IMPORTANT: One thing this post is showing that the site Certified Cash Club site is using images of models from photos from iStockPhoto and putting DIFFERENT names to the images of those models. You should NOT assume that the models agreed to have their images used in the this way. In fact, the probably DID NOT.
That ALSO means that the names shown for the images of the models in THIS post are NOT the true names of the models in the images. I am simply pointing out what the Certified Cash Club site has done.
Craig Davidson - A.K.A. as IStockPhoto 7068613
Recently I was asked to take a look at a product called Certified Cash Club – a product allegedly created by Craig Davidson (also known as IStockPhoto photo 7068613).
Certified Cash Club makes the bizarre, yet seemingly excited proclamation that it has been seen on Twitter, YouTube, Digg, StumbleUpon, and Squidoo…all of which are sites just about anyone could load information up to. In other word, making a claim like that at the top of a sales page is tantamount to saying either “I have no idea what I’m talking about” or “I hope you are too stupid to realize that none of this means anything at all”.
Of course CertifiedCashClub also seems very excited about “being seen” on FaceBook, AOL, MSN, and Yahoo. As usual “HOW” they were seen isn’t explained. Did they possibly BUY ADVERTISING on those sites to “Be Seen”?
Of interest is the fact that they didn’t list “Google” in the “As Seen On” logo at the top. I mean, I just searched on Google and I “saw” CertifiedCashClub.com “on Google”…I also “saw” a picture of an Astronaut “on Google”:
I "see" Certified Cash Club "on Google"...I "see" a picture of an astronaut "on Google"....
Thomas Bennett - a.k.a. iStockPhoto 4253221 loves all things certified
Thomas Bennett has ventured outside his comfort zone as a stock photo on the stock photo site iStockPhoto and worked his way up as a collector of all things certified.
Here he sits with his certified family in front of his certified home posing for a certified photographer. The youngest one is technically not certified yet, but she does have a certified binky (pacifier).
Michael Thompson - a.k.a. iStockPhoto 7256206 giving his "I got me some certified cash" look
Michael Thompson, also a regular of stock photo site iStockPhoto recently revealed that his glasses are fake and that he maintains his dazzling white pearly teeth by eating certified organic fruits and vegetables.
Oddly, right above the two testimonials that have images that can be found on iStockPhoto is the statement:
“Now I do know that every other formula, system, method, etc. out there only tells you how to generate money using only one not too useful tactic. WELL, YOU HAVE BEEN LIED TO AND RIPPED OFF.”
What is the Certified Cash Club refund rate?
Also, another fact that seems to be in dispute is their refund rate. For example, according to the image below, Certified Cash Club claims that their refund rate is 4%, but CBEngine.com claims the refund rate on Certified Cash Club is 33.21%.
So, let’s review what we have so far:
We have a photo of Craig Davidson, the alleged founder of CertifiedCashClub sitting on the stock photo site iStockPhoto.
We have a photo of Thomas Bennett and his family – the first person giving a testimonial for CertifiedCashClub.com - on the stock photo site iStockPhoto.
We have a photo of Michael Thompson – the second person giving a testimonial for CertifiedCashClub.com – on the stock photo site iStockPhoto.
We have CertifiedCashClub claiming that their refund rate is 4% and CBEngine.com claiming that the refund rate on Certified Cash Club is 33.21%.
And we have a picture of an astronaut on the moon to demonstrate that the words “as seen on” can’t be properly interpreted without proper context.
What should one believe about Certified Cash Club’s claim of their average member’s earnings?
Certified Cash Club's Income Claim
I noticed that Certified Cash Club’s optin form includes the statement “MEMBERS EARNING AN AVERAGE OF $253.91 EVERY SINGLE DAY”. If I am interpreting that claim correctly it would mean that they are claiming that the average member earns $92,677.15 per year.
Should you believe this claim? That’s up to you. I am merely presenting my observations of various elements of the sales page that cause me some concern. They should NOT be construed as absolute proof of anything, but merely indicators that you may want to include in your decision making process.
What would I do personally if I were considering a product like Certified Cash Club? I’d pass on the product. There are simply too many indicators that cause concern for me.
Yeah, I knew something looked fishy. I clearly thought those were iStockPhotos, the guy saying this is me Craig Davidson also known as iStockPhoto image, and those testimonial photos are too fake as well!
Thanks for this review from someone who is not pushing the product as an affiliate, I appreciate it!
i joined this program a month and a half ago, i was scared to get ripped off but suprisingly craig davidson helped me a lot get my site up and running, i havent made 235 dollars a day, but some days i have made 150 dollars other days 90 dollars, i imagine in the near future i will be making more..so its pretty great, i dont care if the pictures are real, great program, A++
Kind of hard to know if yours is a legitimate comment though, given the fact that the picture and testimonial pictures on the site were using stock photos.
I’m not saying your comment is false, but when a product starts out with a sales page like that it puts everything else about it, including favorable blog comments into doubt.
@Paul (Founder, WorkAtHomeTruth): That is the absolute truth. Several months ago I found a similar thing happened with another site, where the site owner pretended to be a regular Joe and wrote in an amazingly positive piece about the site.
Just last week I had a phone call from an internet marketer (“guru”) I had purchased something from and who has been sending me emails every so often. I had seen and heard him on videos, and the chap on the phone didn’t sound at all the same. I told him so, mentioning that the chap I had seen and listened to was plump and had reddish coloured hair. The man on the phone said that that was an actor. Now I understand the desire for privacy, but it makes it very difficult for me to feel comfortable when I don’t know who I am really dealing with – it could be someone trying to rip me off, or trying to rip off the man I thought I was dealing with.
I would love this site, Certified Cash Club, to be the real deal, but they are certainly off to a shaky start!
@Valerie Eldridge:
Sometimes the “desire for privacy” may be legitimate. But what I’ve seen more often recently is sites getting outed for using fake testimonial pictures and then quickly trying to cover up by adding language to their site claiming it was done to “protect privacy”.
I received this offer in my mailbox and thought the web page looked very nice. I thought it was too good to be true. I started doing some research and found this page:
http://www.imreportcard.com/products/certified-cash-club
The reviews seemed pretty positive from people who actually bought the product. I’m still weary though.
I’m not sure if the pictures being fake are a big deal though. I know from marketing experience that you have to exaggerate in order to compete and sell a product. Whatever though… guess I’ll come back when I try the product out for myself.
@Simon McClellan:
You’re right that marketers still overhype even good products, but this takes things into the area of potential fraud.
Basically you’re nuts if you think that’s a good idea. Even if for some bizarre reason you thought it was in the past, you really need to take a serious look at the New FTC Testimonial and Endorsement Guidelines.
Keep in mind, when the FTC filed injunctions against dozens of companies in their recent Operation Shortchange here.
At least it’s sold through ClickBank, so it would be easy to refund.
Click here for information on how to refund products sold through ClickBank
@JenniferF: Jennifer – sorry, I accidentally deleted your comment. If you want to post it again I’ll go ahead and approve it.
I read it. I believe it all or wanted to believe it all. Did m research – ended up here after reading 20 other sites and bottom line its a standard how to make money on the internet with affiliate marketing program. Why he had to use all the fake stuff on the sales page even further proves its more smoke and mirrors. So thanks for the review your sales page review convinced me to pass on it.
Thanks again
04/28/2010 Update: Amazing how this product continues to steadily increase in popularity even after the initial warning that was posted here at WorkAtHomeTruth in October of 2009:
Many thanks too workathometruth.com ! Scammer’s must be rubbing their hands in this recession filled, fuelled, insecure society where instinctively people will try anything to stay solvent. I really feel for the family person or persons, who gamble their hard earned monies to secure their families future. It’s nice to know your there, Larry Mc Kenna.
@laurence: Thanks laurence.
Thanks Paul!
Seems funny that with all the scams going on than no one here checked with the BBB to see if this is a ligit site.
When I checked with BBB.org, nothing came up with the site web address…so I looked for the company’s name and contact info on their site…guess what…no info there. I never use a site that doesn’t list the company name and address and contact number. Again..if it sounds too good to be true…then maybe it is.
Paul, thanks for being “eyes and ears” for newbies when it comes to internet marketing!
In this case, I would think that, with all of the opportunities that exist on the internet today, anyone that has any doubts about one opportunity would cross it out & go on to the next one?
In any case, as a communications consultant, I always tell them “say it as if you’re selling it to your Mom” if the product or service is as good as you say it is, you don’t need the hype, peoples who need it will see the value and buy it… More often than not they listen but I guess that when it comes to Internet marketing, most peoples want the “I want it all tomorrow” approach…
@Mark Wolfe: I have a mom/best friend rule as well – although slightly different, which is “is this truly a product I could recommend to my mom or best friend?”
I think the best explanation of why people continue to believe in the “I want it all tomorrow” approach is explained at Attorney Michael Webster’s blog in his post called:
The Road From Foolishness To Fraud
Hi, Well your review has given me food for thought, I was/am considering buying the product. The review is somewhat confusing for me as most of the coments are from people who have not tried the product only made obsevations regarding the sales page.
We are all aware of sales patter on and off the internet so most claims have to be reduced by at least 50%.
Maybe you could divide the comments from people (like me) who have not actually tried the product and those with real experience of the certified cash club that would be very useful.
@David Findlay: That’s odd. The top 3 products I recommend don’t have anything like fake testimonials or fake income claims or anything like that.
But I hear what you’re saying. Just because a person is substantially lying all over the place on a sales letter doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t trust them.
I think that’s what you’re saying anyhow.