Busuu Ad Tricked Me Into an Unauthorized Subscription

At approximately 11:19 a.m. on June 30, 2026, I was using my Xiaomi 17 Android phone to download the Google Calendar app when I saw an advertisement for Busuu. The ad's design, colors, and text closely resembled the official Google interface, so I believed it was part of the legitimate app download process.

After tapping the advertisement, I was asked to enter my phone number for what appeared to be a standard verification step. Believing it was required to continue with the download, I entered my number. Shortly afterward, I discovered that $7 had been charged to my mobile phone bill. Because of the way the advertisement was presented, I believe it was misleading and likely to confuse users into unintentionally subscribing.

I have also noticed that these advertisements disappear for a while and later reappear in different, more convincing formats. In my opinion, this creates a pattern that can easily mislead users into making unintended purchases.

I request a full refund of the $7 charged to my mobile account. I also urge Busuu to review its advertising practices and ensure that advertisements are clearly distinguishable from official Google content. In addition, I ask that misleading ads that closely imitate official app interfaces not be displayed within Google services or during access to government-related online services, so that other users are not misled in the same way.