12/10/2009 – It was great to see everyone pitching in to help everyone on this. It’s time for me to get back to providing people with real home business ideas.
Update 7/21/2009 – I apologize for the delay in getting this up. I posted it separately, but should have posted it here:
Federal Trade Commission v. Infusion Media, Inc., a corporation, also d/b/a Google Money Tree, Google Pro, Internet Income Pro, and Google Treasure Chest, West Coast Internet Media, Inc., a corporation, also d/b/a Google Money Tree, Google Pro, Internet Income Pro, and Google Treasure Chest, Two Warnings, LLC a limited liability company, Two Part Investments, LLC a limited liability company, Two Part Investments, LLC, a limited liability company; Platinum Teleservices, Inc., a corporation; Jonathan Eborn, individually and as an officer of Infusion Media, Inc., Two Warnings, LLC, Two Part Investments, LLC, and West Coast Internet Media, Inc.; Stephanie Burnside, individually and as an officer of Two Warnings, LLC, Two Part Investments, LLC, and West Coast Internet Media, Inc.; Michael McLain Miller, individually and as an officer of Infusion Media, Inc., Two Warnings, LLC, and Two Part Investments, LLC; and Tony Norton, individually and as an officer of Platinum Teleservices, Inc.
(United States District Court for the District of Nevada)
Update 4/29/2009 – On April 24, 2009 the Texas Attorney General filed charges against the owners of Google Money Tree for operating a fraudulent Work-At-Home Scheme:
“AUSTIN – Attorney General Greg Abbott today charged two Utah-based defendants with operating a fraudulent work-at-home scheme. The state’s enforcement action names Infusion Media Inc. and Jonathan D. Eborn, whose “GoogleMoneyTree.com” promised six-figure earnings for conducting specialized Google and Yahoo Internet searches
According to investigators, the defendants promised big payouts in order to convince Web users to spend $3.88 on shipping and handling for a “free kit” that supposedly would show them how to make money from home. Those who purchased the kit were later surprised to discover they were being charged $72 a month by the defendants.”
“According to the state’s enforcement action, GoogleMoneyTree failed to clearly inform purchasers that they had been enrolled in monthly memberships and had only seven days to cancel their trial membership. Purchasers who failed to cancel within seven days were automatically charged $72 on their credit card statements each month. In addition to the unexpected credit card charges, customer complaints obtained by state investigators indicate that GoogleMoneyTree failed to actually send the “free kit” and refused to honor customer refunds.
The state is seeking an injunction, civil penalties of up to $20,000 per violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, as well as restitution for purchasers. Texans who believe they have been misled by similar business practices may file complaints with the Office of the Attorney General toll-free at (800) 252-8011 or file complaints online at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov.”
Update 4/11/2009 – Another version of the site – Google GoldMine seems to be using the new, better disclosure referenced in the 3/25/2009 – at least the version I saw was.
Update 3/25/2009: I just noticed that Google Money Tree has changed how they disclose the terms of their offer since I last looked at it. The new disclosure of the monthly charges is SIGNIFICANTLY better than it has been previously. The terms of the 7-day trial are in the big “100% Satisfaction Guarantee” box directly to the left of the form where you enter your credit card information.
There are a couple things I personally still don’t like in the new version is that the monthly charges are written out instead of done numerically. I.e. the text is “After the trial, you will be charged seventy two dollars and twenty one cents a month” instead of “After the trial, you will be charged $72.21 each month.” Also, it would be nice if the heading of the box would be something like “Important Details About This Offer”.
But I don’t want to take away from the fact that they’ve vastly improved the disclosure of the terms of the trial offer.
Update 2/26/2009: Despite various improvements, Google Money Tree still has complaints rolling in about various issues.
Update 2/6/2009: Since this was originally posted Google Money Tree has made significant improvements (in my opinion) to their sales process.
If you are going to post a comment – and are able to do so – please post the original date that you ordered Google Money Tree as it would be interesting – and could be helpful – to match those dates up with the version of the Google Money Tree sales page that was current at the time.
Note: This is NOT an endorsement of Google Money Tree, but an acknowledgement of improvements (again, in my opinion) that were made.
End 2/6/2009 update.
I just noticed some complaints about Google Money Tree – about some surprise charges.
1/19/2009, 2:40 Update: Important – WorkAtHomeTruth has NEVER recommended Google Money Tree and still does NOT recommend Google Money Tree.
Here is the original post about GoogleMoneyTree:
Ding dong. I was pretty sure this was an example of “hidden negative option” marketing. That’s when a company ignores FTC disclosure proximity suggestions and tries to hide the fact that you’ll be billed unless you cancel (for some strange reason they don’t want to just tell you that up front…hmmm…).
So I decided to walk through the Google Money Tree order form (using b.s. info of course) to see how they have their sales process set up.
Page 1 was the usual stuff – personal contact info but no credit card.
Page 2 – this is where the fun begins:
Right where you enter your credit card number GoogleMoneyTree puts:
- Google Money Tree Kit: Free
- Shipping & Handling: $3.88
This is where it gets good (or bad depending on how you look at it):
Right to the left of the form where you enter your credit card GoogleMoneyTree has this bold proclamation:
“No Hassle Money Back “Guarantee!
If you are not 100% satisfied with the kit,
simply call our dedicated customer service #
(located in the USA!), and we will immediately
refund your shipping payment… no questions, no hassle!”
It almost makes it sound like the only reason why you would ever really need to contact GoogleMoneyTree’s customer service about billing would be to get your shipping payment refunded…wait, it actually DOES make it look that way.
But lo-and-behold. If you click on the Terms and Conditions Link – the one that states:
“I Agree With the Terms and Conditions” (which has the checkbox conventiently pre-checked for you…awwww…aren’t they nice?)..
And look under the “Shipping & Other Fees” section you’ll stumble onto the following:
“After seven days, if you choose not to cancel you will be billed your first monthly membership fee of seventy two dollars and twenty one cents for the membership fee for the googlemoneytree.com membership.”
That’s cool…wait…No it’s not!! Why couldn’t GoogleMoneyTree just tell me that on the main page? Oh they could have.
For some “odd” reason GoogleMoneyTree didn’t want to do that. I wonder why not? I really wonder…well, not really.
Can someone explain to me how this scenario is materially different than the one discussed in this recent FTC Settlement:
“Free Software CD” Internet Operation Settles FTC Charges
Here’s a tip from Katy about getting the company to refund even the shipping charge – although I would still confirm that the company follows through and actually DOES it (to see why, I STRONGLY URGE you to read about Sonya’s experience in the discussion):
“I am very greatful to you. I had submitted my information already and had been granted access to their members page for registration. But after reading your blog I called 866-870-4257 spoke to their rep and he cancelled my order immediately but told me that the shipping fee would not be refundable. I then read to him their “No Hassle Money Back Guarantee” statement and he then told me “I will refund the fee only because you mentioned the statement”. In other words had I not mentioned to him their guarantee he wouldn’t have automatically refunded my money. Although the ad doesn’t state that the “guarantee statement” has to be mentioned to be warranted a full refund.”
Update: Since so many people have posted complaints here I’ve decided to go ahead and post a link directly to the FTC Complaint Assistant site.
Click here for a list of the Attorneys General. If you plan to file a complaint with the Attorneys General you should file in your own state AND the Attorney General of the state the company is in – which looks to be Nevada.
You can also file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau using the BBB Online Complaint System here.
Update: More information from Sandy who commented and has already filed a complaint: “The phone no is 1-877-382-4357 ftc.gov, The FBI ic3.gov Phone no. 1-800-243-0600. File your complaints with mine and they might go to jail or at least have to refund our money. Also the FTC said we could go to our local state government website and file a fraud complaint with them also.”
For additional information on filing complaints, please visit the complaints section of our friends at EagleResearchAssociates.org.
Update 2/1/2009: Google Money Tree has made more improvements to its order process. Of special note is the fact that the checkbox on page two next to the Terms and Conditions agreement is no longer pre-checked.
Update 1/19/2009, 2:40 PM – The complaints about Google Money Tree continue to roll in (note, this update was made after the 1/19/2009 update directly below about the improvements to the order process)…
Update 1/19/2009 – Google Money Tree has made sigifnicant improvements to their order process. There are still a couple details I’m not crazy about, but it’s good to see the changes they made. The second page HAS been changed to state the terms of the offer on the left side now which is a HUGE improvement, HOWEVER the checkbox for the Terms and Agreement is STILL prechecked and the pricing is WRITTEN OUT instead of being displayed in numerals – I’ll be interested to see how that plays out. I’m going to ask about that at the National Consumers League blog about that as I’m not sure what to think of that.
The ABOVE is merely information on changes GoogleMoneyTree has made – it is NOT an Endorsement or recommendation of the GoogleMoneyTree program.
Update December 25, 2008…Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas? Take a look at the link to their Terms and Conditions on the Actual GoogleMoneyTree site which you can find here.
Here are a couple of AMAZING items from within that section:
- “We handle all charge backs and reversals as potential cases of fraudulent use of our services and/or theft of services”
- “In cases where we have provided a service and we have verified that a client has received a kit and/or received a password to our site(s), whether or not they have used the site in any way, possible actions taken by the company may include disabling access to your account, filing a complaint with the Internet Crimes Bureau or local authorities”
As of December 25th I am recommending people read the comments in this post AND on the blog, but consult with a legal professional as far as what their appropriate course of action should be in this matter.
NOTE: The above is NOT an endorsement of GoogleMoneyTree – it is merely information about the changes they’ve made since this discussion first started.
I highly recommend you contact The National Consumer’s League.
You can file a complaint with them using the form here:
National Consumer League’s Fraud Center Online Complaint Form
Their contact informaion is below:
Contact NCL
Write to us at:
NCL
1701 K Street, NW, Suite 1200,
Washington DC 20006phone 202-835-3323
fax 202-835-0747
email info@nclnet.orgClick here for a direct link to the National Consumer’s League Contact Page
I would still suggest you follow the complaint procedures outlined above.
Also, please note that may of the websites listed in our discussion of BradsMoney here have promoted GoogleMoneyTree OR are still promoting it.
Additional tips: If you want to get a FULL version of any web page that involves entering your credit card details, you can use the free service BrowserShots.org
Obviously, Google Money Tree wasn’t people’s path to a work at home business. However, what will also be interesting is to see if the FTC becomes interested in the types of marketing tactics like Mass Money Makers, Online Income Solution, and Paid to Place use raises any eyebrows at some point.
Other Warnings:
Also
If you want to work at home, this is what I suggest.
Take a online course like Medical Transcription,
or Medical Billing. After you complete youe course
and are certified, you can then go apply at a lot
of places,also the school that you took your course
from should have some suggestions.
These people! This company are crooks.
I just cancelled my credit card because they defrauded my account. I am going to press charges as high as I can go against all their affiliates.
Be sure to complain to the FTC. The address is listed at the top of this blog. They won’t investigate until they get a lot of complaints.
Wow, we have been getting one email right after the other with people that have been scammed by this and are confusing us with them (Our company is Mony-Tree.com, notice there’s no “e” in Money).
It is so bad, I actually put a disclaimer on our contact page to point out that we are not GOOGLE MoneyTree.
We DO have a paid subscription, but no one is EVER charged unless a member specifically upgrades from our free software. It really is a shame there is so much crap like this out there.
And to top it off, (after receiving another email today from someone else that had been scammed) I go type in their domain name, and guess what? It forwards now to “Google Treasure Chest”. So now they have a new name to steal people’s money. I guess it must have caught up with them.
Anyway, I just wanted to point out that we are not them. We will NEVER run a business like that. Please don’t take it out on us!
Best of luck to all of you,
Will Thompson
I can imagine Will.
It’s even worse for the original “Google Cash” these days because it seens like every other product coming out is using “Google Cash” in their name.
I completed the form to receive the disk, but I never received the promised “memo” to access the training. Yet, I checked my bank account and there was a charge for “membership”. What membership, and what are the charges for? I will receive my refund because I caught it before it was PAID!!!! How sad that so many CROOKS abound. This my friends is how ‘they’ make their money, STEALING IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I SIGNED UP FOR THIS BY MISTAKE AND DID NOT READ EVERYTHING. I CALLED AND CANCELLED 2 MINUTES AFTER I SIGNED UP. I WAS GIVEN A CANCELATION NUMBER AND THEN I LOST IT. I HATE THIS COMPANY. THEY WILL NOT GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK. THEY HAVE STOLEN 75.00 OF MY HARD EARNED MONEY. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO KEEP MY MONEY. I THINK THIS IS A DISPICABLE COMPANY !!!!
SORRY TO HEAR YOUR BAD LUCK. I CANCELED MINE AND THEY NEVER PUT IT THROUGH, SO NOW THEY HAVE 75.00 OF MY MONEY AND WILL NOT GIVE IT BACK. THEY ARE STEALING MY MONEY!!!! THEY NOTHING MORE THAN COMMON THIEVES………
I HAVE A COMPLAINT. i CANCELLED THIS THING BEFORE i WENT ON DEPLOYMENT AND i CHECKED MY ACCOUNT NOW AND i SEE ANOTHER $72.00 TAKEN OUT. I CALLED AND GOT IT CANCELLED AND MONEY CAME OUT OF MY ACCOUNT AGAIN. I CAN SEE THE FIRST TIME BECAUSE i ORDERED IT BUT, AFTER i CANCELL THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANYMROE MONEY COMING OUT OF MY ACCOUNT, I WANT THIS STOPPED NOW!!!!!!
I fell for it too! The company that I was dealing with was called International Business Mentorship, and were very reluctant to actually state their affiliation with Google. I checked out their website, but all it is a big scam.
DO NOT TELL THEM ANYTHING!
I just canceled that credit card and will refuse any phone calls from these phony’s.
I received one of your discs about 3 weeks ago & was just able to use it this week. When I put the disc in the computer a warning come up stating there is a Trojan Virus on this disc. I would like to return this disc and get my money back. How do I do this. This disc could have crashed my computer.
Very Disappointed!!!
L
Please EVERYBODY, contact the FTC at the address listed at the top of this blog to complain. The FTC won’t take action unless they get lots of complaints. We need to stop these crooks and that won’t happen unless we ALL take action.
I signup for this and got scammed!I e-mailed them before my 7 days to cancel. I could not call. I had no phone at the time.When I got charged. I called them they said I should have walked to a pay phone.He said I had to mail back the kit I told him I never got the kit,rep said thats the only way I will get my money back.I asked for a supervisor and the on rep said they do not transfer calls to supervisors, I asked again he said if keep asking he will hang up on me.So I said then give me my refund.He continue to be rude so I hung up called back.The next rep was just as rude.when I started crying on the phone he said if I didn’t calm he was going to have to disconnect the call.So I told him I will just have to go my bank to get my money back.Since this was an unauthorized charge.
Hey paul,
whats going on hombre. These a holes charged my account again even after i got a cancelation number from them, and cancelled my credit card. Dude, this sh@t is worse than organized crime. At least the mobsters lived by some kind of code. Let me tell them this and I hope they are reading, Take what you will from me, I have been truelly blessed this year, all I ask for in return is five minutes alone. They need to man up and send a rep to my house, so he can pay the piper. I will continue to pay the charge if i can pound on one of them once a month.
People should complain to their Attorney General (if in the US).
13 people complained to the AG in Texas and this was enough for them to launch an investigation and now legal action.
Also complain to the FTC – the more people who stand up and complain the more likely that official legal action will occur.
“Attorney General Abbott Charges Web Site Operator with Orchestrating Fraudulent Work-at-Home Scheme
Infusion Media Inc.’s ‘GoogleMoneyTree’ uses high profile name to deceive out-of-work Internet users
AUSTIN – Attorney General Greg Abbott today charged two Utah-based defendants with operating a fraudulent work-at-home scheme. The state’s enforcement action names Infusion Media Inc. and Jonathan D. Eborn, whose “GoogleMoneyTree.com” promised six-figure earnings for conducting specialized Google and Yahoo Internet searches.
According to investigators, the defendants promised big payouts in order to convince Web users to spend $3.88 on shipping and handling for a “free kit” that supposedly would show them how to make money from home. Those who purchased the kit were later surprised to discover they were being charged $72 a month by the defendants.”
Full press release here:
http://www.oag.state.tx.us/oagNews/release.php?print=1&id=2940
There is also some more info at: http://strangelyperfect.tv/3099/google-treasure-chest-its-a-scam-and-a-half/
I have tried for several days to contact google money tree (aka google treasure chest)and then contacted my bank to summit a claim. I did finally get ahold of google money tree. They said that I am still within the trial period but the $3.88 was non refundable and they cancelled my account and gave me a cancellation #. Well we’ll see. I shouldn’t get charged anymore because of the bank claim. The 2 phone #’s I have are 1-888-760-6767 and the one where someone finally answered is 1-866-870-4257 and the 2 addresses are 2375 E Tropicana Ave STE 8 Las Vegas NV 89119-6563 and also the return only address 405 East 12450 South Suite G Draper Utah 84020. There email is support@googlemoneytree.com however it is a non working email and returned as a domain error and could not be delivared. Another interesting thing is when I asked for a RGA# to send back the product they told me to keep the cd. There is no need to return it. I hope this will help someone.
I too was scammed by Googlemoneytree. I ordered the cd for shipping charges of $3.88. I do not remember checking any box agreeing to terms and conditions and was charged $72.21 on my next credit card bill. This is what I found interesting that you may want to advise people about. When I saw the charge I figured oh wow o.k. I was stupid I got scammed and just paid $72.21 for a cd. So I let it go, BUT the next month it was on there again under a different company name but the same $72.21. I had no idea it was for a monthly charge for a membership which I never agreed to or noticed on my check-out for the cd. When I called to raise ****, my credit card company would not take the charge off because I agreed to the terms & conditions. Which of course I didn’t. The credit card company switched me over to a customer service rep from Google Money Tree and he would not refund the money because it had been 90 days. Aparently you only have 30 days or less to ask for a refund. Please let everyone know this. Maybe they can avoid the same mistake I made. (I have lodged complaints with FTC, BBB and my Attorney General.)
Melissa,
I think people should start posting what credit card companies are not allowing them to dispute the charges in this case, because this is a situation where:
1) The National Consumer’s League has issued a warning about the company.
2) The Texas Attorney General has filed charges against the company.
3) And I believe the FTC has a file opened on this company.
The credit card companies that don’t allow people to dispute charges in a case like this need to be held accountable.
Want revenge?
I HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend clicking on ANY GOOGLE TREASURE CHEST ad you see ANYWHERE about 1,000 times to run up their ad charges.
Every click you do COST THEM MONEY. I’m an advertiser and trust me, they will get charged for EVERY one of your clicks.
So click way and give these people just what they deserve.
A billion damn clicks and NO sales.
Ta-da!
Enjoy!
I just spent a half hour on NASCAR.com clicking their ads.
LOL!
What comes around goes around!
I can’t believe these big sites like NASCAR.com advertise this crap. They (NASCAR) should be held for losses to for spreading this garbage.
Is someone able to provide an International contact phone number for googleprofit tree? I am trying to sort this out for my sister and she has been unable to contact these crooks!
Many thank
Me again! I have just found out my sister signed up with this goggle money tree on Facebook! Grrrrrrrr.
As she is in New Zealand, I am wondering if these crooks being busted means she will no longer get billed monthly? I guess I am assuming their accounts/billing etc will be closed down. Anyone know, and if you have a phone number/email that will work from here please let us know. Great work you people are doing exposing these scams.
Sandra,
I just popped no from a coffee shop here, but will be heading to do some work soon and I’ll post what I can find for you including what New Zealand law enforcement sites she can file complaints with if she wants.
Sandra,
I don’t think Google Profit Tree is run by the same people who run Google Money Tree.
Google Profit Tree does list this on their site:
submissions@successtracker.org (as a place to submit testimonials).
And this is right next to the actual form where the person enters their payment information:
“Offer Details: Simply click “Submit” to the right to activate your trial membership with Google Profit Tree and have instructions to start earning cash through Google! To activate your trial membership to Google Profit Tree you will be charged a $1.00 refundable processing fee and then you can immediately take advantage of the exciting savings Google Profit Tree has to offer! After your 7-day trial period it’s just $29.95 per month for Google Profit Tree. Remember, you can chat with live operator by calling (888)541-0915 within the first 7 days to cancel, and you will not be charged. To ensure continuous service, at the end of your trial period your membership will be automatically charged each month at the then-current membership fee on or about that same date to the credit card you provide today. If for any reason you are dissatisfied, chat with a live operator, and you’ll no longer be charged. You have also unlocked a fourteen-day trial and twenty one-day trial to the Fraud Protection Resource Center and Identity Theft Protection for just $6.95 and $9.95 a month thereafter (shows as “FraudProtection” and “IdentitySecurity”) should you choose not to cancel. Prior charges for all programs are non-refundable and a monthly $1 transaction fee applies to each bonus membership but bonus subscriptions can be cancelled and future charges stopped at any time by calling toll-free 1-800-712-7226 and 1-877-205-7023. All offers come with a monthly newsletter.”
I believe you would prefix those numbers with 00+1+
to call from New Zeland. I.e., the last one listed there would be: 00+1+1-877-205-7023.
It seems that you have to call a different number to cancel each service.
Also, the contact page for GoogleProfitTree (NOT Google Money Tree) is here:
Contact and lists the following information:
Speak with one of our representatives by calling (888)541-0915.
Vasilissis Freiderikis, 33
1st Floor
P.C. 1066, Nicosia, Cyprus
This page may also be of help:
https://www.googleprofittree.com/terms.html
BTW, updating my last post. The credit card company that would not dispute Google Money Tree’s charges was: Citi card. If you have a card with Citi I suggest you shred it! Terrible customer service, switched me over to the Google Money Tree customer service dept. without telling me. So while I’m talking to whom I think is my credit card company He cuts me off and says are you aware you are talking to Google Money Tree customer service right now? Shocking. If this helps anyone then my work is done.
docF; Don’t you mean if you click on someone’s ad it makes them money? I could be wrong here but that’s one of the ways how people (I thought) make money online is by creating ads for people to click on at the right of the page on the website. Each time you click on an ad it makes the person who created the ad money. Am I wrong?
I looked through the web site and almost purchased but then read the “Terms ans Condition” clause. I back tracked out of the site then started doing some research and discovered this link. I see it saved me some future headaches. I’d like to thank Paul for being so informative on these types of scams.
Yes you’re wrong.
No one makes money clicking on ads. Every time you click an advertisement, the advertiser (GoogleTreasureChest) gets charged for that click.
So click away and hit them where it hurts… their WALLET.
Thank you so much for these information.
)
Thank me for decision to Google this so-called Google Money Tree before any further action. (I’m proud I succeed to make that decision before my first coffee,
These bastards should be imprisoned.
Just wanted to let you know I have reported Google Money Tree Google Pro kit and various others to the Federal Trade Commission, Internet Crime Center, Utah Trade Commission and to Google Corporate Offices since it can be considered Copyright Name Infringement my suggestion is not to wait get the ball rolling, write to the above agencies and let them know. If enough write into them they must at least investigate. They don’t know unless we tell them.
Please cancelmy GOOGLEMONEYTREE account.
thankyou,
george w. zahniser
(zahngeo@aol.com)
fuuuuuuuck!!!!!!!! gooogle money tree
I want themn dead
What a pleasant surprise to be check my checking account balance this morning before going shopping only to find Mony Tree had removed $72.20 for which I never gave them permission for this specific removal. I have written their company and have called them but apparantly their office hours must be on the Pacific Coast. It’s too bad since I’ve worked with the FCC in the past. I’ll have fun with this one. The schmucks.!
Hi,
I have stupidly, just signed up to this scam, on 19th May 2009,
When the day after I looked up about it and found this very good page.
I live in the UK.
And need to cancel all of this.
But, I think that it will cost an awful amount of money to call them up.
I am really worried, and this is very urgent.
Please could anyone email: tricey123@live.co.uk.
to give me information on how to cancel it ASAP.
Many Thanks in advance.
Adam
Adam you could try using one of these cheap phonecall providers to call the US number – just dial the 0844 number from a normal UK landline before dialling the US number (then put 00 11 in front of the US number as that is the dialling code from the UK)
http://callchecker.moneysavingexpert.com/intcallchecker/usa
However as people have had problems getting refunds and even just getting through to someone, it might be easier just to call the fraud department of your bank and get them to cancel your card and issue a new one with a new number asap.
PUTANG INA!!! ANG DAMING MANLOLOKO DITO SA STATES. INGAT KAYO MGA KABABAYAN KO.
Thanks for the heads up. I cancelled my card before they could do anything, didn’t bother to contact them…
google says my suit is harm for any P.C.S or google.
But Whay???
clean my suit this time.
I got hit by this Google Tree 3 (4) as they listed on my statement. I did get it stopped. FYI All, I read in the LA Times today about the “Fake Check” scam that is out there and thought that those of you who are looking to find work this is one you need to stay away from. Basically works like this, you are asked to accept a check for much more then what is needed and you take a part and then send the remainder on to some third party, the deal is you get held liable for the full amount of the “Bogus check” by your bank, like the “Mystery Shopper” gig giving you $2000 to $5000 to purchase small items, keeping them and then sending the remainder to #3 party. I have seen them and know you all probably have as well, “DON’T GET HOOKED”.
Even worse, William, you can be criminally charged for depositing a fake check, even if you don’t know that it’s fake.
Thanks for reminding people.
So i called them and asked for my money back 72.21 and they said i have to post the CD back in order for refund. I shipped PRIority and gave the RGA number, called them after they’ve received it, and said they were gonna refund it and i still haven’t received any!!… it has been 3 weeks and almost four weeks and i’ve been calling and stalking them for my money and they said, they tried to refund but the bank didn’t accept and i had to talk to my bank. Each week i called was different story and excuses. i’m going to call again and see what other stories they’re making and if it is true my bank is the problem than we shall see.. i hate what these ppl are doing . i hope somebody will do something bout this google money tree.. money doesn’t go from tree.. it is hard earned!
Duh-uh!
Possible class action lawsuit against Google Treasure Chest / Money Tree Scam.
See: http://strangelyperfect.tv/3401/google-treasure-chest-phone-and-address-list/#comment-1481
so is there any way of getting out of the bullshit contract…can someone give me the email address…i have been unable to locate it….if anyone can help me out please email me at rosebud_4_life@yahoo.com
Watch this short video – it tells you how to get your money back from scammers:
Getting your money back from Scammers:
http://www.chrismalta.com/scamtip1.asp
You don’t have to contact the scammers again – just your credit card company – let them get your money back for you. This is the best way to get back at the scammers and get your money back. Scammers hate chargebacks!
That’s a funny video to post in this thread where we’ve already discussed doing chargebacks dozens of times. LOL.
I liked it though. He has a lot of great information on dropshipping fraud at his WorldWideBrands site, too.
Here’s a page listing a bunch of his other tips here that are definitely worth a read – in fact I’d highly recommend people read them:
http://www.chrismalta.com/busting.asp
I like his admonish for people to not go “hogwild”. LOL. Ummm. Most people aren’t going to hear that part.
If only I had researched this before I signed up with this scam. It was partly my fault for not reading everything in the disclosure. Boy was it aggravating trying to find a contact number because the emails were sending me in circles. Fortunately I found it but took me dozens of calls to finally get to customer service. Fortunately I got my $72.21 back but not the $3.88. They can keep the $3.88 as fee for me being stupid enough to sign up.
Wow, what you felt is what I am feeling right now, in fact I an enraged! Much at more at the fault of my responsibility and also for the act of deceit. But lucky you, you have done something about it. Can you really help me? I will truly appreciate it.
Can I just cancel my card and solve the problem?
Rodo,
Did you pay by credit card? If so, you should be able to file a dispute with your credit card company. If you paid with a debit card, you’ll want to talk to your bank.
More information is at HelpWithMyBank.gov
Whether or not canceling the card would solve the problem is a legal question as technically the contract might be considered to be between you and Google Money Tree so it would depend on two things:
1) Whether that contract was valid (i.e. the Texas AG is saying at least one version of it was deceptive).
2) If it was valid, whether or not the company would try to enforce it (doubtful in this case, but no guarantees on that).
There have been BBB reports and news stories of people canceling their cards.
I know I’m seeming overly careful with my wording, but I want to give you the correct information.