I made a small political contribution in response to an email from Act Blue. At the end, a screen popped up saying thanks, you are eligible for one of the following free gifts, just pay shipping and handling. I selected a free supply of Auravie Skincare, and charged the $2.95 shipping and handling to my MasterCard. I did receive the products and had been using them for about a week.
I went online to search customer reviews and decide if I wanted to order more of the company's products. Tons of scam alerts popped up! I visited Ripoff Report, where I saw over 250 complaints about this company having initiated auto-ships and made nearly $100 charges to people's credit cards for products they did not order. I then went to my own MasterCard account and, sure enough, there was a charge for $97.88. I have since learned that this is for the "free" products I already have, and that I supposedly had only 10 days to cancel the auto-ship and return all unused product. I am absolutely, positively sure that there was NOTHING on Auravie's credit card screen stating that I was agreeing to any sort of auto-ship program or that I would be charged almost a hundred bucks for the "free" sample.
I have talked to Act Blue, and they say they have no relationship with Auravie! Auravie must have some sort of adware/malware program that weasels in at the end of the contribution. Today I got three replies to the email I sent Auravie, and they say they have cancelled the auto-ship, but when I called to make sure they were also reversing the $97.88 charge, a nasty little rep named "Nicole" informed me that I had agreed to this and that they would not be refunding the money! I told her I would dispute the charge with my credit card company, and she said that they would win the dispute, as they do in 99% of cases! Just an unbelievable experience, and I would caution anyone to RUN, not walk, at any mention of Auravie.