Recommendation

Caution

Overall Summary

Suspicious

Why we think so

Meetup.com is a well-established social networking platform that connects people through local groups and events. It attracts around 14 million monthly visits globally, with the majority from the United States. The site operates on a large and legitimate infrastructure with recognized technology partners and a long-standing domain registration since 1998. However, there are recurring user complaints mainly focused on billing practices, subscription cancellations, and customer support issues. No evidence of direct criminal fraud by Meetup.com exists, but several users have labeled the platform as unethical due to these business practices. The site holds multiple active trademarks corroborating its brand authenticity. There are no alerts on major scam blacklists or Google Safe Browsing. Overall, Meetup.com is a genuine service but requires users to exercise caution when subscribing or engaging financially.

Confidence Score

73%

Risk Insights

✅

Legitimate Domain and Brand

Registered in 1998, owned by Meetup, Inc.

Multiple live trademarks support authenticity

📈

Strong Traffic and Technology

~14M monthly visitors with strong U.S. user base

Uses reliable tech infrastructure like Amazon and Facebook

⚠️

Reputation Concerns

Many users report billing and cancellation issues

Customer service frequently criticized for poor responsiveness

Contradictory Signals

Meetup.com is authentic but has reputational issues due to business practices.

Signal A: Legitimate domain and trademarks

Signal B: Negative user reviews alleging deceptive billing

Category Scores

Identity 85/100

Reputation 50/100

Technical 90/100

Content 70/100

Legal 60/100

Business Validity 75/100

Red Flags & Warnings

Multiple user complaints describe billing confusion, unauthorized charges, and poor cancellation processes as deceptive business practices.

🔎 Detailed Checks & Analysis

Domain and Brand Verification

Score: 90/100

Passed

"Meetup.com's domain age and trademark records support a genuine business identity."

Reason: The domain was registered in 1998 with consistent ownership by Meetup, Inc. It holds multiple active trademarks, confirming it is a legitimate brand.

Technical Infrastructure and Traffic

Score: 90/100

Passed

"The platform’s technical setup and traffic rank (#3,190 globally) indicate a professionally maintained and widely used site."

Reason: Meetup.com shows solid traffic of about 14 million visits per month and uses reputable technologies and servers including Amazon and Facebook integrations.

Reputation and User Feedback

Score: 50/100

Failed

"These issues diminish trust despite the platform's legitimacy; users should be cautious about subscriptions."

Reason: Numerous user reports highlight problematic billing, subscription renewals, refund denials, and customer service challenges, sometimes described as deceptive or fraudulent practices.

Scam and Phishing Blacklist Presence

Score: 10/100

Passed

"No malware or phishing activity is associated with meetup.com as per these sources."

Reason: No entries found in crypto scam blacklists or any Google Safe Browsing warnings.

Legal and Business Validity

Score: 80/100

Passed

"Legal framework reduces risk, but customer dispute volume is notable."

Reason: Meetup.com utilizes clear terms of service, including arbitration clauses to limit litigation risk. There are customer disputes but no major legal actions against the company found.

Your Next Steps

1

Before subscribing, carefully review Meetup's billing terms and cancellation policies.
2

Use secure payment methods and monitor your accounts for unexpected charges.
3

Check organizer credibility on Meetup before making payments or commitments.
4

Consider reading recent user reviews to understand community feedback and potential risks.
5

Report any suspicious activity or billing fraud to Meetup’s support and proper consumer protection agencies.

Evidence & Citations

Meetup.com User Complaints and Fraud Reports
Contains multiple user reports about billing, subscription, and support issues.
WHOIS and Trademark Records for meetup.com
Verifies domain age, ownership, and multiple live trademarks under Meetup, Inc.
SimilarTech Traffic and Technology Profile
Details traffic volume, traffic sources, and integrated advertising technologies.
Crypto Scam Blacklist Check for meetup.com
No blacklist presence detected.
Google Safe Browsing Report
No risks identified in Google Safe Browsing scans.

🕵🏻 Keep investigating

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