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From constant, invasive ads, to subscription services, the modern world has a slew of annoyances that we all seem to dislike, but still participate in. So one account on X ended up creating a viral thread when it asked “What’s a scam that's so normalized that we don’t even realize it’s a scam anymore?” 

People from all over the internet showed up to list the obvious deceptions companies pull regularly and we just eat up. So be sure to upvote the most egregious examples as you scroll through and share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below. 

Image source: PicturesFoIder

#5

Normalized-Scams

thatsmediva Report

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The Scout
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, here in Germany laws had been passed that anything that you could subscribe to online must also be cancelable online. A recent study found that about half of the companies ignore this, though.

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#7

Normalized-Scams

hyperspacexyz Report

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The Scout
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't worry about AI taking over the world as long as the algorithms still are like "Hey! You bought a new toilet seat? Here's a thousand more to add to your toilet seat collection!"

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#8

Normalized-Scams

OscarSand5 Report

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Robert T
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At airports particularly, as you are not allowed to take liquids (except in very small amounts) through security. You have to throw away your cheaply purchases drinks and re-buy them at inflated prices inside the airport. One way round this is to bring a water bottle and refill it with tap water once through security.

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#9

Normalized-Scams

drummatick Report

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TonyTee
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Social media is perhaps the worst influence on our society today. I’ve been limiting my social media use since August for that reason. It corrupts one’s mind. It’s addicting for that reason. Unsurprisingly, the almighty dollar plays a huge role in it. 😏

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#10

Normalized-Scams

bradensdevstack Report

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TonyTee
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Local establishments are the worst ones to do this in my personal experiences. One local supermarket delivers within a 15 mile radius. You must place a minimum $25 dollar order. Ok, no problem. Well, $25 turns into $65 if not even more when you factor in the shopping fee (done by in-store personnel), baggage fee, load-up fee, mileage fee, delivery fee, mandatory tip to driver, which are alll the service fees involved in the delivery service ON top of the taxes/subtotal. If you order online instead of over the phone they’ll charge you a fee for that too. Not saying major chain stores don’t do this, but it seems to be the “homegrown” ones that take the most advantage of this practice. Why? When you shop local, the money you spend stays local; stays in the community. They’ll find every possible way they can to take advantage of that “benefit” and cash in as big as they can, including ringing up a bunch of b******t service fees they can choke on.

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#13

Normalized-Scams

AgingDeath Report

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similarly
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I also think it should be illegal for a university professor to require to buy the professor's own book.

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#14

Normalized-Scams

ladidaix Report

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The Scout
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A car might often be the fastest way to get from one city to another (although I found that here in Germany, I usually am faster by train). But needing a car INSIDE a city makes no sense. It's the effect of absurd zoning laws. You don't need a car if shopping, culture, schools, parks and work are all in a fifteen minute radius.

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#15

Normalized-Scams

migsb_OF Report

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David A Paterson
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't see working 40 hours a week as a scam. I see travelling into and out of work for 18 hours a week in addition to the 40 hours as the scam. PS, minimum wage in my country is twice minimum wage in the USA.

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#17

Normalized-Scams

MphoMoalamedi Report

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WindySwede
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Here we just pay for what we ordered? Strange, I know... 🤷‍♂️

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#18

Normalized-Scams

LokyMann Report

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Zedrapazia
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've seen things before that were like that: Product 30$, Delivery 45$, and I can only say what the FŪCK is with those hidden fees? I don't believe for a second this is real delivery fees, they're just trying to hide the true price

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#19

Normalized-Scams

extramediumDET Report

#20

Normalized-Scams

esatoshiclub Report

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similarly
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've lived in Japan now for almost 25 years. I have 0 US income. However, as a US citizen, I'm required by law to not only file an income tax return, even though I inevitably owe zero tax, but also file a form with the Treasury Department showing how much money I have in the bank.

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#21

Normalized-Scams

childishgamzeno Report

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Em
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ha, I remember a few years back when the closest you got to wifi was paying per minute to use a computer in the airport.

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#22

Normalized-Scams

baronalloway Report

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James016
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Buy a bucket, car shampoo, a sponge and a chamois leather rag and do it yourself.

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#23

Normalized-Scams

MphoMoalamedi Report

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80 Van
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don’t see how that’s a scam. Maybe a bummer, but it is not a necessity for normal use of the phone.

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#24

Normalized-Scams

ogKOBEWAN Report

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Frank
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I guess that living in the USA is one of the biggest rip-offs in the world.

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#25

Normalized-Scams

WillBeTweets Report

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lily jones
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No one is making you buy it? Water isn't clean enough for drinking in some cities/countries

Vix Spiderthrust
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Your two sentences contradict each other. If your tap water isn't safe to drink, then you are indeed forced to buy bottled.

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Jo Davies
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The water our town is not safe to drink as are a lot of towns in my cou try. We pay $0.05 a litre to refill bottle and containers.

Cat Chat
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's only a scam if they are trying to sell you the same drinkable tap water you get free for yourself. However, not every place has drinkable wat, nor are every company selling tap water.

Vix Spiderthrust
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If the price is artificially inflated then it's still a scam even if you don't have potable tap water.

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Curry on...
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Boil your own water. Selling bottled water is a huge rip off imho. There are that many springs to go around.

dbildbo
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People are convinced it tastes "better", even though it is often just filtered groundwater. Water bottles use as much water to make the plastic bottle as the bottle contains.

Stephen Smith
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I lived in Spain, I would visit the local village to fill up bottles at the village tap, that was free.

PegLegShrek
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think they're referring to the prices rather than the water actually being bottled

CwtchyMama
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I gotta say o have issues with tap waters taste ( very sensitive taste buds ) and just prefer mineral water

Graham Chapman (He/He)
Community Member
1 year ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Not a scam at all, just a choice, after all there's plenty of water in the tap..

FlamingoPanda
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For you perhaps, but for many around the world bottled water is their only safe source of water.

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#28

Normalized-Scams

EricEatsHTX Report

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SonicAlchemy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Typically, if you're at a restaurant that sells a burger for $15 without a side they can't afford to include that side. There's a reason for separate charges on typically included items in comparison. However, even at fast food chains, individual items don't just come with fries and a drink unless you order it as a combo and pay more for it, so fries/a side shouldn't always be something that's expected.

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#29

Normalized-Scams

SlyArtsbyFoxy Report

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John Harrison
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What is with all the people saying "you don't HAVE to play the lottery"? A thing does not have to be mandatory/unavoidable to be a scam.

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#30

Normalized-Scams

MemeNonLibs Report

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Lame Llama
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is how the government pays for other stuff, like infrastructure. If you own more, you should pay more.

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#34

Normalized-Scams

RobbyApplesxxx Report

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GettingCereal
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Definitely a scam. It's been known for many decades that adding more lanes just adds more traffic.

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#35

Normalized-Scams

MrBuckSlate Report

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WindySwede
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Sweden its been changed recently. A plate model(?). Mer vegetables I guess? https://www.livsmedelsverket.se/matvanor-halsa--miljo/kostrad/tallriksmodellen#

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#36

Normalized-Scams

Wildcardxoxo Report

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Robin
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am happy to pay for TV licence, it should find interesting and innovative entertainment that is not constrained by having to cater to a mass audience. Same goes for using that money to produce educational materials. I have no problem with that at all.

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