This scam campaign centers around the domain information.com and debt collector ACCOUNT SERVICES INC., which has accumulated 8 complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The two entities have been reported together by consumers, indicating a potential coordinated operation targeting individuals seeking background check services and debt collection activities.
Community reports reveal a deceptive subscription model employed by information.com, where consumers are lured with advertisements for 99-cent background checks but then charged recurring monthly fees of $35.99 without clear disclosure. Multiple consumers report being enrolled in unwanted subscriptions after what they believed was a one-time service purchase. The victims describe receiving no advance notification of the trial period ending or subscription charges, and report difficulty in identifying the charges on their bank statements. One highly-voted community report with 437 upvotes suggests this operation may involve sophisticated social engineering tactics, though the specific details require further investigation.
The connection between information.com and ACCOUNT SERVICES INC. suggests a potential pipeline where consumers initially targeted by the deceptive subscription service may later be pursued for debt collection activities. This pattern is concerning as it indicates consumers may face continued harassment even after falling victim to the initial scam. The 8 CFPB complaints against ACCOUNT SERVICES INC. indicate ongoing issues with their debt collection practices, potentially affecting consumers who disputed the unauthorized charges from information.com.
To protect yourself from similar scams, always carefully review terms and conditions before providing payment information for any online service, especially those advertising unusually low prices. Verify the legitimacy of any company by checking with the Better Business Bureau and searching for consumer complaints online. If contacted by debt collectors, demand written verification of any claimed debts and never provide personal information over the phone. If you encounter these entities, hang up immediately, do not click on any links in emails or text messages, and report the incident to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov or file a complaint with the FCC. You can check if a phone number or domain is safe by searching consumer complaint databases and scam reporting websites before engaging.
This campaign represents a moderate threat level with confirmed consumer financial impact through unauthorized recurring charges and potential debt collection harassment. Consumers should remain vigilant for similar subscription trap schemes and verify all online service providers before sharing payment information. Anyone who has been charged by information.com should contact their bank to dispute unauthorized transactions and file complaints with both the FTC and CFPB to help authorities track this ongoing campaign.