Safeguarding personal information and finances from deceptive offers

Have you ever found an offer online that feels too good to be true? If so, the chances are that it probably was. In a fiercely competitive online marketplace, companies are constantly looking for ways to stand out and get heard by their target customer, and generous offers are one of the best ways to do this.

Aggressive marketing and flashy promotions can be effective, but it is vital that users are aware of deceptive offers and the importance of always reading the small print - it might be boring, but it could save you a lot of grief down the line. Read on to find out more.

Offers to Be Aware Of

You should always be wary of any offer you find online and read the small print, but there are a few particular types that often come with hidden elements that don’t make them quite as appealing as they first appear. These include:

Cashback offers: There are many cashback websites that promise to let you earn money while you shop, but it is rarely this simple. These websites often harvest personal data, including financial information, through fake rebate forms and phishing portals. This is why it is generally best to avoid these offers online.

Free trials: They're hugely common these days, but you always need to be wary. In today’s subscription era, many streaming platforms, software providers, and product-based subscription companies offer free trials, typically ranging from seven days to three months.

However, you often have to provide your payment information regardless, and the subscription will auto-renew if you do not cancel it. Of course, many will make it as hard as possible to cancel, with a lengthy telephone process. Be sure to read the small print and find out how to cancel before signing up. 

Casino bonuses and welcome offers: These days, every online casino is running bonuses and welcome offers for new customers. These are often eye-catching, such as a £300 matched bonus, but the devil is in the details.

With new customer offers like this, you might have to wager thousands of pounds before a withdrawal is allowed. The terms and conditions are often long and complicated, so you want to look for bonuses like free spins no wagering, where whatever you win is immediately yours. 

Subscription traps: Similar to free trials, sometimes a company will charge a customer automatically after a trial or low-cost introductory period (sometimes without sending a clear reminder). Also known as “negative option billing”, this can result in ongoing payments being made that are buried in your bank statements.

Platform impersonations: A worrying trend in recent times has been the rise of fake Amazon and eBay storefronts, complete with fake reviews and everything. These impersonators have checkout pages that steal your data, which could lead to fraud and serious real-world consequences.

Why Read the Small Print

It is clear that there are many offers out there that are too good to be true. This is why you must always read the small print first - it might not be exciting, but it could protect you. Reading the small print will help you understand:

-   What the hidden costs are

-   What happens to your personal data

-   How to cancel or withdraw

-   Whether the free reward has any conditions attached

The Value of Independent Reviews

It is easy to feel overwhelmed and confused when there are so many offers out there and terms and conditions as long as your arm. This is why independent review websites are so valuable. Here, you can get reviews from industry experts who do all of the hard work for you in terms of finding the good deals and highlighting the deceptive ones.

Roger.com is the perfect example of this. This website has built up a strong reputation as a transparent, independent, and rigorous review website of offers in the iGaming industry. Founded by Rob Flouty in 2019, the website has a mission of reviewing online casinos, slot websites, and sports betting platforms to help find the best welcome bonuses, deposit match bonuses, free spins, and no-wagering deals. This means that all you need to do is visit the website to check what bonuses are worth signing up for and which should be avoided.

How to Spot a Trustworthy Website

Independent review websites like Roger are a quick and easy way to find the best deals, but you still need to know how to spot a trustworthy website - this is particularly important with cybercrime on the rise. Responsible companies will invest heavily in transparency, cybersecurity, and UX design to build trust. Be sure to look out for websites with:

-   Clear and simple terms and wagering requirements

-   Responsive customer service

-   Secure payment gateway and encryption

-   Licensing and verification from recognised authorities

-   Easy cancellation or withdrawal without hidden penalties

Smart Consumer Habits to Adopt

In 2025, consumers need to be smart online, especially with cybercrime threats becoming increasingly advanced and sophisticated. This is why it is vital that smart consumer habits are adopted to avoid scams and cyber attacks. These habits include:

-   Never clicking offers through unsolicited emails or opening attachments

-   Searching for reviews of offers from trusted, independent review websites

-   Reading the terms and conditions of offers

-   Using disposable payment methods (like a virtual card)

-   Using strong passwords and 2FA

-   Changing passwords regularly

-   Monitoring your accounts for any suspicious behavior

In 2025, it can feel like a minefield online. Consumers are constantly bombarded with offers and promotions from aggressive marketing, but many of these are not quite what they're cracked up to be. Many offers and promotions have hidden terms and/or harvest your data, so it is important to be aware of ways to sidestep these promotions that are too good to be true and find the genuine offers.

Hopefully, the information in this article will encourage you to be cautious when browsing the web, but also give you a few methods for making sure that any promotions you sign up for are legit and won’t come back to bite you down the line.