California Prosecutors Shut Down Fraudulent Magazine Billing Scheme

June 10, 2025
Source: https://www.marincounty.gov/news-releases/california-prosecutors-shut-down-fraudulent-magazine-billing-scheme

Marin County, CA – The State of California and several county district attorneys offices, including Marin’s, have settled with Pacific Magazine Billing on a case of fraudulent billing practices.

The settlement resolves allegations dating to 2022 and results in a $275,000 fine and sanctions against Pacific Magazine Billing, based in the San Diego County city of San Marcos. The Marin County District Attorney’s Office and its collaborating agencies said actions by Pacific Magazine Billing violated California’s False Advertising and Unfair Competition Laws.

“The Company’s business model was a scheme built on deception,” said Marin County Deputy District Attorney Michael Wear. “Consumers believed they were paying legitimate bills, when in fact they were being scammed. Our action puts a stop to Pacific Magazine Billing’s fraudulent practices. Companies that prey on Marin County residents will face consequences. We will come after you — and we will shut you down.” 

Under the settlement terms, Pacific Magazine Billing is also permanently banned from sending solicitations for magazine subscriptions and from mailing solicitations that resemble bills or invoices in any business capacity.

Spurred by consumer complaints, several District Attorneys’ offices and the California Department of Justice launched a joint investigation into Pacific Magazine Billing in late 2022. The investigation uncovered that, from 2016 through 2022, the company mailed tens of millions of deceptive solicitations to households across the country. These mailers were designed to look like legitimate bills for existing magazine subscriptions — but they were not. The purpose was clear: to trick unsuspecting consumers into sending payments for subscriptions they had not ordered or intended to renew.

Thousands of consumers were misled, and many lost money as a result.

The combined enforcement action was organized by the staffs of California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Marin District Attorney Lori E. Frugoli, San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan, Alameda District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson, Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, and Sonoma District Attorney Carla Rodriguez. 

The complaint, stipulation and proposed judgment were filed June 10 in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego.