Community Chat

[SeaMaiden]

I did not know people still subscribed to magazines... seems like they are going the way of  the box store... gone....

[ChynnaBlue]

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@fortune wrote:

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@bbsr wrote:

I think a company can legally charge anything they want for magazine subscriptions.  I know of several reputable online services that charge different prices for People.  I think you just need to shop around for the best price.

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@bbsr

Legally charge any amount they want to for magazine subscriptions?  Their price is $179.95 and People's price is $116.07.  What do they do with the leftover money?  I'm sure it doesn't go to charity!  I really do think this belongs in the "mail fraud" category.

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Profit.

Anywhere you go, people charge different prices for the same thing. Almost all the gas stations between my home and office are charging $1.99 this week, but the place closest to my office is $2.39 and people pay it. CVS almost always charges more than Walgreens and they both charge more than my local grocery store. It's not a scam and it's not illegal. 

Something feeling wrong or immoral is not the same thing as something being illegal.

You can report them to the Better Business Bureau, where they already have an F rating, but unless they've broken an actual law, they've not done anything illegal and cannot be convicted of fraud. 

I think actions like this, making other people aware of the fact that they are being charged more for the same product, is important and I thank you for the information. I'll pass it on.

[Lipstickdiva]

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@SeaMaiden wrote:

I did not know people still subscribed to magazines... seems like they are going the way of  the box store... gone....

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Yep.  I love my magazines.  Some Saturdays when I have the time, I have what I call a day of beauty and I soak my feet, put on a mask, some deep conditioner in my hair and while all that is going on, I read my magazines. 

[Spurt]

I got a warning in several magazine publications regarding this scam. They said to always check the address on the publication itself to make sure it matches their office.  I always go directly to the magazine's website to renew my subscription, I don't trust "special offers" that I get in the mail.

[Spurt]

Many of these are actual SCAMS folks:

https://www.bbb.org/acadiana/news-events/bbb-scam-alerts/2015/06/bbb-alerts-consumers-to-publication...

Better Business Bureau Serving Acadiana is alerting consumers to fake magazine renewal subscription scams operating in the area. Con artists are sending out fake renewal notices to area residents, hoping to trick magazine and newspaper subscribers into overpaying for a new subscription and, in many cases, pocketing the money then disappearing.

June 15, 2015

Here is how the scam works:

A consumer receives a subscription renewal bill from a newspaper or magazine in the mail. The notice tells you that your subscription is expiring but you can renew it by paying immediately.

You check the "bill" and the price seems higher than in the past. Scammers are, in many cases, charging many times more than the renewal would actually cost. As a result, consumers are receiving multiple renewal forms and paying scammers for magazines that they will never receive.

If consumers do pay the fake “renewal,” don't expect to see your subscription continue. In most cases, scammers will pocket your money and move on.  

One local consumer brought this scam to the attention of BBB Serving Acadiana. He brought a fake “renewal” form to the BBB office which asked for about $110 more than the actual cost of the renewal.

He confirmed it was a fake with the real newspaper subscription company after becoming suspicious then notified BBB of the scam.

BBB advises consumers take a close look at both their initial subscription form and their renewal form because if the address and/or companies as well as the renewal cost do not match, then it is likely a fraud.

Grammar also counts. Con artists often are not careful with the details and misspell words and use bad English.

BBB urges people to beware of illegitimate magazine and newspaper subscriptions by following these additional tips:

• Start with Trust® Check with BBB and the publication directly if you suspect a renewal scam.

• Check for a renewal notice. Many magazine companies will include a renewal notice in the final issue of your magazine. If you see this notice in your final issue, then you will know it is authentic.

• Compare addresses on your subscription forms. You can find the legitimate address in the first few pages of your magazine. Don’t pay a renewal form with an address that doesn’t match the one inside your magazine.

• Contact your magazine publisher. If you are uncertain about your renewal date or the validity of your renewal form, contact the magazine publisher directly with any questions or concerns. They will have accurate information on your magazine subscriptions.

“Look for the Seal” and Start with Trust®. BBB Serving Acadiana is a private non-profit organization that strives for a trustworthy marketplace by maintaining standards for truthful advertising, investigating and exposing fraud against consumers and businesses.

Please contact Better Business Bureau at bbb.org or (337) 981-3497 24 hours a day for information on businesses throughout North America. Consumers can also sign up for our “Scoop” BBB eNewsletter by visiting bbb.org and clicking on the “Programs & Services” tab.

BBB Serving Acadiana services the parishes of Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Martin, St. Landry and Vermilion.

Scammers Send Fake Renewal Notices for Magazine Subscriptions

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Thanks to ScamBusters reader Bill for suggesting we write about a widespread, but under-publicized, scam. In a recent email, Bill wrote:

“I have recently noticed that I am receiving multiple renewal letters on the magazines I subscribe to. They are all very official looking, and all say ‘Your subscription is about to expire’ or have some kind of special renewal offer.

“There are multiple ‘companies’ doing this under the guise of publishing firms… If you don’t keep a record of which [magazines] you have really renewed you can be bilked out of a lot of money…”

According to ConsumerAffairs.com, a number of scammers are sending magazine subscribers across the country VERY realistic-looking subscription renewal notices — some of which offer deep discounts for re-subscribing by a certain date.

The logos, typefaces, print quality and paper stock used to create these phony renewal notices are so close to what the actual publishers use that few (if any) consumers can tell the real deal from the fakes.

But there’s often one obvious tip-off: Some scammers offer ridiculously LOW renewal prices. One scammer requested just $5.00 to renew a yearly magazine subscription that cost many times that.

Not surprisingly, people who fall for this ruse don’t receive renewed subscriptions and never see their money again.

Such scams operate under a variety of different company names, which makes it hard for law enforcement agencies to catch the culprits. According to ConsumerAffairs.com, “Sometimes the scammers pretend to be from a collection agency, collecting money on behalf of the magazine.”

Naturally, legitimate magazine publishers aren’t too happy about having their money siphoned off to scammers and getting unfairly blamed for the problem. Therefore, many recommend that readers follow these tips to avoid getting ripped off:

1. If you don’t remember the renewal date of your magazine subscription (how many of us do?), check the renewal date on the mailing label of your magazine. Be VERY suspicious if you receive a renewal notice when your subscription isn’t due to expire for quite some time!(Unfortunately though, many magazines and newsletters do try to get you to renew early. So this isn’t a foolproof red flag.)
2. Many magazines include a renewal notice in the final issue of your magazine, so you’ll know it’s genuine.
3. If you get a random renewal notice, compare the address on the form to the subscription mailing address in your magazine. The real mailing address is located on what’s known as the “masthead” (usually on one of the first few pages), which also lists the publication’s editors, reporters, etc. Don’t send money to an address that doesn’t match the one inside your magazine.(Unfortunately though, some magazines and newsletters use a special PO box for their renewals. So again, this isn’t a foolproof red flag. If in doubt, see the next tip…)
4. Contact the magazine publisher directly if you have any doubts or questions.

http://www.scambusters.org/magazinesubscriptions.html

[kivah]

NEVER respond to emails, letters in the mail, phone calls. If u want a product or service, call the company yourself. Anyone can advertise something and use a PO Box - and you'll never see the item.

[sunshine45]

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@SeaMaiden wrote:

I did not know people still subscribed to magazines... seems like they are going the way of  the box store... gone....

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i still love magazines!

they are getting so cheap now. i probably have at least 20+ subscriptions.

i especially love them when i am sitting by the pool or beach.

[Irshgrl31201]

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@Lipstickdiva wrote:

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@SeaMaiden wrote:

I did not know people still subscribed to magazines... seems like they are going the way of  the box store... gone....

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Yep.  I love my magazines.  Some Saturdays when I have the time, I have what I call a day of beauty and I soak my feet, put on a mask, some deep conditioner in my hair and while all that is going on, I read my magazines. 

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Me too. I probably get 2 dozen or so. I recently renewed my subscription to Southern Living and when I did that,  I got People for $52 for the year. I paid about $8 more than I did last year. I think I get a good price because I get about 10 or so magazines with this company. I get InStyle, US and a few decorating and cooking magazines with them.