# Can I report these bastard for fraud? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 27, 2014, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-report-these-bastard-for-fraud/679902 "2014-01-27T23:16:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-report-these-bastard-for-fraud/679902/41 "2014-01-29T04:07:26Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > Maybe you don’t understand the context. > It has nothing to do with the site and everything to do with falling for such a commonplace scam. . What common place scam? If you’re referring to the old “we’ll give’em a month free and then hope they forget to cancel their membership next month so we can charge’em $20” scam, that’s clearly not what happened. Please, do try reading for comprehension. ---
**Author:** ![Boogly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Boogly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boogly)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-report-these-bastard-for-fraud/679902/42 "2014-01-29T04:16:42Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Well gee, I’m not sure, maybe that’s why I started this thread. I’m really not getting where all the snark and condescension is coming from in this thread. > > Are you trying to assert your moral superiority? Or is it that people who visit such sites deserve to be scammed? > > Personally, I find it troublesome that a large company is committing fraud going completely unchecked. Yeah, I got my money back today, but still, that should let them off the hook. For the future; Don’t trust the internet Don’t trust porn sites. Really don’t trust a combo of the two. Snark; What the hell did you expect? There is a reason that porn has a reputation of putting. cooties on peoples computers… Snark-ier: I lmao at the topic/user name combo. Thank you for that at least… ETA: Better Business Bureau. Report/rate the business… ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-report-these-bastard-for-fraud/679902/43 "2014-01-29T04:22:43Z")
> [@Boogly](#): > > For the future; > Don’t trust the internet > Don’t trust porn sites. > Really don’t trust a combo of the two. > > Snark; What the hell did you expect? There is a reason that porn has a reputation of putting. cooties on peoples computers… > > Snark-ier: > I lmao at the topic/user name combo. > Thank you for that at least… Well, I’ve been trusting the internets for 15 years and this is the closest I’ve ever come to being scammed. An instance, I might add, that I got my money back. And you’re welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-report-these-bastard-for-fraud/679902/44 "2014-01-29T05:10:25Z")
> [@Boogly](#): > > Don’t trust the internet > Don’t trust porn sites. > Really don’t trust a combo of the two. How could one _not_ trust the internet, yet trust a particular website within it? ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-report-these-bastard-for-fraud/679902/45 "2014-01-29T05:15:59Z")
They are counting on you being too embarrassed to go to your bank and say “Hey, I went to this porn site and they ripped me off!” ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-report-these-bastard-for-fraud/679902/46 "2014-01-29T05:34:32Z")
> [@Boogly](#): > > ETA: Better Business Bureau. Report/rate the business… 1. Does the BBB rate online porno sites? 2. Would an online porno site give a shit if they did? ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-report-these-bastard-for-fraud/679902/47 "2014-01-29T12:36:47Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > 1. Does the BBB rate online porno sites? > 2. Would an online porno site give a shit if they did? I would never encourage anybody to spend a second on the BBB for any business. It’s basically a pay to play scam. You can be the best business in the world but if you don’t give them a bunch of confidential data and pay a registration fee they list you as a grade C, so it’s a scam for the business. They have absolutely no ability to influence businesses, so it’s a scam for consumers too. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-report-these-bastard-for-fraud/679902/48 "2014-01-29T13:52:40Z")
What state is this business registered in? Hell, in what _country_ is this business registered in? ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-report-these-bastard-for-fraud/679902/49 "2014-01-29T16:22:50Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > What common place scam? If you’re referring to the old “we’ll give’em a month free and then hope they forget to cancel their membership next month so we can charge’em $20” scam, that’s clearly not what happened. > > Please, do try reading for comprehension. You misrepresent my position just so you can appear to be a smarty-pants and trot out the old “try reading for comprehension” bit? Ha ha, fail. No, the scam I was talking about is promising not to charge your credit card yet burying the fine print where they explain they actually will. Serious question, why do you think they asked for your info if they weren’t going to use it? ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-report-these-bastard-for-fraud/679902/50 "2014-01-29T19:46:48Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > You misrepresent my position just so you can appear to be a smarty-pants and trot out the old “try reading for comprehension” bit? Ha ha, fail. > > No, the scam I was talking about is promising not to charge your credit card yet burying the fine print where they explain they actually will. > > Serious question, why do you think they asked for your info if they weren’t going to use it? I tell you what **PlainJain** , the site I’m referring to is Porn Hub live. Go over the fine print yourself and if you can show me where it says what you claim it says, I’ll buy you a years membership to this board. ---
**Author:** ![nevadaexile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb8c5e/32.png) [@nevadaexile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevadaexile)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-report-these-bastard-for-fraud/679902/51 "2014-01-29T19:46:54Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Well, they only refunded me because I called them on their bull shit. But what about all those people that are too embarrassed to do anything about it? Or all the folks who simply didn’t know they were being charged? > > It seems like the FBI or _somebody_ might be interested in a scam like that. The Secret Service handles US credit card fraud cases. And be prepared to wait in line as they have thousands of open cases going at any one time. Lesson learned: NEVER give out your credit card unless it’s a trusted site and you are planning on purchasing something, ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-report-these-bastard-for-fraud/679902/52 "2014-01-29T19:55:30Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > I tell you what **PlainJain** , the site I’m referring to is Porn Hub live. Go over the fine print yourself and if you can show me where it says what you claim it says, I’ll buy you a years membership to this board. Is there any place on that site that shows where they are physically established? ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-report-these-bastard-for-fraud/679902/53 "2014-01-29T21:06:14Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > I tell you what **PlainJain** , the site I’m referring to is Porn Hub live. Go over the fine print yourself and if you can show me where it says what you claim it says, I’ll buy you a years membership to this board. You mean where it says in the Terms and Conditions > [@pornhub](#): > > 1. FEES > > You acknowledge that Pornhub reserves the right to charge for Pornhub services and to change its fees from time to time in its discretion. Further more, in the event Pornhub terminates your rights to use the website because of a breach of this Agreement, you shall not be entitled to the refund of any unused portion of subscription fees. ? And I didn’t even have to explore the site very much to find that (although it looks “interesting”:eek:) ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-report-these-bastard-for-fraud/679902/54 "2014-01-29T21:26:20Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > You mean where it says in the Terms and Conditions > > { seemingly relevant snippet of that site’s T&C quoted here } Ding! Ding! Ding! You win a year’s membership on this board, compliments of **Shakes**! (One might have hoped instead for a year’s membership at Pr0n Hub.) :o ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-report-these-bastard-for-fraud/679902/55 "2014-01-29T21:33:38Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > You mean where it says in the Terms and Conditions > > ? > > And I didn’t even have to explore the site very much to find that (although it looks “interesting”:eek:) Except that **Shakes** _didn’t_ use their services and he explained the the thread what those services are (ie. going into a one-on-one webcam/chat). Nothing in that statement gives them permission to charge the credit card for nothing nor does it express that there will be an ongoing fee charged. It says that you understand that when you go into a pay area you will be charged for it. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-report-these-bastard-for-fraud/679902/56 "2014-01-29T21:41:42Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#): > > Except that **Shakes** _didn’t_ use their services and he explained the the thread what those services are (ie. going into a one-on-one webcam/chat). Nothing in that statement gives them permission to charge the credit card for nothing nor does it express that there will be an ongoing fee charged. It says that you understand that when you go into a pay area you will be charged for it. That’s **his** definition of services. Nothing stopping them from determining that their services include viewing the “interesting” pictures and action. The fact that some of their services are/were free does not compel them to always make them free. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-report-these-bastard-for-fraud/679902/57 "2014-01-29T21:45:15Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > You mean where it says in the Terms and Conditions > > ? > > And I didn’t even have to explore the site very much to find that (although it looks “interesting”:eek:) That statement said it reserves the right. It doesn’t mean they actually WILL. Which is exactly what **Plainjane** claims is buried deep with in the legalese. And besides, I posted this thread a couple of days ago. Their price is still listed as free. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky\_the\_Wonder\_Spirit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Sparky\_the\_Wonder\_Spirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky_the_Wonder_Spirit)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-report-these-bastard-for-fraud/679902/58 "2014-01-29T21:45:48Z")
I don’t know what I think is more hilarious: a) giving people your credit card number unless you actively wish to pay for something b) paying for porn in a world where we have the internet. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-report-these-bastard-for-fraud/679902/59 "2014-01-29T21:51:41Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > That statement said it reserves the right. It doesn’t mean they actually WILL. Which is exactly what **Plainjane** claims is buried deep with in the legalese. And besides, I posted this thread a couple of days ago. Their price is still listed as free. But it does mean that they CAN. And I wouldn’t call it buried very deeply. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-report-these-bastard-for-fraud/679902/60 "2014-01-29T21:55:13Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > But it does mean that they CAN. And I wouldn’t call it buried very deeply. Sure they CAN. Any business has the right to change its prices. How is that relevant to the conversation? You may have a point if they actually did change their prices, but they didn’t. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-report-these-bastard-for-fraud/679902.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-report-these-bastard-for-fraud/679902.md?page=4)