You type the name of your utility company into a search engine, click what looks like the right result, enter your account information, and pay the bill. Simple… except the website collecting your money may not actually belong to the utility company at all. The Federal Trade Commission recently warned consumers about third-party bill payment websites after settling a case involving Doxo, a company the agency alleged used misleading search advertisements that made consumers believe they were reaching official payment channels. In August 2026, Doxo agreed to pay $2.1 million to settle the FTC’s allegations, and the proposed order places restrictions on how the company can represent relationships with billers and disclose fees. The case offers an important lesson for anyone who routinely searches online for a website before paying a utility, medical, insurance, loan, or other household bill.
