Online Shopping - Discount Promotion Fraud

Chimicles & Tikellis is investigating a proposed class action lawsuit  against online sites of retailers including Staples Inc. (SPLS), Barnes & Noble Inc. (BKS), Avon Products Inc. (AVP), GameStop Corp. (GME), 1-800-Flowers.com Inc. (FLWS) and Orbitz Worldwide Inc. (OWW) that may "deceptively link" customers to fee-based membership programs.  It is believed that these programs are run by third-party companies that charge unauthorized fees under the guise of discount offers and also receive consumers' credit card numbers. This situation may occur when consumers shop online with familiar retailers, they are often presented with a discount or cash-back incentive offer as they complete their purchases. By clicking on the discount or incentive banner, they are unknowingly directed to a membership program seller's Web page that is separate from the online retailer's site and recurring charges begin to appear on consumers' credit or debit card bills from unfamiliar companies. Because the charges are often small they can go unnoticed for some time. It may be very difficult for consumers to cancel these memberships and obtain full refunds of these unauthorized charges.