Disguised as a sponsored status post on Facebook. Advertising lures users into an expensive subscription trap.

And again a so-called “sponsored” Facebook post that lets users fall into a trap.

We repeatedly receive information from users that they have fallen victim to a subscription trap because they clicked on a so-called “sponsored” Facebook status post. “Sponsored” status posts are paid status posts (advertising) on ​​Facebook. In this case it is the Facebook page “TudoQuiz”, which published a status post in which you can supposedly see 10 most expensive dog breeds in the world” But that's not the case, because it's a subscription that costs the user EUR 10 per week. This amount will be automatically billed to your cell phone bill.

Example of such a status post on Facebook.

If you tap or click on the status post, you will be redirected to a website where you have to tap the “Continue” button. Pay attention to the hard-to-read small print at the bottom of the page!

Information about the subscription is available here. However, many users do not read this small print and are misled by the large green “Continue” button.

Zigzagfone. €10 (subscription, 1 x per week ), To cancel, click here. By clicking “Continue” I expressly agree to the immediate. provision of services and the loss of the right of withdrawal. Zigzagfone is a subscription service. There is a cost of €10 per week plus WAP/GPRS costs, which are billed via the mobile phone bill. Cancellation is possible at any time, at http://www.mobile-info.cc, by telephone at 0800-298457 or by email [email protected] By registering, you agree to the General Terms and Conditions available here. After registering, you will receive a message with a link to the content portal. You must be at least 18 years old and an authorized account holder and/or have the consent of at least one parent and/or the account holder to register for and use the Service on your behalf. For information about the right of withdrawal, please click here. By registering you get unlimited access to a mobile content portal with products such as apps, games, smileys, wallpapers, videos and much more. After registering, you will receive a URL that points to the mobile content portal. The content of the mobile content portal is continuously updated. Info: www.zigzagfone.com/AT. Zigzagfone offers hot information and innovative entertainment for your cell phone. Provider: Artiq Mobile BV ▪ Stadhouderskade 85, 1073 AT Amsterdam, Netherlands ▪ Business registration number: 34202967 ▪ VAT number: NL8129.06.810.B01.

As soon as you tap “Continue”, you will be asked to choose your mobile operator or then type your mobile phone number into a form field.

And from that moment on you fall into the subscription trap!