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NRA Pulled a Legal but Sneaky Email Trick and I Stupidly Got Nailed

PaulieDC

PaulieDC

Elite
Hey all, been a while since my last post, just wanted to say that I’m such an idiot, I should know better than to tap without reading everything.

I subscribe to the NRA because I like articles about the state gun law changes. Obviously they have my card on file to renew my membership at the appointed time. I get emails a lot, often asking for donations and offering a gift which I normally never do.

Tonight I got this email, screenshot from my phone below, and I just was curious to see something… $24 gets you a pocketknife, if you did a $50 donation (which I did not plan on doing ANY donation), would there be a better gift? Not to do it, just curious:

1756194109223.jpeg


So I tapped on the $50 link, and a moment later I got “thank you for your donation.” BOOM, instantaneously. THEN I looked and saw the text, that they call it a “quick donation” using the card you have on file, normally to renew.

This is totally my fault, but that type of intentional layout to get people to tap on the link is just not good ethical business practice. We’re all busy AND we’re used to the way things normally look, and when I tapped on it, I thought I was gonna see a page telling me what it was all about. Instead, it goes right to the donation done, no way to stop it. They capitalized on us who don’t slow down and pay attention, and I got bit. Thankfully not scammed, it’s really the NRA, but a live link like that is stinky IMO. Regardless, I let my guard down. The other thing that bothers me is that someone’s thumb could twitch and Ba Da Bing, you just donated $100. I’ve never seen that before, there’s always a page you go to or “are you sure“, something.

So it cost me 50 bucks to start paying better attention to the tactics of any place not just the NRA. And I guess I got a pretty cool pocket knife coming which to be honest I could use anyway.

Just wanted to put out a heads up so no one else would get bit by this one.
 
I joined NRA (5 year membership) years ago. With my membership packet was a form asking for another $100.00 donation. The following two weeks were a constant stream of phone solicitations for more money. I canceled membership and asked to be removed from ALL communication list. Enough was enough.
 
SL66 said:
I joined NRA (5 year membership) years ago. With my membership packet was a form asking for another $100.00 donation. The following two weeks were a constant stream of phone solicitations for more money. I canceled membership and asked to be removed from ALL communication list. Enough was enough.
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Yeah that’s the aggravating part, I had issues Tw wing my instructor card (I only keep it because for whatever political back scratch reason NRA Bs is acceptable for teaching a CCW course but a FKETC and state academy LE firearms instructor rating is not)

And I called and OMG it was a pain all the asking for money. This was before WLP got booted so I am hoping it slows but not sure
 
So you clicked on the $50 link knowing they have your card on file ( why you would let ANYONE keep your card on file is beyond me) and are now blaming the NRA ?
Unless you can give me another example of clicking on a donate link that doesn’t actually work as designed I’m gonna have to say this is 100% on you.

At least your money will support a worthy cause. 💁‍♂️

Oh, and for the record I donated once to GOA and I get emails from them every single day asking for money.
 
SL66 said:
I joined NRA (5 year membership) years ago. With my membership packet was a form asking for another $100.00 donation. The following two weeks were a constant stream of phone solicitations for more money. I canceled membership and asked to be removed from ALL communication list. Enough was enough.
Click to expand...
Though I was a member for 20+ years, I got out as the WLP disaster unfolded. Haven’t looked back or regretting for a moment. There are better pro-gun organizations out there that focus on the fight and not enriching their leadership.
 
i and my wife.....do not donate......PERIOD

to any charities, or organization(s), or street people.

yes, they need the money, to run thier campaigns.aside from the membership renewals or start ups.

however the wife and i learnt our lessons decades ago.

ONCE you donate to ONE charity, or organization..??

they sell your name to others.

of course, the original donation you made to the first charity or organization, they hound you for life as well.

the wife and i are "charitable" to our family.
 
Bassbob said:
Unless you can give me another example of clicking on a donate link that doesn’t actually work as designed I’m gonna have to say this is 100% on you.
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Three times I stated that this was totally my fault.

The point I was trying to make was, there has never been, ever, in 30 years of working in technology, where I have seen a link in an email that with one tap goes directly to a completed payment without user confirmation. Not once not ever.

That’s the dirty pool that I wanted to point out. I shouldn’t have bothered. Whatever.
 
Hi,

PaulieDC said:
Hey all, been a while since my last post, just wanted to say that I’m such an idiot, I should know better than to tap without reading everything.

I subscribe to the NRA because I like articles about the state gun law changes. Obviously they have my card on file to renew my membership at the appointed time. I get emails a lot, often asking for donations and offering a gift which I normally never do.

Tonight I got this email, screenshot from my phone below, and I just was curious to see something… $24 gets you a pocketknife, if you did a $50 donation (which I did not plan on doing ANY donation), would there be a better gift? Not to do it, just curious:

View attachment 91915

So I tapped on the $50 link, and a moment later I got “thank you for your donation.” BOOM, instantaneously. THEN I looked and saw the text, that they call it a “quick donation” using the card you have on file, normally to renew.

This is totally my fault, but that type of intentional layout to get people to tap on the link is just not good ethical business practice. We’re all busy AND we’re used to the way things normally look, and when I tapped on it, I thought I was gonna see a page telling me what it was all about. Instead, it goes right to the donation done, no way to stop it. They capitalized on us who don’t slow down and pay attention, and I got bit. Thankfully not scammed, it’s really the NRA, but a live link like that is stinky IMO. Regardless, I let my guard down. The other thing that bothers me is that someone’s thumb could twitch and Ba Da Bing, you just donated $100. I’ve never seen that before, there’s always a page you go to or “are you sure“, something.

So it cost me 50 bucks to start paying better attention to the tactics of any place not just the NRA. And I guess I got a pretty cool pocket knife coming which to be honest I could use anyway.

Just wanted to put out a heads up so no one else would get bit by this one.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's a little bit sneaky. At least it will do the 2A some good. Thanks for the heads up. There are a very few places that have one of my cards on file. I donate regularly to various charities and other organizations but make it a habit not to let them keep my card on file. Even though they have all my information, there has yet to be an unauthorized charge.

I have taken advantage of the NRA's promotional membership deals when they're giving away something I like. My membership is paid way ahead into the future. I should just get a lifer.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
Musashi said:
Aggressive tactics for sure. In this day and age, they all do it. Buying merchandise, there’s always a follow up to buy more. When joining USCCA, same thing- constant emails all fear based. I hit the unsubscribe button on all. And I never leave a card on file. Ok, except for AMZN.
Click to expand...
we actually had 1 card on file at Amazon..

they got hacked, and we got a warning letter and a free 2 year subscription to a credit freeze, with the credit agencies.

we took that.

and from now on, we do not "save" any card(s) to ANY merchant.

we type in the card info before we hit the "check out" button...
 
BassCliff said:
Hi,



Yeah, that's a little bit sneaky. At least it will do the 2A some good. Thanks for the heads up. There are a very few places that have one of my cards on file. I donate regularly to various charities and other organizations but make it a habit not to let them keep my card on file. Even though they have all my information, there has yet to be an unauthorized charge.

I have taken advantage of the NRA's promotional membership deals when they're giving away something I like. My membership is paid way ahead into the future. I should just get a lifer.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
Click to expand...
i thought of the "Distinguished Membership" at the NRA...but that's lifetime, and i ain't gonna live a lifetime, so i bought the 5 year plan.....that way, should i die before the 5 years, it was only $150.00...compared to the $750 for that Distinguished Membership......

i'm into my 2nd, 5 year membership now....
 
PaulieDC said:
Three times I stated that this was totally my fault.

The point I was trying to make was, there has never been, ever, in 30 years of working in technology, where I have seen a link in an email that with one tap goes directly to a completed payment without user confirmation. Not once not ever.

That’s the dirty pool that I wanted to point out. I shouldn’t have bothered. Whatever.
Click to expand...
Rest easy, Paulie. He can't resist any opportunity to tout the NRA and slam GOA.
 
BassCliff said:
Hi,



Yeah, that's a little bit sneaky. At least it will do the 2A some good. Thanks for the heads up. There are a very few places that have one of my cards on file. I donate regularly to various charities and other organizations but make it a habit not to let them keep my card on file. Even though they have all my information, there has yet to be an unauthorized charge.

I have taken advantage of the NRA's promotional membership deals when they're giving away something I like. My membership is paid way ahead into the future. I should just get a lifer.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
Click to expand...
I should too. My GOA is a lifer, but I’m still not too sure I want to stick with NRA. They are quite annoying.
 
PaulieDC said:
Hey all, been a while since my last post, just wanted to say that I’m such an idiot, I should know better than to tap without reading everything.

I subscribe to the NRA because I like articles about the state gun law changes. Obviously they have my card on file to renew my membership at the appointed time. I get emails a lot, often asking for donations and offering a gift which I normally never do.

Tonight I got this email, screenshot from my phone below, and I just was curious to see something… $24 gets you a pocketknife, if you did a $50 donation (which I did not plan on doing ANY donation), would there be a better gift? Not to do it, just curious:

View attachment 91915

So I tapped on the $50 link, and a moment later I got “thank you for your donation.” BOOM, instantaneously. THEN I looked and saw the text, that they call it a “quick donation” using the card you have on file, normally to renew.

This is totally my fault, but that type of intentional layout to get people to tap on the link is just not good ethical business practice. We’re all busy AND we’re used to the way things normally look, and when I tapped on it, I thought I was gonna see a page telling me what it was all about. Instead, it goes right to the donation done, no way to stop it. They capitalized on us who don’t slow down and pay attention, and I got bit. Thankfully not scammed, it’s really the NRA, but a live link like that is stinky IMO. Regardless, I let my guard down. The other thing that bothers me is that someone’s thumb could twitch and Ba Da Bing, you just donated $100. I’ve never seen that before, there’s always a page you go to or “are you sure“, something.

So it cost me 50 bucks to start paying better attention to the tactics of any place not just the NRA. And I guess I got a pretty cool pocket knife coming which to be honest I could use anyway.

Just wanted to put out a heads up so no one else would get bit by this one.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the heads up, guess I won’t re-join the NRA, I don’t need that kind of hassle every time I open my email, to me, that’s just a sneaky trick just to get donations, pathetic
 
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