My fitness pal app, scam

[Pipp]

Does anyone else use the My fitness pal app?
I have found it very useful to keep track of food and exercise.
Yesterday when I tried to open the app, I was sent to a log in page. Not having to log in for ages I had forgotten my user name, never mind the password. So had to get email to change password. Duly done, got in, then noticed red envelope icon. Clicked, thinking it concerned my registration. Not a good idea considering I was tired and not very alert. Asked for some details, which I filled in, including mobile phone number 'for identification code'.
Apparently, I had unwittingly entered a competition, and until I stopped by sending a text, I would be charged £4.50 a month for the 'privilege' of receiving regular competition questions.
Beware!

 

[lovinglife]

Not had a problem but thanks for the heads up

 

[TorqPenderloin]

Moral of the story...don't click on things when you're tired.

As far as the MFP app, it's a perfectly legitimate app that offers a "free" version with ads and a "premium" version without ads. That's a widely adopted business model that's been used for years.

Next time, avoid clicking on the ads or pay the premium to upgrade and you'll be just fine.

 

[Squire Fulwood]

NEVER be sent to a log in page. NEVER click a link to be sent to a log in page. ALWAYS type the URL address yourself unless you are really confident about the person who sent you the link.

I had one recently that said it was from DWP and I had a rebate due. All I had to do was to give them my card number and security code and they would make the payment. It looked entirely genuine if your rebates were not normally paid through your PAYE scheme and the whole procedure didn't look exactly like you were paying someone else for goods received.

 

[zand]

Moral of the story...don't click on things when you're tired.

As far as the MFP app, it's a perfectly legitimate app that offers a "free" version with ads and a "premium" version without ads. That's a widely adopted business model that's been used for years.

Next time, avoid clicking on the ads or pay the premium to upgrade and you'll be just fine.

lol No - the moral of the story is to have an very old phone like mine. What's an app?

 

[Pipp]

Thanks for your insights.
I am still a bit tired, often am, but will just make the point that there is a red envelope icon in some versions of the app. Don't open it, it is not a legitimate communication from MFP.
Taking a risk now on clicking 'post reply' even though I am tired. Just so others may avoid same.

Edit: It was not the free app, so still think that my alert was relevant to others who use MFP.
It was not evident that it was an adverisement, either.