Subscription Fraud

Walesnum1

I've been silly enough to fall for a subscription based scam. Initially, I found a spa online through Instagram. It's a fake profile which I've already reported to Instagram. I've also contacted the person who's pictures have been used on the fake Instagram page and they are aware that it's a scam. The spa sent me a link to book on their website, but the form kept saying that my card had not been accepted so I stupidly tried another bank card. After a Google search, I found another website which confirmed it was a scam. The spa website states they would charge $2.99 for a card payment and no other charges would be taken until after the treatment. Later on I found that I had been charged, even though their website told me my card payment hadn't gone through and I haven't received any spa treatments. After Googling the website detailed in the item description from my bank statements, I came across this websites that confirmed I'd been duped into a subscription scam. I've tried contacting these companies on their websites but they requested card details, which I'm obviously anxious in providing again. Both websites ask for the first 6 and last 4 digits of your credit card to unsubscribe. I've already read a Google review which says they've been scammed by giving these details. They've only initially charged a small amount on both cards, but as it's a subscription based scam I expect them to attempt to charge my card again. I've already contacted my banks who have either blocked any further payments to this company or cancelled my card and provided me with a new one.

I was just wondering if closing my accounts that've been affected by the scam is necessary and if that'll cause more issues in the future?

Walesnum1

I should also perhaps mention this case, as well as all the websites, have been reported to Action Fraud.

penners324

Happened to me once. Payment got refunded and I got a new card. Case closed.
If they try to take payment again get your bank to refund those charges and block that retailer from making cpa payments on your card.

Walesnum1

penners324 said:

Happened to me once. Payment got refunded and I got a new card. Case closed.
If they try to take payment again get your bank to refund those charges and block that retailer from making cpa payments on your card.

Is there any chance the retailer could continue to take payments from an account once you deactivate and receive a new card?

pbartlett

yes they certainly could and your remedy is to report it once again to your bank and get a refund and a second new card

Walesnum1

pbartlett said:

yes they certainly could and your remedy is to report it once again to your bank and get a refund and a second new card

Is closing the account altogether a remedy for this?

born_again

Walesnum1 said:

pbartlett said:

yes they certainly could and your remedy is to report it once again to your bank and get a refund and a second new card

Is closing the account altogether a remedy for this?

Neither just stopping card or closing account is a sensible way to deal with this issue.
>>Both websites ask for the first 6 and last 4 digits of your credit card to unsubscribe. I've already read a Google review which says they've been scammed by giving these details. <<
Load of rubbish... They all ready have your full 16 digit card number. So that is the issue.

Always read the T/C. Any site that justs asks you just to pay P/P to try something, is going to be a subscription going forward.

Walesnum1

born_again said:

Walesnum1 said:

pbartlett said:

yes they certainly could and your remedy is to report it once again to your bank and get a refund and a second new card

Is closing the account altogether a remedy for this?

Neither just stopping card or closing account is a sensible way to deal with this issue.
>>Both websites ask for the first 6 and last 4 digits of your credit card to unsubscribe. I've already read a Google review which says they've been scammed by giving these details. <<
Load of rubbish... They all ready have your full 16 digit card number. So that is the issue.

Always read the T/C. Any site that justs asks you just to pay P/P to try something, is going to be a subscription going forward.

What would be your recommendation in dealing with this issue?

Armorica

A US based "spa" ?
They already hold your card details, so don't need them again. Just tell them you want to unsubscribe again. And report again to your bank if they try to take a payment.

colsten

Walesnum1 said:

pbartlett said:

yes they certainly could and your remedy is to report it once again to your bank and get a refund and a second new card

Is closing the account altogether a remedy for this?

Yes, if you closed your account altogether, no further charging could take place. But do not switch your account, as debits against the old account might still be passed on to the new account. You must open an entirely new account, manually transfer any DDs, SOs and your balance, and then ask the old bank to close your old account. Then stop buying from Instagram or similar offers.

penners324

Your bank has to block the cpa payments if you ask them to.