© 2026 ABC News

“I saw that and I went, ‘Oh my gosh. I did that,’” Devlin said. Devlin called the skincare company to request a refund. “When someone came on the line they said, ‘There’s absolutely no refunds.’ And pretty much hung up on you,” she said.

Devlin was able to cancel the subscription during the call, but said it was only after she sent a complaint to the BBB that the company agreed to refund her money. But now, more than 2 months later, she said she still has not received the money.

And the skin cream line she thought was Lara Spencer’s was news to Spencer. “All of it is completely false,” Spencer told ABC. She said she only learned of the false ads when fans began asking her why she was leaving “Good Morning America.” Perplexed, she eventually went online to look into it, and discovered the disturbing ads featuring her name.

“It makes me very upset,” Spencer said. “Literally, it makes me want to cry because this is my career, and it's a fan base that trusts me and has known me on TV for a very long time, and to have people think that I'm leaving a job that I love to do something that I have no idea about, I feel so violated.”

Spencer has been fighting against the fraudulent use of her name for months with a team of attorneys led by Art Middlemiss; together Spencer and her attorneys found more than a dozen skincare products using her name and likeness in ads.

GMA Investigates tracked down one skincare company promoted in false ads featuring Spencer. A spokesperson for the company denied it even knew about the false ads until Spencer’s lawyers told them. The company told us it hires a company -- or affiliate network -- who then hires independent contractors to promote their products. The company provided GMA with the name of the independent contractor they said was behind the ads. He told GMA he had nothing to do with them.

The skincare company also told ABC their contract with the affiliate forbids false celebrity endorsements, and that upon learning about the ads, they demanded the affiliate take action against whoever may be responsible. The ad has since been deleted.

According to the BBB, some companies offer the same product under several names and change the websites regularly. “It's a lot like whack-a-mole,” Middlemiss said. “You can get shut down in one place and open up the next day.”

Middlemiss, Spencer’s lawyer, who specializes in financial crimes compliance, said that cases like these are fraud.

“If I tell you that I'm selling you one thing, but I really sell you another thing, that's fraud,” Middlemiss told GMA. “I'm telling you that I'm selling you a product that's endorsed by a celebrity, when it hasn't been endorsed by a celebrity. That's a fraud.”

Both Middlemiss and the BBB agree that more needs to be done to protect consumers.

According to Baker, the BBB believes criminal charges brought by a law enforcement agency are necessary. “Some of these people need to go to prison. The FTC cannot do that. It's going to take the Justice Department bringing criminal charges,” he said.

The Florida Attorney General is currently investigating a fulfillment company which has been tied to 447 products sold through deceptive free trials, according to the BBB.

In addition, the BBB would like to see credit card companies do more.

“Since all these frauds can't exist without credit card processing, if the credit card companies would crack down on them or try to get them out of their system that would make a huge difference as well,” Baker said.

Meanwhile consumer advocates urge shoppers to take precautions to prevent falling for the scam.“Nothing is really free. There’s always a catch,” said Susan Grant, director of consumer protection and privacy at Consumer Federation of America, a nonprofit. “So it’s really important to look at the fine print and not believe you’re going to get something for nothing.”

The BBB also suggests tips on what consumers can look for to spot a deceptive online ad:

- a surprising celebrity endorsement

- extravagant claims about the product

- credit card needed for shipping and handling

- website with no contact information

- subscription information hidden in the fine print.

If a consumer believes they have seen a deceptive “free trial” offer ad, they are urged to report it and send a screenshot to the BBB at: www.bbb.org/adtruth. The BBB continues to build a database of crowdsourced information and work with the FTC and state attorneys general offices in an effort to identify those behind the ads and shut down companies.

In addition, the BBB instructs consumers to call their credit card company if they’ve been a victim. “Call the customer service number on the back of the card and tell them you want your money back. That's a process called a ‘chargeback,’” Baker said.

Consumers should also file complaints with the FTC or their state’s attorney general. Most importantly, Baker said, “People who've been victims should not take it lying down.”

","canonicalUrl":"https://abcnews.com/GMA/Culture/bbb-deceptive-free-trial-offers-fake-celebrity-endorsements/story?id=59754945","legacySlug":"/culture/story/bbb-deceptive-free-trial-offers-fake-celebrity-endorsements-59754945","noIndexNoFollow":false},"publishTime":"13:16","publishDate":"12-12-2018","updatedTime":"13:49","updatedDate":"12-12-2018","socialImage":{"alt":"The images of superstars Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez were used in these fake celebrity endorsement ads for skincare companies.","credit":"ABC News","ratio":"16x9","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/fake-ads-abc-ht-kk-181212_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg","width":992,"height":558},"datePublished":"12/12/2018 13:16:00 GMT","video":{"live":false,"id":59754945,"headline":"Deceptive ads, endorsements a $1.3B problem: BBB","mediaAssetTitle":"GMAI CELEB ENDORSEMENTS","description":"BBB: Millions in the U.S. are scammed by trial offers and subscription traps. ","duration":"6:32","posterImg":{"url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","width":608,"height":342},"video":{"feed":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2018/12/181212_gma_endorsements_0813_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"},"playlist":["132488083","132306053","132266872"]},"relatedItems":[{"contentType":"video","date":"April 29, 2026","headline":"Grand jury indicts former FBI director over Instagram post","section":"News","slug":"/video/132488083","id":"132488083","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: Grand jury indicts former FBI director over Instagram post","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260429_gma_thomas_comey2_706_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: Grand jury indicts former FBI director over Instagram post","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260429_gma_thomas_comey2_706_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260429_gma_thomas_comey2_706_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260429_gma_thomas_comey2_706_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260429_gma_thomas_comey2_706_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260429_gma_thomas_comey2_706_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260429_gma_thomas_comey2_706_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260429_gma_thomas_comey2_706_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260429_gma_thomas_comey2_706_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260429_gma_thomas_comey2_706_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}},{"contentType":"video","date":"April 23, 2026","headline":"Trump orders Navy to 'shoot and kill' any boat laying mines in Strait of Hormuz","section":"News","slug":"/video/132306053","id":"132306053","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: Trump orders Navy to 'shoot and kill' any boat laying mines in Strait of Hormuz","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: Trump orders Navy to 'shoot and kill' any boat laying mines in Strait of Hormuz","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}},{"contentType":"video","date":"April 22, 2026","headline":"Fallout after Fed nominee grilled on Capitol Hill","section":"News","slug":"/video/132266872","id":"132266872","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: Fallout after Fed nominee grilled on Capitol Hill","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: Fallout after Fed nominee grilled on Capitol Hill","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}}],"relatedContentSection":"news","schemaContent":{"name":"Deceptive ads, endorsements a $1.3B problem: BBB","description":"BBB: Millions in the U.S. are scammed by trial offers and subscription traps. ","duration":"6:32","uploadDate":"12-12-2018","publication":"12-12-2018","images":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","url":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2018/12/181212_gma_endorsements_0813_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","contentUrl":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2018/12/181212_gma_endorsements_0813_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","link":"https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/bbb-deceptive-free-trial-offers-fake-celebrity-endorsements-59754945"}},"playlist":[{"id":"132510121","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132473181","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132497933","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132281378","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132283010","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132273278","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132231169","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132206748","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132200241","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132054443","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132054798","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132033010","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131912713","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131830583","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131834976","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131554765","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131554815","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131543053","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131432442","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131121474","contentType":"story","section":"news"}],"kvps":{"pgtyp":"article","lang":"en","sp":"goodmorningamerica","programmatic":"true","bundleId":"com.abcnews"}},"analytics":{"accountID":"wdgnewwdgnewgmaweb","ns":"gma","pageName":"gma:culture:video","pageType":"video","globalSpecVersion":"v1.08","siteDifferentiator":"gma:site","tagID":"g_page01","userABCookie":"0","section":"culture","title":"Deceptive ads, endorsements a $1.3B problem: BBB","pubTime":"08:16","pubDate":"12-12-2018","modTime":"08:49","modDate":"12-12-2018","taxonomyTags":"none","id":59754945,"editorialOtherSubjects":"","wordCount":"none","columns":"none","authors":"","authorsUnit":"none","authorsBureau":"none","subBrand":"Good Morning America","provider":"Good Morning America","videoName":"Deceptive ads, endorsements a $1.3B problem: BBB","mediaAssetTitle":"GMAI CELEB ENDORSEMENTS","videoId":59754945,"mediaOnPage":"video","legacySlug":"/culture/story/bbb-deceptive-free-trial-offers-fake-celebrity-endorsements-59754945"},"taboola":{}},"request":{"headers":{},"httpVersion":"1.1","method":"GET","url":"/video/59754945","vary":{"host":"www.goodmorningamerica.com","cached":true,"path":"/video/59754945","forwarded-proto":"https","device":"desktop","userab":"0"}},"viewport":{"width":1260,"height":0},"user":{}};