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Reading books is still one of the top pastimes even in the digital age and probably the best way to gain knowledge. While many prefer physical books, there are millions who have switched to reading eBooks because they are simply more convenient. In the past decades, the rise of Netflix and similar services have made the subscription model ubiquitous. Just like you can access thousands of movies with a Netflix subscription, there are services that allow you to access literary Libraries by paying a subscription fee.
In this article, we shall take a look at a few such eBook subscription services which show hints of being possible Subscription Scams. These websites are identical and have the same owners. Further, they provide exactly the same services. Quite odd, isn’t it? Take a look below at the screenshot of the website ebookcase.net.
The site is well designed and doesn’t seem to be fishy by itself. However, my research revealed that the text on the website is not unique. I found that there are at least 13 other websites that have the same content.
Comparing the below screenshot of thebookpack.com with that of ebookcase.net, we can see that the two sites are so similar that they appear to be based on the same template.
Upon checking the website owner information, it became clear that the websites are indeed operated by the same company. Both the sites carry the information of a Malta-based company named Incrementum Media Ltd. It should be noted that firms registered in Malta are usually offshore companies created for tax purposes and ease of doing business.
The same is the case for the other sites too.
The below screenshots of bookdivan.net and bookcouch.net show that they are indistinguishable from each other.
Both the sites are also operated by the same company called WuHuu Network Ltd. also based in Malta. It is not a stretch of the imagination to assume that Incrementum and WuHuu may be the same parent company operating under different names.
While is quite strange that a company would create a dozen different websites that are largely identical, eyebrows are raised further when you realize that the offerings of all these websites are exactly the same. The sites provide subscribers access to ‘over 500 eBooks’ for a monthly fee of €45.
There does not seem to be any marked difference in the libraries. It seems counterproductive to create multiple websites to provide access to the same library as it entails maintaining all the sites instead of just one. This is reminiscent of 'Brain Training' Sites that trap unsuspecting users in unwanted subscriptions by offering a ‘free prize’ when a user signs up for a trial by paying €1.
The caveat is that the trial period automatically converts into a monthly subscription unless manually cancelled before the end of the trial period. Therefore, users who provided their card details have gone for months before realizing that they are being charged €45 for a service they never use.
While there is no mention of a free prize on these eBook websites, the same model of a short trial automatically converting into a monthly subscription is being used. The €1 offer is prominently displayed but the information about the recurring €45 subscription has been relegated to the fine print.
However, upon further research, it turns out that these eBook subscription sites are indeed running promotions promising free gifts. Multiple reviews for different sites mention that the subscribers were unknowingly signed up for an eBook subscription after sharing their card information to enter a lucky draw.
Many don’t even make the connection that they gave their card details to someone who has signed them up for a subscription service without their explicit consent.
A possible reason for this could be that these sites appear under different names on credit card bills. By looking at the Terms & Conditions page, we can see that almost every website has at least two or three names for billing. In many cases, the name in the bill is completely different from the URL of the website.
I found that there are at least 22 different websites being used exclusively for billing. When I visited these sites, I found that they lead to a ‘Billing Support’ page which allows subscribers to cancel their subscription, among other things.
While it does not seem as if the sites run by Incrementum Media Ltd. and WuuHuu Network Ltd. from Malta are outright scams, it does appear that they are getting users to sign up for their eBook subscription service under the guise of entering a lucky draw to win a free prize. The fact that there is a multitude of portals being used to provide exactly the same service is extremely suspicious. Additionally, the names of websites may not always appear in the credit card statement, causing unnecessary confusion to consumers.
The lesson to keep in mind here is that nothing is truly free. In order to receive a free prize or enter a lucky draw, you need to provide your credit card details. These details are then used to sign you up for a ‘trial’ for €1 which automatically becomes a monthly subscription costing €45 after 3 days.
Unless you are aware enough to cancel the subscription immediately after the 3-day trial period, you may end up losing a minimum of €45 for a subscription that you will likely never use. In line with their company policies, the money you have already paid will not be returned. You can only prevent paying more.
This article has been written by a scam fighter volunteer. If you believe the article above contains inaccuracies or is missing relevant information, please contact ScamAdviser.com using this form.
