NutraClick – famous for exercise supplements – was luring us with free samples of beauty products and pills, but didn’t tell us that ordering them would automatically enroll us in a membership program for which we’d be billed between $29.99 and $79.99 a month, says the Federal Trade Commission. We’d have to cancel within the 18-day trial period, but that’s hard when you don’t know about it.

Pretty sneaky.

The company’s products include Force Factor, Peak Life, ProBioSlim, SomnaPure, VolcaNO and Stages of Beauty and they’re sold on the company’s websites, where the illegal sign-up process was conducted, and in stores such as Walgreens, Walmart, CVS and GNC.

Now, NutraClick has to return $350,000 worth of the money it made under this scam.

It’s actually pretty common so if you’re considering free samples, you should first:

Do your research. See what other people are saying about the free trials and the company. Search the name of the company and “complaint” or “review.”

Look at the terms and conditions. If you can’t find them, or can’t understand them, don’t sign up.

Find out how to cancel. Look for information on what to do if you don’t want the product anymore. Do you still have to pay? Do you have a limited time to cancel?

Mark your calendar. Your free trial offer probably has a time limit. Once it passes without you cancelling, you may owe money.

Read your credit and debit account statements. That way, you’ll know right away if you’re being charged for something you didn’t order.

If you’ve been scammed, report to the government by clicking here.