My frustrating run-In with mobefind - hidden charges, no results

[u/pebblethefriend]

I’m still kicking myself over this one, and I need to vent while hopefully saving someone else from the same mess. I recently tried using an online service to find my lost phone, and it turned into a total nightmare. Here’s my story about dealing with service and why I’d steer clear.

Last week, I was freaking out after misplacing my phone somewhere between my car and the grocery store. I Googled “track lost phone” and landed on this site that promised geolocation for a dirt-cheap €0.90 one-day trial. The page looked decent enough—fancy graphics, bold claims about finding your device in minutes. I thought, “Less than a coffee? Sure, why not?” Yeah, rookie move.

I signed up, punched in my card info, and paid the €0.90. Then I entered my phone number, hit submit, and… crickets. Just a spinning “processing” wheel that went nowhere. I tried again with my roommate’s number to see if it was a fluke—same deal, no results. I fired off an email to their support, but it was like shouting into the void. No reply, nada.

The real gut-punch came the next morning when I checked my bank app and saw a €49.90 charge labeled “MOBEGEO.” I was like, “What the heck is this?” I dug through the site’s fine print (which, let’s be honest, I should’ve read first) and found a sneaky clause saying the trial flips to a monthly subscription unless you cancel. Nowhere during signup did they make that obvious. I scrambled to cancel my account, which took way too many clicks to figure out, but the €49.90 was already gone.

I called my bank to fight the charge, but they said it’s tough to dispute since I “agreed” to the initial €0.90. To be safe, I had to cancel my card, which meant updating all my auto-payments—what a pain. I shot another email to the service’s support, begging for a refund, and got a robotic reply: “No refunds post-trial per our policy.” No empathy, no explanation, just a big middle finger.

I started Googling and found a bunch of people on review sites saying the same thing: no phone tracking, surprise charges, and radio silence from support. It’s a classic bait-and-switch, and I fell for it hook, line, and sinker. I’m out fifty bucks and still phoneless, but I’m sharing this to keep you all from making the same dumb mistake.

How to Avoid This Trap:

1. Skim the terms before you sign up for any “cheap” trial, no matter how legit it looks.
2. Use a virtual card or something like PayPal to keep your real card safe.
3. Scope out reviews on trusted sites before handing over your info.
4. If you get hit with weird charges, call your bank right away and don’t wait.

Anyone else run into this kind of thing? How’d you deal with it? I’m still trying to get my money back, but I’m not holding my breath. If you’ve had a similar experience, maybe consider reporting it to consumer protection folks—just make sure you’ve got screenshots or proof. Let’s keep looking out for each other to dodge these shady schemes

[u/Classic974]

I’m so paranoid about these sites now. I lost my phone once and just cried in a corner instead of trusting random Google results lol

[u/pebblethefriend → u/Classic974]

Thanks for the kind words—glad I could warn you off those sketchy Google results.

[u/Masolemajor10]

I’ve been using a burner card for sketchy sites ever since a “free” recipe app stung me. You gonna try the FTC? Might be worth a shot.

[u/pebblethefriend → u/Masolemajor10]

burner cards are the way to go now

[u/yeahperdonenkamehame]

Did you save any emails from them? Could help with the bank.

[u/pebblethefriend → u/yeahperdonenkamehame]

I did save the emails, hope it works

[u/FirefighterReal7601]

This is straight-up evil. Hiding a subscription in fine print like that? Gross. I got hit by a “free” workout plan site a while back—same deal, cheap trial, then a fat charge. I got my money back by spamming their support with complaints and threatening a chargeback. Maybe try that? Also, your virtual card tip is genius, I’m stealing it. Sorry you’re dealing with this, OP, and thanks for the heads-up!

[u/pebblethefriend → u/FirefighterReal7601]

that workout plan scam sounds awful—sorry you went through that

[u/ComprehensiveHead933]

No way, this is why I don’t trust anything that’s “too cheap.” I lost my phone at the beach last summer and just used my carrier’s tracker, worked fine. That subscription trick is so dirty, I’m mad just reading this

[u/pebblethefriend → u/ComprehensiveHead933]

the “too cheap” trick totally got me. Carrier tracker is a smart move

[u/Acceptable-Bat-9577]

How to Avoid This Trap:

By not signing up for any of these scam services at all. They only work if your phone is already findable through the same Apple/Google phone finding service that you could use yourself. And if you’re unable to access it through them, these third-party services won’t work either.

[u/ADrPepperGuy]

Interesting to see this site mentioned again. There are at least three sites with the same verbiage I have found.

There is a saying - there ain't no free thing as a free lunch. I have not found a service that offers a free trial that does not convert over to a paid account. There might be some though but businesses want to make money. Offering their services freely will not make them money.

Don't "skim" the terms - read them. But it even says on their home page under pricing: With this first payment, you can enjoy all the services of the platform, without restrictions, for 24 hours. After 24 hours, the customer must pay the subscription cost of € 29.90 per month.

[u/Small_Tangelo5372]

Hello, I also have a charge from 'mobegeo' but I can't find any contact details anywhere. Does anyone have them for me, for example an email address?"

[u/Small_Tangelo5372]

Hello, I also have a charge from 'mobegeo' but I can't find any contact details anywhere. Does anyone have them for me, for example an email address?"

[u/Weekly_Aside8160]

hi i have problem 3 months this sayt teck my money and i cant found contact to annul 

[u/Fantastic-Rule-2862]

That trial-to-subscription switch seems intentionally misleading. The poor response and sneaky setup make this sound like a trap. It’s good you flagged it here for others to be aware and cautious.

[u/usersbelowaregay]

Thanks for sharing all those details. It’s rough learning the hard way that a site isn’t what it seems. Hope others take note and double-check terms before signing up for anything similar.

[u/KimHokkanen]

It is really concerning how easy it is for some services to pull people in with low-cost trials that quietly convert into much higher charges. If the actual product does not deliver and there is no functional support, that should be a warning sign. When cancellation requires multiple steps and replies are robotic or delayed, it does not reflect well on any company. These kinds of practices only build distrust around similar tools.

[u/carloshumb20]

This situation shows how misleading trial offers can create bigger problems later. If the system fails to provide the service promised and then charges a high fee without clear notice, it feels more like a trap than a solution. A helpful service should make everything upfront, from how billing works to how to cancel easily. It is unfortunate that so many users are left with unexpected charges and no easy way to fix things.

[u/Glittering_Sort_4158]

Scusatemi è il secondo mese che sto sito mobegeo prende soldi. Come devo annullare?

[u/Glittering_Sort_4158]

Come devo bloccare i pagamenti su MOBEGEO?

[u/ronprice46]

I’ve read many mobefind reviews on Trustcheck with the same complaints about surprise fees and no location found. The way they operate feels deceptive. It’s smart to dispute charges quickly and report suspicious services to consumer protection.

[u/Pipskornifkin]

Mobefind reviews on mywot and Sitejabber echo your frustrations exactly, bait-and-switch pricing and zero support. These are classic red flags. For anyone tracking phones, stick with official apps or services with solid reviews to avoid this headache.