The Better Business Bureau released a new report Wednesday on what it calls "subscription traps and deceptive free trials.

Free trials are also on the radar of the Federal Trade Commission, which has brought actions against companies in this sector. And they are a hook to get consumer credit card information," said Janet Evans, a lawyer with the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection.

The BBB identified 36, complaints over the last three years, though not all involve monetary loss. The schemes often start with an ad for a free product or with an article that seems to appear on a news site, according to the BBB.

In addition, the same hidden information may state that by accepting the offer, you've also signed up for monthly shipments of the products. Those also will be charged to your credit card and become subscription traps.

Many people find it difficult to contact the seller to stop recurring charges, halt shipments and get a refund," the report said.

Not all free trials have issues. Credible companies make sure consumers understand what they are signing up for and do not hide key information," the report said. One way the companies convince people to buy the products are with celebrity endorsements, which Baker told CNBC were an important factor.

However, according to the BBB most of these endorsements are fake. In some instances, companies will disclose in fine print that the endorsements are not real. Baker said it took him 10 minutes to find one such disclosure. Once people make the first payment, they are often signing up for a monthly subscription without realizing it.

At that point, opting out can be a challenge. For the most part victims report that they are often able to stop future shipments and charges, but usually cannot get refunds for charges already made.

In October, it settled a case against Gopalkrishna Pai and eight companies he owned that marketed a number of skin creams online. More Better Business Bureau advice: Seven tips for choosing a trustworthy auto mechanic and avoid getting scammed. Consumers could only find the terms by clicking on a small hyperlink in the ads and then scrolling through a pop-up window.

The FTC said they made it very difficult for consumers to cancel the continuing shipments, even when consumers returned the free-trial product unopened. Finally, the companies allegedly used more than shell companies with straw owners to obtain merchant processing accounts in order to accept credit and debit card payments and to evade detection of their deceptive practices by credit card companies and law enforcement.

Try any of these and let the glow-up begin. Looking to add a new skill to your resume? Try these free trials to see if they help you uplevel.

Technology can be an incredible educational tool for kids. Here are a few free trials from well-rated platforms to keep kids entertained while they learn.

com — Spend a couple of weeks digging into your family history with a two-week free trial at Ancestry. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Thank you for supporting my channel! About Author Latest Posts Follow Trae Bodge:.

Many are willing to pay the price. Credit card companies move ahead with code to track gun store purchases in California. Is whole life insurance worth it for seniors?

Here's what experts say. View CBS News In. CBS News App Open. Chrome Safari Continue. Be the first to know. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Hear more Tennessee Voices: Get the weekly opinion newsletter for insightful and thought provoking columns.

Home Opinion Submit a Letter Columnists Editorials Contributors. Read the fine print and prevent being scammed: Some free trial offers are not truly free Read the case of a skin cream company that duped consumers.

Randy Hutchinson Guest Columnist. Show Caption. It could be almost anything. So when you hear about a Free Trial that could let you try a product before committing to buy it -- well, what've you got to lose?

Other companies may use free trials as a way to sign you up for other products than the ones you wanted to try. They might hide the terms -- deep within the fine print -- that allows them to bill you every month until you cancel. How can you avoid the costs that might be hiding in some Free Trial programs?

First, research the company online. See what other people are saying about their Free Trials -- and about their service. Complaints from other customers are a red flag. Second, if a box is pre-checked for you— UNCHECK IT.

That little checkmark can be the symbol that gives the company the green light to continue the offer past the free trial or to sign you up for additional items… which would make that free trial offer anything but. Third — Mark your calendar.