Scam Library

Subscription Renewal Scams

An email arrives that looks like a receipt for a subscription renewal — often antivirus software or a streaming service — for an amount you don't recognize, with a phone number to call if you want to dispute or cancel it.

Warning signs

What to watch for

A charge for a subscription you don't remember having
A phone number to call rather than a normal account-management link
Calling the number leads to a request for remote computer access or payment information
Pressure and urgency around a large one-time charge

Stay safe

How to verify

Check your actual account or bank statement directly rather than calling the number in the email
If you have an account with that company, log in independently through their official site to check your subscription status

Already sent money or shared a password?

Contact your bank using the number on the back of your card, or the official number on your statement — not any number from the suspicious message.

Not sure if something you received matches this pattern?

Check a Message