KevinsMoneyTree.org is one HECK of a popular site…yep, the graph below shows KevinsMoneyTree hitting 3 MILLION unique visitors per month AND still hovering around 1.5 MILLION visitors per month as of this blog post:
KevinsMoneyTree.org and Sandiego-Tribune-News. - Unique Visitors per Month per Compete
And no wonder. According to KevinsMoneyTree.org’s Kevin Hoeffer seems to have the most amazing way of making money:
“Here’s the basics of what I do. Google pays me between $5 and $30 for every web site link that I post. No one needs to buy anything from me or Google in order to get paid. I’ve been getting weekly paychecks working on my laptop at home.”
Now, if somehow you’ve possibly managed to miss the thousands of fake sites like Kevin’s that have flooded the internet over the past year, I suggest you read the article here about the Make Money Posting Links on Google Scam.
The AMAZING part is that the fake news site Sandiego-Tribune-News.com KevinsMoneyTree.org uses as “proof” for his system attracted 1.5 MILLION unique visitors AFTER the 7/1/2009 FTC Operation Short Change Scam Crackdown Press Release.
You can see how KevinsMoneyTree.org uses the fake San Diego Tribune News site as “proof” for his recommended SimplePayChecks system in the video below:
It’s also interesting to notice how popular KevinsMoneyTree.org and Sandiego-Tribune-News.com are as of today considering the fact that Google started banning advertisers who promoted (potentially) questionable offers using the Google trademark without permission from Google.
I went ahead and clicked through to the SimplePayChecks.com site that KevinsMoneyTree.org and Sandiego-Tribune-News.com were promoting and went through the order process as you can see in the video below:
Obviously the part of the SimplePayChecks.com order process that stands out the most is on the order page where it states “By submitting this form, I agree to the Terms and conditions below.” after which you see me scrolling all the way to the BOTTOM of the screen to find the terms and conditions which state:
“By submitting this form, I am activating the MyMoneyPlan three day trial. I also agree to the bonus trial of SearchProfitSystem for fourteen days. After the three day and fourteen day trial periods, I will be billed forty-nine dollars and eighty four cents for MyMoneyPlan and twenty eight dollars and seventy one cents for the SearchProfitSystem monthly thereafter until I choose to cancel either or both programs. I agree to the Privacy Policy / Terms and Conditions of this Web Site. Google does not sponsor or endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with this site.”
One important aspect of the terms and conditions listed at the bottom of the screen of SimplePaychecks.com is the fact that the dollar amounts are written out in WORDS.
According to Ken Adams, an expert on contract drafting and author of “A Manual of Style for Contract Drafting”:
- “…numerals are easier to read than numbers expressed in words…” (see 10.1)
- “Drafters will often do the words-and-numerals thing when stating amounts of money: Acme shall pay Widgetco One Million Dollars ($1,000,000). The idea is that whereas numerals are easier to read than words, they’re more prone to typographic errors; adding words provides a safety net, as courts generally hold that if there’s a discrepancy between words and numerals, the words govern.But stating numbers in words and numerals distracts the reader and represents another possible source of inconsistency, yet adds little or nothing of value in return. If your proofreading isn’t up to making sure that when you say 12 you really mean 12, the words-and-numerals system isn’t going to save you.”
The second quotation is part of the fuller article Stating Amounts of Money here.
But perhaps more relevant is the Texas Attorney Generals recent complaint filed against the company Infusion Media (d/b/a/ GoogleMoneyTree, GoogleTreasureChest, and InternetIncomeInitiative) where the AG states in items 18 & 19:
“18. Defendants have added an inconspicuous disclosure to each of its Web sites that describes the additional fees. For example the following representation is made on the GMT Payment Page, below the area where the consumers are asked to submit their credit card information:
To get your free kit, just enter the information on the right, and I’ll get your kit shipped out fast. Also…for a limited time, not only will you get my entire GOOGLE MONEY TREE KIT, but you will also get a seven day trial to my private, members only website. People pay almost ninety bucks a month for access to this site, but during this seven day trial period, you can have unlimited, back stage private access, without any charge whatsoever. You can stay a member at the discounted price of seventy two dollars and twenty one cents per month for life. Of course, if your goals change, you can always call and cancelyour subscription at any time. It really is the easiest thing you’ll ever do. If you can follow simple instructions and will devote just a little time every day…you can be living the life of YOUR DREAMS TOO. I AM!
“19. Although information about a monthly fee is mentioned in the above disclosure, the defendants have carefully crafted the layout and design of the Web site to prevent consumers from reading the disclosure and discovering the $72.21 fee. For example, the numbers “seventy two dollars and twenty one cents,” “seven day,” and “ninety bucks” are all spelled out in the paragraph so that consumers are less likely to notice them. Every other time a number is used on the payment page – 35 separate instances – it is represented with a numeral.”
I’ve excerpted the relevant part from item 19, but you can read the entire complaint against Infusion Media and all of item 19 here.
You’ll also notice in the video that the only way to find an active hyperlink in the phrase “By submitting this form, I agree to the Terms and conditions below” is by mousing over EACH individual word in the phrase until you come to the word “Terms” which is an active hyperlink to the SimplePayCheck.com’s Website Terms and Conditions.
Again this is interesting in light of item 24. the FTC listed under “Defendants Business Practices” in their recent complaint filed against Google Money Tree as part of their Operation Short Change Crackdown. Here’s what item 24. in the complaint states:
“24. In at least some versions of the defendants’ payment information pages, the words ”Terms and Condition” in the phrase “I agree to the Terms and Conditions’ serve as a Iink to a separate Terms and Conditions page. These words, however, are not underlined to indicate that they serve as a link.”
SimplePayChecks.com uses the Google logo twice on the top of the first part of it’s sales page
Its almost as if SimplePayChecks is trying include every possible issue that either Google, the FTC, or local AGs have indicated they have an issue with, including putting a gigantic Google logo at the top of their sales page and within the phrase “Want to Work From Home With Google?”
What about MyMoneyPlan and SearchProfitSystem – the two sites being promoted by SimplePayChecks.com?
Information about the MyMoneyPlan product being promoted by SimplePayChecks.com:
MyMoneyPlan.net is listed under the BBB report for Mars Hill Media, Inc. which includes the following statement:
“Complaints received by BBB allege the customer signed up for a free online business kit where the customer pays $1.95 for shipping and handling. Three days later they are charged $49.84 and find they agreed to terms and conditions for a 3 day trial offer and continuous charges they were unaware of. These kits may include Google Money Kit, Twitter Kit and Money Mastery Kit.”
Of possible interest in the Mars Hill Media, Inc. BBB report – but again only possible interest is the following:
“Business Management
J.C. Residual LLC, a principal member for this company, is also listed as a principal member for Thrive Learning LLC. A separate BBB report is available for Thrive Learning LLC.”
The BBB report on Thrive Learning LLC. can be read here and mentions the following Government Actions:
| Government ActionsOn July 2, 2009 the Utah Division of Consumer Protection (“Division”) issued an Administrative Citation against Thrive Learning LLC, Infusion Media Inc, Concepts Executions LLC, Six Figure Consulting Corp, Vanuity LLC dba Platinum Training Solutions, The Summit Group of Utah LLC dba Momentum Marketing, Internet Auction Solutions Inc and Accelerated Business Solutions Inc (“Respondents”). The citation states that starting during or before July 2008 Thrive Learning LLC (“Thrive”), along with the other Respondents listed, has been offering a Business Opportunity to consumers. Consumers were solicited and sold materials, education and coaching services for the purposes of enabling the consumers to start their own internet business. The purchase price of the transaction for these consumers exceeded $300 in each case. Consumers were sold online materials and coaching services enabling a consumer to learn about how to sell products over the internet or on eBay. Consumers were provided with access to software that would enable a consumer to build their own customized website to market products and services. Consumers were also provided with ideas and resources on how and where to obtain products to sell, including access to lists of drop shipping companies. Thrive has formally or informally allowed many name and unnamed Respondent marketing companies to sell these products and services with Thrive being responsible for fulfilling the represented products and services to each consumer. Respondent marketing companies were responsible in most cases for all representations made to their respective consumers and were also responsible for collecting payment from each consumer. At all times relevant to these transactions, Respondents were not registered with the Division to offer Business Opportunity sales. These alleged actions are charged as eight (8) counts of violation with a potential maximum fine of $20,000 ($2,500 per count). Respondents also allegedly failed to provide the appropriate disclosure statements prior to transactions. These alleged actions are charged as sixteen (16) counts of violation with a potential maximum fine of $20,000 ($2,500 per count). The Division reserved the right to amend the citation to include unknown consumers who file complaints with their office in the future. |
Information about the SearchProfitSystem product being promoted by SimplePayChecks.com:
I haven’t found much on SearchProfitSystem.com.