Shopping Essentials ripoff fradulent billing internet scam Des Plaines Illinois

We have been billed two monthly amounts of $9.95 for unknown services. Apparently I had shopped online at the www.northstyle.com last January. There was a box on the North Style web site that said $20 off. I clicked on the box to find out how. By clicking on that box I found out there was a charge and there was no way to disconnect from that box. I clicked on the corner 'X' to close the box but apparently by the time you find out there is a $9.95 charge, they won't let you escape.

I called my bank immediately and found it very difficult to get them to intervene as they said I had OK'd the monthly transfer. I did not. I called Shopping Essentials and have sent them an e-mail demanding no further charges and a refund. Upon further investigation, Shopping Essentials is run by a marketing firm, Adaptive Marketing LLC. I believe this firm to also be bogus.

I also talked to the North Style catalog people and asked them why they had this scam link on their web site. They simply said it was the internet user's responsibility. Now the North Style site has a link that says "Passport to Fun and Save $20 on today's order". Passport to Fun is also run by Adaptive Marketing. I've heard of these types of internet scams but this is the first time I have been a victim.

Finally I spoke to a supervisor at my bank and was able to convince them it was fraud. They cancelled my credit card and are issuing me a new one. An inconvenience for sure, but it is the only way I can be assured of stopping these charges. I blame North Style and probably a lot of other web sites for allowing these rip-off artists to operate on what appear to be legitimate sites. Be aware, a deal is not always a deal.

Carolyn
Silverthorne, Colorado
U.S.A.