While filling out a survey to complete my entry to Publishers Clearing House, I was asked if I was "interested in more information regarding identity theft protection". I thought that I had clicked on the 'no' box but I must have mistakenly clicked 'yes'. About two hours after that survey, I received an email from ID Ninja that I had been enrolled in their ID Protection service and would be billed $19.99 plus tax on my home phone bill. Now I recall that survey quite clearly and the only fine print was the whole "no purchase needed to enter, blah blah blah" thing. There was absolutely nothing about signing up for any program on the survey. I contacted ID Ninja twice by email to cancel my account and waited for confirmation. I waited a week and decided it was time to call. That same day our phone bill came in and they had in fact charged us their fee. We called the phone company and had it canceled through them since ID Ninja wasn't responding. I don't know if ID Ninja is a legit business but regardless, they have no business signing people up for accounts without their consent. And I'm disappointed that a supposedly legitimate entity like Publishers Clearing House would partner with a company whose actions are very shady. (I've posted the email we received below.)


Welcome to ID Ninja

Account #:XXXXXXX
Member ID: email

Thank you for protecting your identity with ID Ninja. We have already begun to start protecting your name and credit.

Your ID protection service will be activated within 2 business days. Below is your ID and password where you can login and find useful tools to add an extra layer of protection to your identity. Once logged in you can download the security software on ALL of your computers. Make sure to download GuardedID to protect yourself from malicious keylogging programs and Identity Theives.

Charges will be billed at the rate of $19.99 per month, billed conveniently to your local phone bill on the PaymentOne bill page on behalf of ID Ninja. You may cancel at any time with no further obligations simply by calling our customer service center at 866-459-0074, 8am to 8pm EST Monday through Friday or email us at [email protected]

ID Ninja
5703 Redbug Lake Rd, Ste 343
Winter Spring, FL 32708:P-866-459-0074P-:[email protected]

You have the right to dispute the ID Ninja charges billed on your local telephone bill. You are not legally responsible for ID Ninja charges incurred by minors or vulnerable adults without your consent. Your local telephone service will not be disconnected because you fail to pay a charge by ID Ninja except that nonpayment of certain regulated telecommunication charges may result in disconnection of service in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, South Carolina and Tennessee. Enhanced Telecommunications Service Providers may employ other agencies to collect delinquent charges, even if your local phone company has previously adjusted them from your telephone bill.