CON artists are targeting innocent victims by offering free trials of products through online adverts.
Trading Standads Officers have issued a warning about the dangers of signing up to them.
Scammers will normally use a web pop-up to suggest you only need to pay for postage and packaging for the goods for a trial period.
But unintentionally when entering your payment details for postage and packing, you are actually signing up for a monthly repayment plan.
This allows the tricksters to withdraw cash from your account every month - often without you even realising.
Coun Roy Miller said: “If you are in any doubt about the legitimacy of a company that is offering something for nothing then don’t sign up for it and don’t give your payment details in the first place. For consumer advice contact 0345 4040506.”
Regulatory Services officers give the following tips for dealing with free trial scams:
- Make sure you fully read the terms and conditions of what you are signing up to. If you can't see them or there aren't any, don't give the company your bank details.
- If you think you have been scammed, try to contact the business and explain you weren't told about the monthly repayments. This might prove fruitless but your bank will expect you to have tried.
- Speak to your bank. If you tell it to put a stop on a continuous payment authority, it must do so. Don't be deterred by incorrect information given out by a cashier.
- If your bank doesn't resolve the issue, then speak to the Financial Ombudsman Service. It will remind the bank of its responsibilities regarding CPAs and help put a stop to further payments.
