SEO Scam

[Mikey_Knowles]

SEO Scam - Another scam from iGetNet in California
This is one of the biggest Internet scams in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) today. Millions of dollars are being scammed by high pressure telesales groups from iGetNet. iGetNet calls this "Search Engine Positioning" (SEP). Here's how it works. A iGetNet representative or one of its affiliated groups calls a small business offering them the "opportunity" to be listed in the top rankings in Yahoo and other search engines. This representative then suggests that they help the customer "choose an effective search keword or keywords". Here's the catch. They suggest a worthless word that will never get clicked!! They then go to Overture and purchase this word on a "Pay-per-click" (PPC) basis. Overture purchases the top 3 spots in Yahoo and other engines and thus if you type in the keyword that iGetNet just sold you, such as "blue dog food", or something equally worthless, the customer's keyword shows up as a top listing. But who would ever type this keyword in a search engine, none-the-less click it?
iGetNet then charges the customer monthly for this word, but nothing ever happens. Eventually the customer's catch on. However, before this happens, iGetNet representatives are quick to follow up a few days after the call and show the customer that they're "First in Yahoo" and try an up sell. ..... More money lost. Kiss your money good bye! Call Craig Holland, iGetNet CEO at 866.738.0898.
You should notify your Attorney General this fraud in your state immediately.

[Cyber-SEO]

Thanks for letting us know about the Scam Mikey, will be sure to keep an eye out for them.

[dilligaf]

Mikey, Welcome to the forums.

[eCommando]

Did they tell web site owners in advance what keyword they are selling?

[bluesaga]

Damn, How can people like this get away with things like this! There are so many frauds going around on the net it makes me sick!!

[steve_vki]

Don't they make spyware?

http://www.spywareguide.com/product_show.php?id=422

[wyrickj]

Well the best thing to do when they fraud / trick you is to report it to the FTC. Once I was going to do the same thing to BMG Music as they billed me for a CD I never even signed up for and never joined there service. What a world of frauders there are out there. Go away and get out of our faces.

[seo guy]

I get net is in the category of "browser helper objects" and what their spyware efectively does is highjack your address bar and search functions so when a search query is searched that query is run through the IGN server and if that kw has been purchased, they return a full page popup window along with your serps which is very intrusive and you have to close it to see the serps you wanted.

its actually a really effective marketing tool considering its spyware (Or it would be) except they have no distribution network for their downloads and this only works if users have thier app downloaded. If they could find a way to get 50,000 people having the software on their computer they could make as much $ as when U but as it is right now, I doubt they have a 100 downloads total which will = "0" traffic for you.

Word to the wise NEVER BUY ANYTHING THAT REQUIRES A DOWNLOAD

[John Arbis]

Well, confirmed today that they're gone. So where is everybody's cash refund? :rolleyes:

[wlh]

Do you have an article link?