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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... 🤷‍♂️

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

When the staff takes your order, just say "separate checks, please." That way it's easy for everyone.

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

Not a "scam", more just about having rude, cheap and selfish friends/guests that should know better than to pull that s**t. I have no problem paying for the grand total when I take my family out to eat and my wife orders a couple extra apps and drinks but the guy that chose to make an a*s of himself and polish off 5 beers should definitely be paying for his own fraction.

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

I do this with my friends because we don’t worry about small discrepancies. We either assume it’ll even out at the next meal/outing or if we ordered drastically different things, then we’ll pay per order.

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

We always split the bill in half with other couples. It only becomes a problem for me when cocktails are included. I don't drink at all and hubby rarely does. We're paying for their drinks and I'm drinking water.

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

I get where she's going with that, and I sometimes feel like a scammer when we do that with friends and I had something expensive. BUT at the same time, I think it's a nice thing when you're togehter with friends, as it shows that what matters is the good time spent together with (hopefully) good food. And among people that meet regularly, I made the experience that the inequal amounts of money spent on/for each other somehow always even out. All a matter of being able to afford that, of course.

Wednesday
Community Member
4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of my actor buddies suggested that the last time a group of us went out. I looked her in the eye and said, "Are you out of your pheckin mind? No. Hard No. I'll pay for what I ordered..."

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

came to the end of a group dinner to where my ex only got a couple bites and I got nothing and somehow we ended up paying "our share"

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

It's called communal living. It's called giving. It's always better to give than to receive and the best part is it will all come back to you in ways and means you least expect.

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

My sister and I just take turns each time we go out. One day I pay the next time she pays, and we go back and forth

Blondie23
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ooooo, my friends in college used to try to do this. We would go out as a big group and they would get everything on one bill to scam us in to paying for their c**p. I got into the habit of saying "separate checks" as soon as we sat down. no way was I paying for someone else!

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

In my country bill is payed by who called on meal or drink and it's cool thing of our culture

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

i hate that so much! I totally refuse to do that now with anyone especially friends. Like i don't eat the same amount, like half of what was ordered , ordered less than you and i still have to pay the same - yeah no.

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

Or, tipping waitstaff based of the price of your food, rather than the amount of trips and plates you ordered. 1 person ordering a 65 dollar crab dish should not be more of a tip, than a table of four ordering each ordering a 8 dollar hamburger.

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

Or, waitstaff getting tipped on the price of the food ordered, rather than the amount of trips needed to serve a table. One order of crab legs costing 65 dollars, should be less of a tip then 4 hamburger specials at 8 bucks a piece.

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

Or splitting a bill to the dollar where everything costs pretty much the same

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

In our friendship circle we all pay for what we individually ordered but will pitch in to treat the person celebrating a birthday....

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

In Mexico it's frequent the even divide, and it's usually proposed by the fellow who consumed least.

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

A friend and I just took turns in paying. Worked so far, ... because why not?

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

Stopped doing that when the bill, normally around $57, went up to $100. Nope, not paying for you top shelf double cocktail, my friend.

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

It's often just a nicer way of doing things. But obviously if you order far less than others you should ask to just pay your specific costs.

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

OR: don't be a miser, trust that eating with friends will eventually all balance out.

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

Not everyone can afford to do that. I'm not contributing to your liquor costs if I don't drink.

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

Is this an American thing? In Canada if I say to the server 2 bills we only pay for what we each got. Splitting a bill in equal parts makes zero sense to me. Would just create hard feelings.

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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

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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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Note: this post originally had 36 images. It’s been shortened to the top 35 images based on user votes.