Subscription traps on the Internet

The Internet has become an integral part of our lives in the digital age. To work, communicate or entertain ourselves, most of us spend several hours online every day. But like every other medium, the Internet also has its downsides - one of which is so-called subscription traps. In this article you will learn what subscription traps are, how they work and how you can protect yourself from them.

What are subscription traps?

Subscription traps are fraudulent business practices on the Internet in which unsuspecting users are lured into paid subscriptions. These offers are often disguised as supposedly free or very cheap services, but after a while they turn out to be expensive contracts with long terms and high costs.

How do subscription traps work?

Subscription trap providers usually lure their victims to their websites via online advertising or emails. There, users are then lured with tempting offers such as free trial subscriptions, free downloads or competitions. However, fraudsters often hide the true costs and contract periods in the small print. As soon as the user reveals their personal and payment information, they have unintentionally taken out a paid subscription.

Tips for protecting yourself from subscription traps

a) Choose reputable providers: Only use offers from trustworthy and reputable providers. Research in advance whether there have been any negative experiences or warnings related to the provider.

b) Read the general terms and conditions and data protection regulations: Even if it is tedious, you should take the time to read the general terms and conditions (Terms and Conditions) and data protection regulations of the provider. Here you will find information about costs, contract periods and cancellation conditions.

c) Be careful with free offers: Be particularly careful if you are given free or very cheap offers. Subscription traps are often hidden here. Check whether there are any hidden costs or whether the offer comes with certain conditions.

d) Do not give out personal information carelessly: Only enter your personal information and payment information with trustworthy providers. Make sure that the connection is encrypted (recognizable by the lock symbol in the browser's address bar).

e) Filter emails and spam: Ignore and delete unsolicited emails with tempting offers. Use spam filters to automatically filter out dubious emails.

Conclusion

Subscription traps on the Internet are an annoying and expensive trap that any user can fall into. To protect yourself from such scams, it is important to always be vigilant and do your research before disclosing personal and payment information. If you follow the tips above, you can minimize the risk of falling into a subscription trap.

If you still fall victim to a subscription trap, it is important to act quickly. Inform your bank or payment service provider and have the payment reversed if necessary. Also contact the provider and ask them to cancel the contract. If you encounter resistance, consider seeking legal help and reporting the incident to a consumer advice center or appropriate regulatory authority.

In an increasingly digitalized world, it is important that we are aware of the dangers of the Internet. This is the only way we can effectively protect ourselves from fraud and subscription traps and use the Internet as what it should be: a useful tool for communication, information and entertainment.

Tip from the consumer advice center on what you can do if you have fallen into a subscription trap

To the current subscription trap warnings