"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 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.

After reading a bunch of complaints about a product called GoogleTree it dawned on me that the actual product the people were talking about is a product called GoogleMoneyTree which we've been having a discussion about here – including many people offering tips on how to try to get back the money and stop the monthly charges.

Based on the intial $3.88 charge and then the surprise $72.21/month, the similar name and similar complaints it has to be the same product.

Apparently the charges are showing up as one of the following:

• GoogleTree1, GoogleTree 1, Google Tree 1
• GoogleTree2, GoogleTree 2, Google Tree 2
• GoogleTree3, GoogleTree 3, Google Tree 3
• GoogleTree4, GoogleTree 4, Google Tree 4
• GoogleTree5, GoogleTree 5, Google Tree 5
• GoogleTree6, GoogleTree 6, Google Tree 6
• Mc-Google Tree, 2Mc-Google Tree
• Mony Tree.com

Click here to join the discussion about filing complaints against and recovering money from GoogleMoneyTree.