The BBB put a warning out about clicking on FaceBook Ads leading to Fake Blogs on 4/2/2009…
Gee, BBB, you’re only FOUR MONTHS BEHIND the warning at WorkAtHomeTruth on DECEMBER 13, 2008 about this. “Good job”. You can see the warning WorkAtHomeTruth put out here. It was a blog post called:
BradsMoney – Where’s That Government Check
Well, better late to the “warning party” than never.
Here’s what the BBB specifically warns about (same thing we warned about FOUR MONTHS ago):
“People need to use extreme caution and read the fine print before handing over their credit card information to an online advertiser. Just because an ad appears on a Web site they trust, it doesn’t mean they can always trust the advertisers,” said Steve Cox, BBB spokesperson. “One of the big red flags we’re seeing is ads that link to blog platforms designed to look like a personal testimonial from a satisfied customer. In our experience, if an ad takes you to a blog, it’s best to hit the back button immediately.”
Relative to “work at home” schemes they state this:
“The Pitch: Learn How I Make $67,000 a Year Being a Stay-at-Home Mom!
There are many ads on Facebook that advertise ways to make easy money from home. Similar to the acai berry ads, the ads link to blogs that were supposedly created by people who made money through a work-at-home program. One such blog written by a “Sarah Roberts” claims that she added “$67,000 a year to my family’s income working 10 hours a week (that’s over $128 an hour!)” by creating Web sites that host Google ads. Another, “www.jasongetsrich.com”, is ostensibly written by the newly married Jason who makes “around $5,500 to $7,000 a month from Google.”
The Fine Print: The blogs direct readers to Web sites for programs such as Internet Money Machine and Easy Google Cash where they can sign up for a seven-day trial access to information on how to make money from home. While the free trial supposedly only costs $1.95-$2.95, the individual will be charged $69.90 every month if they don’t cancel seven days from signing up. The fine print also states that the company does not give refunds.
BBB Warns: Use extreme caution when signing up for a work-at-home job or money-making opportunity online. In 2008 alone, BBB received more than 3,500 complaints from people who signed up for offers to learn how to work from home but were ultimately disappointed. Job hunters should also be aware that while some work-at-home opportunities have the word “Google” in their name and use Google’s logo on their Web sites, they are not actually affiliated with Google.”
WorkAtHomeTruth has been tracking these fake “work at home” blogs now for four months. You can see a list of over FIVE HUNDRED of them in the discussion called “Brads Money – Where’s That Government Check?”
Click here to read the full warning about FaceBook Ads at the Better Business Bureau