Is Your Checkout Putting You at Risk of an FTC Investigation?
The FTC fined Amazon $25M for dark patterns. Deceptive design practices in checkouts, subscriptions, and cancellation flows are drawing record enforcement actions. Scan your site to find out if you’re at risk.
Scan powered by FTC guidelines. Results in under 60 seconds.
10 Dark Pattern Categories We Detect
Our scanner identifies the deceptive design patterns the FTC has explicitly called out in enforcement actions.
Pre-checked Subscriptions
Boxes pre-checked to opt users into recurring charges, newsletters, or add-ons they didn't ask for.
Hidden Cancellation
Making it easy to subscribe but requiring phone calls, multi-step forms, or buried links to cancel.
Confirm-shaming
Guilt-tripping language on decline buttons ("No thanks, I don't want to save money") to manipulate choices.
Hidden Fees
Charges revealed only at the final checkout step -- shipping, service fees, or mandatory add-ons.
Deceptive Buttons
Making the option that benefits the company visually prominent while hiding the user-preferred option.
Fake Urgency
Countdown timers, "only 2 left!" warnings, or pressure tactics that create artificial scarcity.
Roach Motel
Easy to get into (sign up, subscribe) but intentionally difficult to get out of (cancel, unsubscribe).
Forced Continuity
Free trials that silently convert to paid subscriptions without clear notice or easy opt-out.
Trick Questions
Confusing double-negatives or misleading wording that tricks users into unintended selections.
Visual Misdirection
Using color, size, or placement to draw attention away from important information or toward unwanted actions.
How It Works
Three steps to finding dark patterns on your website.
Step 1
Enter your website URL
Paste any e-commerce, SaaS, or subscription website. We scan checkout flows, signup pages, and cancellation paths.
Step 2
We scan for deceptive patterns
Our engine analyzes your UI for the 10 dark pattern categories the FTC has flagged -- from hidden fees to confirm-shaming.
Step 3
Get actionable findings
Receive a report pinpointing exact elements on your pages with severity ratings and remediation guidance.
FTC Enforcement Is Real
These aren’t hypothetical risks. The FTC is actively pursuing companies for deceptive design.
Enforcement Trend
The FTC’s 2022 report put companies “on notice” that dark patterns will be prosecuted. Since then, enforcement actions have accelerated, with fines reaching into the hundreds of millions.
Protect Your Business
An FTC investigation costs infinitely more than a compliance scan. Start free, upgrade for ongoing monitoring.
Dark Patterns FAQ
- What are dark patterns?
- Dark patterns are deceptive design practices that trick or manipulate users into actions they didn't intend -- such as subscribing to services, sharing personal data, or making purchases. The FTC has classified these as unfair or deceptive practices under Section 5 of the FTC Act.
- Can I get fined for dark patterns?
- Yes. The FTC has levied fines ranging from $10 million to $245 million for dark pattern violations. Beyond federal enforcement, the EU's Digital Services Act, California's CPRA, and Colorado's Privacy Act all have provisions targeting deceptive design. State attorneys general are also bringing enforcement actions.
- Is my checkout compliant?
- If your checkout has pre-checked boxes, hidden fees that appear only at the final step, confusing cancellation flows, or visually misleading button designs, you may be at risk. PageAudit scans for these patterns and flags specific elements on your pages that could trigger FTC scrutiny.
- What does the FTC consider deceptive?
- The FTC considers any design that subverts user autonomy or misleads consumers about costs, commitments, or data sharing to be deceptive. Their 2022 report specifically calls out: trick questions, hidden information, forced action, obstruction of cancellation, confirm-shaming, and visual interference.
- Does this apply to B2B websites?
- While FTC enforcement has focused primarily on consumer-facing sites (especially e-commerce and subscriptions), the underlying legal principles apply broadly. B2B sites with self-service signup, free trials, or subscription billing should still ensure transparent, non-manipulative design.
Scan Your Website Now
Don’t wait for an FTC complaint. Find out if your site has deceptive design patterns in under 60 seconds.
Pro plan required for Dark Pattern scans. Try a free Accessibility scan to get started.