Online Threat Alerts (OTA) - Alerting you to scams and frauds.
Is Betterhelp a Scam?

Although BetterHelp is not a "scam" in the sense of being a fake business, it provides access to thousands of licensed, credentialed therapists, but it has faced significant legal and ethical controversies that lead many users to label it as such.

Concerns and Controversies

  • Privacy & Data Sharing: In 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) fined BetterHelp $7.8 million for deceiving users by sharing sensitive health data (like email addresses and health questionnaire answers) with advertisers like Facebook and Snapchat.
  • Billing & Subscription Issues: Many users report being charged automatically even after attempting to cancel, leading to numerous complaints on the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
  • Therapist Quality & Pay: Critics argue the platform underpays therapists (reportedly as low as $30/hour), which can lead to high turnover and lower quality of care compared to traditional private practices.
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