Online Safety: 'Free coupon' offers can cost you
By Kerry Tomlinson, KATU's Problem SolverPORTLAND, Ore. – When an online coupon popped up on Brenda Hansen's computer screen advertising a $250 coupon to Safeway, she figured it must be a legitimate offer. Multimedia"I thought, 'Well, it's gotta be legit because Safeway is legit," said Hansen, herself a former Safeway employee. She clicked on the digital coupon and, after being routed to another site, was asked to complete a survey. In order to finalize her survey, Hansen was asked to enter her mobile-phone number. Afterward, she waited for her coupon ... but it never came. What she did receive was an extra $9.99 on her monthly mobile-phone bill. It was then that Hansen realized she had been duped. We checked out the site that scammed Hansen and found it using phrases such as "There's no catch," "Free stuff" and "All offers optional." However, after taking a closer at the fine print, the hidden catches became evident. We found that some survey questions are really sign-ups to pay for monthly services. We also found some questions are not "free trial offers" as the site promised, but really come with a mandatory fee. The survey itself can try the patience of the participant, as it requires literally hundreds of mouse clicks to reach the end. For Hansen, the endless clicks began to frustrate her and she closed out of the survey before she reached the end. "I'm sure that's what they count on," Hansen said. We called the company that charged Hansen's cell phone bill, Celebrity Squares, to ask how many people actually receive the $250 Safeway coupon. The company – which has a Better Business Bureau grade of 'F' – had few answers. What they did say was that their fine print does mention there is a charge for their service. We then contacted World Avenue, based in Florida. It's a company the Florida Attorney General Office says is behind many of these offers. World Avenue never returned our calls. The Florida Attorney General's office sued World Avenue in 2007, saying the company deceived consumers. In 2008, World Avenue lost the suit, costing the company $1 million in fines. Back here in Oregon, Brenda Hansen never did get her $250 coupon. Instead she's out about $20 from her bank account. "That $20 is like a week's worth of groceries for me," said Hansen. A Safeway spokesperson said they have nothing to do with the coupon scam, and that the sites in question use its name in order to look legit. Our best advice? Stay away from any offers for free products or gift cards that look too good to be true, or that require "gold-level" or "platinum-level" participation to get the product. Meanwhile, the next step for consumers like Hansen may very well be her mobile-phone company. Some customers say they have successfully been able to get their phone company to reverse these third-party fees. Most Popular |
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February 9, 2012
- Coos Bay / North Bend, Oregon
