Fitness fraud: gym goers warned over fake deals on memberships and personal trainers | Scams
As the new year begins and resolutions to get fit gain momentum, a surge in fraudulent schemes targeting those seeking to improve their health is underway. Individuals are reporting scams involving fake gym memberships and deceptive fitness services, often encountered through social media advertisements.
The Rise of Fitness Scams
These scams typically begin with an enticing offer, such as a discounted gym membership advertised on platforms like Facebook. Acting quickly due to limited-time offers or limited spaces, individuals provide payment details only to discover they’ve been defrauded – receiving no membership information and finding no record of their payment with the gym itself.
The fraudulent activity extends beyond gym memberships. Nonexistent personal trainers offering “bespoke” training plans – often copied from freely available online resources – and fake fitness apps designed to harvest user data are also prevalent. Marijus Briedis, chief technology officer at NordVPN, notes that criminals often clone real ads or sites from legitimate businesses to make their scams appear authentic.
How Scammers Operate
Distinguishing between legitimate offers and scams can be challenging. Fraudulent websites may differ from authentic ones by only a few characters in the web address. Criminals also utilize sponsored results in search engines to direct users to their deceptive sites. According to Briedis, the “new year fitness rush creates the perfect environment for scams, because people are often signing up quickly without taking the time to check who they’re dealing with.”
Offers that rely on urgency, extreme discounts, or pressure to “sign up today” should be approached with caution, particularly if limited contact details or a lack of independent reviews are present. NordVPN also warns that advancements in artificial intelligence allow scammers to alter images, making muscles appear more developed to lure individuals with unrealistic promises.
Protecting Yourself from Fitness Fraud
The initial contact is often an advertisement on social media promising a cheap gym membership or a personalized training regime. These ads frequently create a sense of urgency, claiming limited availability or time-sensitive offers. If you provide your bank details, Briedis explains that criminals will not only take your payment but also store the information for future fraudulent activities. This tactic mirrors similar schemes involving stolen money from discount holidays.
The primary goal is financial gain, but if that fails, the focus shifts to collecting as much personal data as possible. To protect yourself, carefully examine the website address after clicking a link, looking for subtle differences from legitimate sites – such as a zero substituted for the letter O. It’s best to avoid clicking links in unsolicited emails or social media messages and instead navigate directly to the official website or app if you have concerns about a membership or subscription.
Avoid paying via bank transfer, as this eliminates the protection offered by credit card section 75 provisions. If you suspect you’ve been defrauded, immediately contact your bank and then report the incident to Action Fraud, the central hub for fraud and online crime.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the first sign of a potential fitness scam?
The first part of the fraud is usually an ad on social media promising a cheap gym membership or a tailored training regime.
What should you do if you think you’ve been a victim of a fitness scam?
If you think you have been defrauded, contact your bank immediately, and then contact Action Fraud.
How are scammers using technology to enhance their schemes?
Criminals are cloning real ads and websites, and using AI technologies to alter images to make fitness results appear more impressive.
As you embark on your fitness journey this year, are you taking the necessary steps to verify the legitimacy of the services and offers you encounter online?