Magazine Telephone Scams

LINCOLN -  The Nebraska Attorney General's Office has warned consumers to be cautious about purchasing magazines from a telephone caller, especially when the offer is made to sound like a "bargain" or includes "free" gifts.

Thousands of consumers buy magazine subscriptions over the telephone from legitimate salespeople every year.  However, some consumers are fooled by unscrupulous salespeople into paying hundreds of dollars for multi-year subscriptions that they really didn't want and could not afford.

Consumers should listen carefully to telephone sales presentations and ask questions if the information or terms of the sale are unclear.

Fraudulent sellers make presentations so slick that consumers may be unaware they have agreed to purchase magazines until they receive the bill in the mail.  Consumers may also find that money has been drawn from their checking account or a charge has been placed on their credit card.

A college student recently received a bill for $720 for five magazine subscriptions that he supposedly agreed to purchase during a telephone sales call.  This young man had no idea he had agreed to pay that amount of money, nor did he realize that several of the subscriptions would run for five years.

Watch out for these questionable sales tactics deceptive telephone salespeople may use:

  • The caller may imply that he represents a major credit card company or magazine publisher and may be reluctant to give the name of the business for which he is calling.

  • The caller may avoid or refuse to give the total cost for subscriptions, and may emphasize that the purchase will cost only a few dollars a week.

  • The caller may say they are "approved" or "regulated" by the federal or state government when, in fact, no governmental body actually approves magazine-selling operations.

Here are some tips to follow when you receive a telephone sales presentation regarding magazines:

  • Ask callers for their name and the name, address, and phone number of the company they represent.  You may want to contact the company for verification before you place an order.

  • Ask what the total cost of the subscription package will be.  Determine if this is a "bargain" price.

  • Ask that a written copy of the sales terms be mailed to you before you agree to buy anything.

  • Don't give your bank account or credit card number over the phone for "verification" or "computer purposes."   You may later find you have been charged for magazine subscriptions you did not agree to purchase.

If you receive a bill for magazines you did not order, or if your bank account has been debited or your credit card charged for magazines you did not agree to purchase, contact:

Attorney General's Office
Consumer Protection Division
2115 State Capitol Building
Lincoln, NE  68509
(402) 471-2682
Consumer Protection Line:  800-727-6432