# Q&A: Nets interviews the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation on subscription traps Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2017-12-19 Category: FINANCE Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/finance Meta Title: The Growing Threat of Subscription Traps for Online Meta Description: Learn about the rise of subscription traps, a growing problem fuelled by online shopping. Discover how to protect yourself in our insightful interview. URL: https://financedigest.com/qa-nets-interviews-the-finnish-national-bureau-of-investigation-on-subscription-trapshtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/fd191217-1-1-1736843133533-compressed.jpg) Fraud is on the rise. This is due, in part, to consumers’ growing preference for shopping and managing finances online, where the opportunities for committed fraudsters are numerous. One of the most high-growth instances of online fraud is unsolicited recurring payments, otherwise known as ‘subscription traps’. What are subscription traps? How [big is this problem](https://www.financedigest.com/with-big-bets-on-musk-these-funds-may-have-a-tesla-problem-in-23.html "With big bets on Musk, these funds may have a Tesla problem in ’23")? What can be done? Judith Thrane, Senior Vice President, Fraud & Dispute, Nets, interviewed Detective Sergeant JuusoTschokkinen from the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation, International Affairs, to find out more. 1. **Just how big a problem are subscription traps?** 2. Subscription traps are a worldwide issue that could affect anyone that uses the internet. Across Europe, most of us are frequent users of email and [social media](https://www.financedigest.com/elon-musk-goes-viral-on-chinese-social-media-with-ancient-poem-post.html "Elon Musk goes viral on Chinese social media with ancient poem post"), which are two of the main channels where fraudsters advertise their products. 1. **How do subscription traps operate?** 2. Subscription traps rely on people’s good faith. [Consumers are used to being able to trust](https://www.financedigest.com/trusting-in-trust-marks-enhancing-consumer-trust-in-your-ecommerce-business.html "Trusting in trust marks: enhancing consumer trust in your ecommerce business ") retailers, and tend to only glance at terms and conditions. Subscription traps take advantage of this behaviour. There are different types of subscription traps, some of which are easily identifiable as fraudulent and criminal. However, some fraudsters operate in a legal ‘grey zone’. An example of this is when a consumer believes that they are making a one-off payment, but the retailer also initiates ongoing, regular payments, which are not communicated clearly to the consumer. A retailer operating in the legal grey zone could include details of the recurring payments in small print in the terms and conditions –  where they are available in principle, but in practice, presented in a [way that means the customer is unlikely to be aware](https://www.financedigest.com/increasing-awareness-of-infant-health-is-paving-way-for-baby-sleeping-bags-market-sales.html "Increasing Awareness Of Infant Health Is Paving Way For Baby Sleeping Bags Market Sales") of them. - **Is this a growing or declining problem?** - Growing. The offers associated with subscription traps are constantly being made more attractive, with [lower prices](https://www.financedigest.com/ks-cuts-2023-profit-outlook-on-slow-recovery-lower-potash-prices.html "K+S cuts 2023 profit outlook on slow recovery, lower potash prices") and seemingly higher quality goods, so more consumers are falling into these traps. - **Can the police intervene?** - Yes, when the subscription trap is clearly a criminal activity, but law enforcement [faces many challenges](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-overcome-the-challenges-faced-by-women-in-business-3.html "How to Overcome the Challenges Faced by Women in Business") when working on cases like these. The loss for a [single consumer](https://www.financedigest.com/bagasse-tableware-products-market-will-top-us-3-75-bn-by-2031-as-consumers-proclivity-for-eco-friendly-and-single-use-product-purchase-grows.html "Bagasse Tableware Products Market will top US$ 3.75 Bn by 2031 as Consumers’ Proclivity for Eco-Friendly and Single-Use Product Purchase Grows") might be relatively low, so a large proportion of fraudulent transactions might not be reported – plus the retailers setting these subscription traps might reside in another country. The internet does not respect national boundaries. - **What advice would you give consumers?** - I would encourage everyone to stop before making a purchase online and consider whether it sounds too good to be true, and view offers, such as an iPhone on sale for €1, with a healthy scepticism. All consumers would also benefit from [paying close](https://www.financedigest.com/impact-com-closes-2021-with-new-google-pay-integration-150m-in-funding-and-51-increase-in-clients-yoy.html "impact.com closes 2021 with new Google Pay integration, 0M in funding and 51% increase in clients YoY") attention to their own bank accounts and card statements, to ensure that all transactions are for goods or services that they themselves ordered. For more information on clickbait fraud and how to combat it, read our eBook, _The Changing Face of Fraud_: [https://www.nets.eu/solutions/Fraud-and-Dispute/Pages/Related-links-and-articles.aspx](https://www.nets.eu/solutions/Fraud-and-Dispute/Pages/Related-links-and-articles.aspx) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---