoices upon receipt to for any unauthorized purchases and report any discrepancies to your credit card issuer.
If, after you have reported any crammed expenses to your credit card issuer, your credit card issuer is still permitting similar crammed expenses showing up on your card, cancel your card.
Use as few credit cards as possible and destroy and cancel ones that you don't use frequently.
Remember that once a scammer has your credit card number, he or she can charge your account with unwarranted charges or use your credit card number to purchase items for the scammer's benefit.
Should you fall for this one, immediately contact the Better Business Bureau.
*Personal Note:
Who hasn't seen those "Free trial period, and the Gift is Yours to keep!" offers?
There's no free lunch.
What they don't volunteer are the following facts:
They don't send your "free gift": They don't actually have them.
They will send you a certificate that you can redeem for the gift, after you have been a member beyond the trial period...a Paying member.
The membership that you are tricked into buying is in essence, worthless.
Those "Savings Club" certificates are just copies of the discounts already being offered by individual merchants...You just have to ask for them.
Most importantly: Once they've tricked you into paying the "nominal shipping fee" for your free gift, they can add whatever charges they care to, now that they have your creditcard numbers.
Creditcard "Cramming" is a common scam, and these "free trials" are just another version...You are protected by your bank/issuer from un-authorized charges, but you might be shocked at how easy it is to con some people into giving "accidental authorization"...
Thanx for your time,
JB.
In each case the scam site charges unauthorized amounts to the visitors credit card.
In some cases the site fails to tell you that your failure to cancel the membership during the free or discounted trial period results in the automatic activation of a full-time membership.
Many of the credit card scams are occurring at adult websites.
Remember these tips:
-Never give out your credit card number unless you are purchasing an item online with a well known site.
-Be suspicious of any site that requires your credit card number for age verification.
This usually is a common scam at adult sites.
-There is no reason to give your credit card number for a free trial period.
-Be cautious at sites that offer a discount introductory trial period, especially online adult sites.
-Always read the fine print to determine how to cancel your trial offers or memberships. Some free trial periods actually require you to join a 3 month membership as a minimum.
-Review your credit card invoices upon receipt to for any unauthorized purchases and report any discrepancies to your credit card issuer.
If, after you have reported any crammed expenses to your credit card issuer, your credit card issuer is still permitting similar crammed expenses showing up on your card, cancel your card.
Use as few credit cards as possible and destroy and cancel ones that you don't use frequently.
Remember that once a scammer has your credit card number, he or she can charge your account with unwarranted charges or use your credit card number to purchase items for the scammer's benefit.
Should you fall for this one, immediately contact the Better Business Bureau.
*Personal Note:
Who hasn't seen those "Free trial period, and the Gift is Yours to keep!" offers?
There's no free lunch.
What they don't volunteer are the following facts:
They don't send your "free gift": They don't actually have them.
They will send you a certificate that you can redeem for the gift, after you have been a member beyond the trial period...a Paying member.
The membership that you are tricked into buying is in essence, worthless.
Those "Savings Club" certificates are just copies of the discounts already being offered by individual merchants...You just have to ask for them.
Most importantly: Once they've tricked you into paying the "nominal shipping fee" for your free gift, they can add whatever charges they care to, now that they have your creditcard numbers.
Creditcard "Cramming" is a common scam, and these "free trials" are just another version...You are protected by your bank/issuer from un-authorized charges, but you might be shocked at how easy it is to con some people into giving "accidental authorization"...
Thanx for your time,
JB.
