The Scams
- Although billions of dollars exchange hand over the Internet legitimately, there are inevitably a growing number of scams.
- The website design and search engine optimization (SEO) industries, by their vary nature, involve people who are trying to make money on the Internet.
- Scammers can easily obtain vast numbers of email addresses and send out enticing offers for programs that may tempt the unfortunate recipient. Examples would be landing page enhancers or programs that promote your website.
Recognising Scams
Telephone Calls: You may receive a long-distance call from a smooth talking salesman who finds an excuse to call you.
We wondered why you have not responded to our emails - you gave them your email when you made a purchase and it turns out that the email address he quotes is incorrect.
Initially, he makes incredible offers:-
We will fly you to our venue to attend our course. Flights and hotel bills at their expense.
How much will it cost me? "Absolutely free of charge."
Then he will try to get your credit card details - just to verify who you are.
This is a promotional venture and there are just two or three places left.
Then there is a contract
You must act quickly. We'll send you the contract. Just sign and initial it and fax it back within the hour.
NEVER SIGN SUCH A CONTRACT WITHOUT LEGAL ADVICE
REMEMBER, THEY CALLED YOU
THEY WANT YOU TO PROVE WHO YOU ARE BUT THEY DO NOT PROVE WHO THEY ARE.
Here are some examples:-
Whilst you are talking to the salesman, ask for their website.
Put the website into a search engine and look at the results rather than putting the address straight into the address bar.
If you do go to the website, check for:
Their contact details including their address.
Look to see the names of those in the company.
Look for testimonials that can be checked.
They may have loaded the search engine with sites that recommend them so check the top few pages.
Take the example of SuccessRate.com
In this example, the top position is the website and the next five websites suggest that it is a scam!
The following is copied from Wikipedia -
"Internet Marketing SEO Fraud
This type of fraud involves a supposed Internet marketing specialist presenting a prospective client with detailed graphs and charts that indicate that his web site receives (x) thousands of hits per month. The specialist emphasizes that payment for his services will increase web traffic, in return increase costumers. The marketer then proceeds to not provide the proposed services."
Useful links about Internet scams and cons:
http://www.topix.com/forum/who/scam
http://unstuckdigital.com/8-seo-scams/
http://www.seoresource.net/Avoiding_SEO_Scams.htm
http://www.netbuilders.com/getfound/article/avoiding-seo-scams/
Another scam relates to Domain Name renewal.
Anyone can find out new domain names and when they are due for renewal.
As above, one company sends out renewal notices early.
They claim to be offereing renewal at a discount, but they are usually more expensive.
Their heading looks very official but they are not.
Considering the thousands of letters they undoubtedly send, in the month of January 2010 there were only 12 searches on the company name globally (Google Keyword Tool).
If you search on google for “Domain Renewal Group” you will find plenty references to them being a scam:-
e.g http://www.powerdosh.com/scam-warning-domain-renewal-group/
http://www.davidrisley.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/renewal.jpg
http://www.gn.apc.org/support/domain-registry-america-scam
http://www.netregistry.com.au/support/kb/questions.php?questionid=261