Internet Marketing Scams 1

Not too long ago I was surfing the net (do people still say that?), looking at I don't remember what, when suddenly one of those annoying little pop-up windows popped up, out of nowhere. It invited me to take a look at how a very credible-looking guy and his very credible-looking fiancee (such a charming couple) had stumbled upon a dazzling new way of making tons of money on the internet.

There was the usual rags-to-riches story, and finally at the bottom of the page the price of the insider-information was revealed. For just $2.49 they would reveal how it's done. Well, I thought, that's not all that much to invest - even if it turns out to be total garbage, it will have cost very little. And without giving it any further thought I entered my credit card details.

I was disappointed to find that the money-making scheme comprised of nothing more than a few of the ideas you can find for free on this website (and in a million other places). But I was even more disappointed when I read the small print:

Monthly Service fees will commence seven days from the date of this purchase, and will be billed monthly thereafter. After the seven day trial you will be billed sixty nine dollars and ninety cents USD monthly for the continued access to the software. No refunds will be given for failure to use the requested and provided services. We reserve the right to transfer your billing to a third party Merchant of Record. This authority will remain in effect until revoked by me. You may cancel at anytime by writing to SEO Supervisor 4240 West Flamingo Rd. Suite #201, Las Vegas, NV 89103 or calling 1-800-497-4988 or 1-801-578-9020(International customers please call 1-866-321-2728).

Of course this was the first I'd heard of any of these monthly charges, but by then it was too late. I rang the number (no answer) and I sent a letter to cancel - with little hope of success, and a growing feeling of impending doom.

Two or three days later, someone from the fraud department of my credit card rang me, told me they'd noticed an irregular payment of $69.90 (they must have recognised the recipient somehow), and they asked if I thought I'd been had. I thought I had. They refunded the amount and gave me a new card. Phew!