Hearing aid or health device "free trial" charged to a card
A free trial of a health device needs card details and leads to large or repeated charges.
Community reports: 0
How it works
- A caller or advertisement offers a free trial of a hearing aid, BP machine or other health device, with only a small delivery charge to pay by card.
- You give your card number and the OTP for the small amount, but the details are used for a much larger payment or repeated monthly charges.
- The device is poor or never arrives, the cancellation number does not answer, and the charges continue.
What it looks like
Example messages. Numbers and links are masked.
Namaste uncle, you are selected for our free hearing aid trial for senior citizens. Only Rs 99 delivery by card. I am sending an OTP, please read it to me.
Madam, your trial device is dispatched. To stop automatic billing of Rs 14,999 after 7 days, tell me the OTP you just received.
Red flags
- A free trial that needs your card
- Caller asks you to read out an OTP
- Unclear terms about later charges
- No shop, clinic or doctor involved
- A cancel number that never answers
The one question to ask
If the trial is free, why do they need your card details and OTP?
Already paid or shared details?
Call your bank on the number printed on your card, block the card and ask them to stop any standing instructions or repeat payments on it. If money has been taken, call 1930 and file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in with the caller's number and the bank SMS.
1930 · cybercrime.gov.in
Also seen as
- Free knee belt or massager trial
- Free sugar test kit with a delivery fee
- Herbal medicine "trial pack" with monthly billing