SHERIFF CARMINE MARCENO’S AUGUST 2025 FRAUD ALERT: FAKE SUBSCRIPTION RENEWAL SCAMS

For all intents and purposes, the majority of Americans are involved in a variety of subscriptions. Be it Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Ipsy, The Farmer’s Dog, etc., we pay monthly fees to subscribe to streaming networks, magazines, weight-loss programs, pet food…you name it.

As our dependence upon subscriptions grows, opportunities to defraud us grow, as well.

There has been a significant increase in the number of fraudulent emails and texts…appearing to originate from these popular subscription companies…informing us of expiring subscriptions or of unprecedented deals and savings.

The utilization of Artificial Intelligence only enhances the apparent legitimacy of the offer. And, as we have grown extremely comfortable with making payments online, a simple click of a button and we’re confident that a successful payment has been made to the appropriate vendor.

In some cases, these scammers ask that you refresh your subscription by reentering personal information, inclusive of credit card data, date of birth, etc. These are “phishing” practices, used by cybercriminals, to impersonate a trustworthy company and to obtain your personal information.

Prevention involves the investment of time. It requires us to verify the legitimacy of offers, to ensure that we’re dealing directly with the rightful company or agency and, most urgently, never becoming lax regarding the protection of our personal information.

Invest your time. Leo Tolstoy once stated, “The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.”

Use them both wisely.