Fake apps and subscriptions you didn't mean to start

A subscription you didn’t mean to start is a billing problem. A number to call, or an app from a link, is a scam.

If it’s happening now

A screen wants you to start a free trial. Only need it once? Close the screen. Otherwise find the price after the trial and how often it charges. $9.99 a week is $519.48 a year.

A message, an ad, or a person sends you a link to install an app. Don’t use it. Open the App Store or Google Play yourself and search for the app. Check that the company name under the app’s name is the one you expect. On Google Play, check the number of downloads too.

Someone on the phone is talking you through installing an app. Hang up. Some Android phones won’t let you allow a new app source, or turn on Accessibility, during a call with a number that isn’t in your contacts. If yours refuses, don’t look for a way around it. Full steps: Someone is on the line or on my screen right now.

An email or text says you were charged for a renewal and gives a number to call. Don’t call it. Open your bank or card app yourself and look for the charge. Not there? You’re done. There? Call the number on the back of your card.

A pop-up says your phone has a virus. Close the tab. Don’t call the number or install what it offers.

What to say

• I'd like to cancel my subscription today. Can you email me a confirmation that it's canceled? I'd also like a refund for the last charge.

• I signed up for what I thought was a one-time purchase, and it turned into a subscription. I've canceled with the company and they won't refund it. I want to dispute the charges, and I need a case number.

• I've canceled my subscription and taken back my permission for that company to charge this debit card. Please block any more charges from them.

• Can you send me that decision in writing, with the documents you based it on?

If something already left your hands

An app or website is charging you

1. Find out who’s billing you. Look at the charge on your card or bank statement.

• apple.com/bill: Apple.
• GOOGLE* and a name: Google Play.
• PAYPAL in the name: the company bills you through PayPal.
• Anything else: the company charged your card itself, because you signed up on its website or an app sent you there to pay.

2. Cancel it there.

• iPhone: Settings, tap your name, then Subscriptions. Tap the app, then Cancel Subscription (you may need to scroll). No Cancel button, or a red expiration message, means it’s already canceled.
• Android: open the Play Store, tap your profile icon at the top right, then Payments & subscriptions, then Subscriptions. Tap the app, then Cancel subscription. Or type play.google.com/store/account/subscriptions into a browser.
• The company billed you: sign in on its website or app and look under Account, Billing, or Subscription. Save the confirmation.
• Billed through PayPal: cancel there too. In PayPal, go to Settings, then Payments, then Automatic Payments (or Subscriptions and saved businesses). Pick the company, then cancel.

Not listed? Search your email for “receipt from Apple” or “invoice from Apple,” or for Google Play order emails. If the receipt shows a family member’s Apple Account, that person has to cancel it.

No way to cancel? Call the number on the back of your card and ask them to block any more charges from that company.

3. Ask for the money back.

• Apple: sign in at reportaproblem.apple.com, choose “I’d like to,” then Request a refund. Pick a reason and the subscription, then Submit. Apple says to expect an update in 24 to 48 hours.
• Google Play: within 48 hours of the charge, go to play.google.com, click your profile picture, then Payments & subscriptions, then Budget & order history, and choose Report a problem on the order. After 48 hours, Google sends you to the app’s developer. Google says it doesn’t refund most purchases.
• The company billed you: ask it in writing, and keep the reply.

4. If no one refunds it, dispute it with your card. Call the number on the back. Say what you were charged and that you’ve canceled. On a credit card, follow up in writing so it arrives within 60 days of the first statement that shows the charge. On a debit card, tell the bank you’ve taken back the company’s permission to charge you, at least three business days before the next charge. Charges after that count as errors you can ask the bank to put back. For earlier charges you agreed to, the law doesn’t promise a refund, but ask anyway. Details: I paid with a credit or debit card.

If the answer is no, ask for the decision in writing, then file a complaint at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. Report the company at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

You installed an app from a link, or one that wasn’t what it said

You typed a bank password or card number into it, or turned on Accessibility for it. Do this first. If you turned on Accessibility, turn the phone off. From another phone or computer, call the number on your card and tell them an app may have your banking details. Then change the passwords you typed, and anywhere you reused them. Don’t bank on that phone until the app is gone. I gave out a code, password, or card number.

Delete it. iPhone: touch and hold the app, tap Remove App, then Delete App, then Delete. Android: Settings, then Apps (See all apps if you need it), tap the app, then Uninstall. If Uninstall is grayed out, or the screen closes when you try, stop. Google says you may need to reset the phone or ask its maker for help. Have someone you trust do it with you.

iPhone: check for a profile. Settings, then General, then VPN & Device Management. Delete any profile you didn’t set up; that also deletes the settings and apps that came with it. A work or school phone may have one on purpose.

Android: check Play Protect. In the Play Store, tap your profile icon, then Play Protect, and remove anything it flags. If you let your browser or messages app install apps, turn that back off: search Settings for “unknown apps.”

Someone you met online had you install a trading app. An investment that can’t lose.

You called a number from a renewal email, a pop-up, or a search ad

Hang up. Whatever refund they showed you isn’t real. If that’s as far as it went, you’re done.

They connected to your computer. Hold the power button until it turns off. I let someone control my computer.

You signed in to your bank or typed a card number while they were connected. From another device, call the number on your card. Then change your bank password from that device.

You sent money. Call the number on your card, then see I paid or sent money.

Anyone who offers to get it back for a fee is a second scam: Someone offers to get my money back.

What it looks like

Two weeks ago you paid 99 cents on a website to turn a photo into a PDF. Tallow PDF isn't in your iPhone's Subscriptions list.

(312) 555-0142

Text Message
Today 8:15 AM

Fernmont Bank: A purchase of $39.99 at TALLOWPDF* 4WK PLAN was made with your credit card ending 4471. Not you? Call the number on the back of your card.

What do you do?

• Ask Apple for a refund at reportaproblem.apple.com
• Search "Tallow PDF cancel" and call the support number at the top of the results
• Cancel on the website, then call your card company
• Call the card company and report the charge as fraud

Show the answers

• Wrong move Ask Apple for a refund at reportaproblem.apple.com Apple only refunds what it billed. This charge came from the website, which is why it isn't in your subscriptions.
• Wrong move Search "Tallow PDF cancel" and call the support number at the top of the results The FTC has seen scammers pay to put fake customer service numbers at the top of search results. The person who answers offers a refund, then asks to connect to your computer or for a payment.
• Best move Cancel on the website, then call your card company The subscription lives with the website, so cancel there and keep the confirmation. Then call your card company about the charge. On a credit card, follow up in writing within 60 days of the statement.
• Okay Call the card company and report the charge as fraud Right call, but say what happened: you paid 99 cents for one download and didn't knowingly agree to a subscription. Cancel on the site too.

Apple and Google can only fix what they billed. Anything else: cancel with the company, then dispute with your card.

You have a few subscriptions and aren't sure what they all cost.

Your subscription has been renewed - Invoice #SP-448210

S

Shieldpoint 360 Billing <[email protected]>

6:52 AM

Hello,

Thank you for staying with Shieldpoint 360 Total Protection. Your subscription has been renewed automatically.

Product: Shieldpoint 360 Total Protection (3 devices)
Term: 2 years
Amount charged: $389.99
Payment method: Card on file

If you did not authorize this renewal, call our billing team within 24 hours to cancel and receive a full refund: (888) 555-0163

Shieldpoint Billing Department

There's no link to tap, only a phone number. What do you do?

• Call the number before the 24 hours run out
• Check your bank app for the charge
• Reply and ask them to cancel it
• Delete it. You've never heard of Shieldpoint

Show the answers

• Wrong move Call the number before the 24 hours run out That number is the scam. They'll ask to connect to your computer, show you a fake refund, then say they refunded too much and want it back in gift cards, crypto, or a wire.
• Best move Check your bank app for the charge No $389.99 charge means the email is fake, and you're done. If there is one, call the number on the back of your card, not the one in the email.
• Wrong move Reply and ask them to cancel it Your reply goes to the people who sent it. They'll steer you to the phone number.
• Okay Delete it. You've never heard of Shieldpoint Safe. Your statement would tell you for sure.

A renewal notice that tells you to call within 24 hours is how the refund scam starts. Check your statement. If the charge isn't there, it didn't happen.

A text said your Fernmont banking app needs an update and linked to this page. You bank with Fernmont on an Android phone.

fernmont-mobile-update.com/android

Fernmont Mobile

Fernmont Mobile 7.4 - Security update

Due to new federal security requirements, app versions older than 7.4 will stop working after October 6, 2026.

Download for Android (APK, 41 MB)

If your phone shows a warning, tap Settings, turn on "Allow from this source," and go back. This is normal for direct downloads.

iPhone users: update in the App Store.

What do you do?

• Download it and allow it when the phone asks. The page explains the warning
• Open the Play Store yourself and check for a Fernmont update
• Ignore it. If the app ever stops working, deal with it then
• Download it, then run Play Protect to make sure it's clean

Show the answers

• Wrong move Download it and allow it when the phone asks. The page explains the warning The warning is your phone telling you this app didn't come from Google Play. A fake bank app may ask for Accessibility next, which lets it read your screen and tap for you, including in your real banking app.
• Best move Open the Play Store yourself and check for a Fernmont update Banking apps update through Google Play (profile icon, then Manage apps & device). If Fernmont really needs an update, it's listed there. If it isn't, there's nothing to do.
• Okay Ignore it. If the app ever stops working, deal with it then Safe. Checking the Play Store takes a minute and tells you whether there's a real update.
• Wrong move Download it, then run Play Protect to make sure it's clean Play Protect checks apps, but it doesn't catch everything. Once the app is in, it can ask for the permissions it came for.

Real app updates come through Google Play or the App Store. A page that coaches you past your phone's warning is the scam.

What they’ll ask for

“Get it cheaper on our website.” Real apps say this too. The catch: Apple can’t cancel, refund, or help with anything bought outside the App Store. If you don’t know the company, pay through the App Store or Google Play so the subscription shows up in the list you cancel from.

“Your phone will show a warning. Tap Settings and allow it.” The warning is about where the app came from. Say no.

“Tap the three dots, then Allow restricted settings.” “Turn on Accessibility so the app can work.” Say no to both. Google says not to allow restricted settings unless you trust whoever made the app, and you can’t know who made an app from a link. Accessibility lets an app read your screen and tap for you, in your banking app too.

“Install this profile.” Apple warns about apps that ask you to install profiles that can control your device. Say no unless your work or school set it up.

“Call within 24 hours to cancel this renewal.” Check your statement instead. Some of these arrive as a real PayPal invoice with the number in the note. Same answer: don’t call it. Open PayPal yourself.

“We refunded you too much. Send back the difference.” Hang up. There was no refund. No real company asks for money back in gift cards, crypto, a wire, or cash in a package.