Bill pay impersonators in search ads

The Scam

When you search online for a company's payment site, the top result can be a paid search ad that looks like it belongs to the company you want to pay but takes you to a different company's site. According to the FTC, you may not realize that site has no relationship with the company you owe, and when you pay your bill it may add fees you didn't expect. In its case FTC v. Doxo, Inc., the FTC's complaint alleged that Doxo used search engines such as Google Search and Bing to misrepresent that it was an official payment channel for companies and agencies including Labcorp, AT&T, and state toll authorities.

The Targets

Anyone who searches online to pay a bill instead of going straight to the company's or agency's own website.

Red flags

• The top search result for a company's bill pay page is a paid ad
• A payment site that looks official but isn't the company's own website
• Extra fees you didn't expect when you go to pay

Your Move

• Scroll past the paid search results to make sure you have the right website or contact info
• Type the company's website address directly into your browser if you know it
• Spot a bad business practice? Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov

More steps for any scam link: I clicked a scam link. What now?

Still circulating?

FTC August 17, 2026 consumer alert, based on the FTC's case against Doxo, Inc.