Fake Subscription Auto-Renewal Text Script
This text message claims a subscription has automatically renewed for a substantial fee and offers a link or number to cancel and get a refund. It creates alarm about an unexpected charge, pushing you to act fast without checking your account or bank statement first. Clicking the link leads to a fake payment or login page designed to steal card details, while calling connects you to a scammer posing as support who may ask for remote device access. The most important step is to check the subscription through the official app, not the text's link.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Sanitized example messages
Illustrative, sanitized examples. Personal details are replaced with placeholders such as [phone number] and [fake link].
Your [service] subscription has been renewed. [Amount] will be charged today. To cancel: [fake link]
Reminder: your [amount]/year plan renews in 24h. Manage your subscription: [fake link]
Billing confirmation: [amount] charged for your [service] annual plan. Dispute this charge: [phone number]
Your free trial has ended and [amount] has been debited. To reverse this payment, reply CANCEL or call [phone number].
What the scammer wants
To alarm you into clicking a fake cancellation link that harvests card details, or calling a number where a scammer collects payment information or gains remote device access under the guise of processing a refund.
Red flags in the message
- Renewal notice for a service you do not recognise subscribing to
- Cancellation link that goes to a non-official domain
- Phone number to call for a refund rather than an official account portal
- Amount charged is large enough to concern but plausible for an annual plan
- No matching charge visible in your real bank statement
- Text arrives from a mobile number or generic short code
- Agent on the call requests remote access or gift cards to process the refund
A safe response
Do not click the link or call the number. Check your actual subscriptions in your bank or card statement and directly in any services you use. If a charge does not appear in your real account, the message is fraudulent.
What not to send
- Card or bank details via the cancellation link
- Login credentials on a non-official page
- Remote access or gift cards to a caller claiming to process a refund
What to do if you already replied
- If you entered card details, call your bank immediately to cancel the card
- If you called and shared information or gave remote access, follow the remote-access cleanup steps
- Check your real subscriptions and cancel any you do not want
- Report the phishing text to your mobile carrier
- Report the incident to your national cybercrime authority
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot the full message or call details
- Note the sender number, email, or profile
- Save any links (without clicking) and payment details
- Record dates and times
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I actually have this subscription?
Open the official app or website directly, not through the text's link, and check your billing history, or review your bank or card statement for the company's real name. If nothing matches, the text is fake.
I called the number and they asked to remotely access my computer — is that safe?
No — never grant remote access to someone who contacted you unsolicited, as this lets them see your files, install malware, or move money out of your accounts while you watch. Hang up immediately and run a security scan if you already granted access.
Is it safe to reply STOP or ask them to remove my number?
Replying to a scam text, even with STOP, can confirm your number is active and lead to more scam attempts, since real opt-out systems aren't what you're dealing with here. It's safer to delete the text and block the sender without replying.
I entered my card details on the link before realizing — what now?
Contact your card issuer immediately to report the card as compromised and request a replacement, and ask about disputing any resulting charges, since outcomes can depend on how quickly you act. Watch your statements closely for unfamiliar transactions in the following weeks.