Herald promotes Anzac scam?

Mike Smith
13 years ago
Categories: Ethics, newspapers

“Fallen soldier records free to access over Easter” is the headline in a Herald story today promoting a special free access to a website. I went to look at it because three of my four uncles were shot down in combat during World War 2. Both of Mum’s brothers, Andy and Jack, were killed and Dad’s brother Allan taken prisoner. But the story should have been headlined “Free with fishhooks.”

I went to the website, found a reference to Allan and went to get the free access. I discovered I would have to sign over my credit card, and if I forgot to phone or find the cancel place on the website would be hit for a bill of $200-300. This was disguised in the asterisked fine print – $17.95 a month would be billed in one annual payment of $215 in the cheap option.

Ironically today’s Herald also had a story about scammers and how to avoid them, including the advice that they often target the elderly, and want credit card details. This is the same in principle and it feels like a scam to me. I was born before Dunkirk and never knew my fallen uncles; I am named after Andy and am interested in whatever I can find out about about all of them.

I didn’t sign up; I’ll do a post about Andy on Anzac Day.