The Email that Takes the Cake

Comment:
I want this what ever it is cancelled I did not ordered.
I want a full refund of 99.99 back immediately or I will report you to Better Buisness Bureau.
You have my card no but, I will give it to you again.
[SHE THEN PROCEEDED TO ENTER IN HER CREDIT CARD INFORMATION]
any question you can callme Pamela xxx@Embarqmail.com
xxx-xxx-2088 Thankyou Pamela

…

You are reading that correctly. Old Pamela thought it would be a good idea to give me her full name, phone number, email address, and her credit card information! She sent this email to a complete stranger online, then has the audacity to wonder why money has been removed from her account. Luckily for her, I’m not an identity thief, but I can’t imagine how many similar emails she sent out to other random sites.

It doesn’t end here though. We’ve received two more emails from her demanding that we send her money or else she’ll get her lawyer involved. She has been ignoring my replies including the one where I suggested she get a new credit card immediately. I’ve run out of helpful suggestions for her and I’m actually looking forward to talking with her lawyer at this point. I plan on leading off the conversation demanding that he repay me the money I spent on a sub-par dinner I had last night. I’ll let you know how it works out.

The $30,000 Google Adwords Mistake

Earlier this week, a user by the name of medlounge posted the following question to Google’s help forum.

Dear Google Billing Dept.

I am very new to this google adsense and posting ads. Last night I wanted to do a “TEST RUN ONLY” for Google to monitor before I could run any ad for my blogger.com. This morning 04/27/2009 I see a cost bill of almost $30,000.00? Oh my GOD, how could this happen? PLEASE HELP! This is a mistake! Please fix this problem and remove this cost of almost $30,000.00 from my account. I don’t have that kind of money. I’m a single mom and I’m not even working. Please help. I look forward to your response to my request.

This poor lady spent almost $30,000 in one night! I don’t even know how that’s possible. Of course the validity of the post has to be questioned. I would think Google would prevent a new, inexperienced user from being able to spend that much money in such a short amount of time. She also seems to be holding back quite a bit of information.

Okay okay, supposing the above story is real, do you think Google should refund this poor single mom her costs? On one hand, this opens the door to a lot of “I didn’t know what I was doing!” type of excuses if they let her go. On the other, the people behind Google will look like jerks taking money from a single mother in this economy. What do you think should be done?

The overall point I’m trying to make is that you really need to be careful with pay-per-click advertising. If you don’t know what you’re doing and you don’t properly setup limits, you might see staggering, jaw-dropping bills with little or no return on your investment. These things take a lot time to learn. Be sure you fully understand what you might be getting yourself into.

You young punks won’t believe it, but we all used to read these things called newspapers. They were delivered to your home daily and contained local and national news and advertisements. And get this—they were printed on paper. No, really!

They had this section called the classfied ads where you could buy and sell just about anything. Even more unbelievable: we used to pay the newspaper to list our ad for whatever we were selling, like our record players and 8-track tapes and perambulators. (True story: My 8-yr-old son asked me a couple of weeks ago if they had electricity when I was growing up.)

Those classified ads were good places to find jobs. Oh, sure, there was an occasional envelope-stuffing scam, but nothing like today’s online classifieds.

The Internet has brought the world to our fingertips and created untold new ways to make money. Unfortunately, it has also created a bazillion ways for other people to take your money.

Today’s Online Classified Ads Are a Jungle

You no longer have to pay to list an ad. Maybe that’s why job ads are so full of junk. If people had to pay to list their junk, they’d think twice. Home-based jobs sections are particularly nasty.

Take a popular local classifed site as an example. For the Salt Lake valley, this is the online equivalent of a local paper’s classified ads. This section is the home-based business/network marketing section.

If you would like to make six figures per year, if you want daily pay guaranteed, or you want to take back your life, or you want to be in front of an $18-billion wave, or you are a driven, honest, searching individual, this is the place for you. Just look at all the opportunities! With all these PROVEN systems for making money, why is anyone struggling financially? There’s no excuse for being broke! (Psst! Hey, you. Yeah, you. The one who’s all steamed up getting ready to write to me. Keep your shirt on. That was snark.)

Here are a couple of things I’ve learned in my relatively short time watching the work-at-home industry. People who are successful don’t need overstated classified ads. Real opportunities don’t chase you, you have to chase them. They might call your name once or twice, but it’s sotto voce and then they move on. They certainly don’t shout in your face.

I haven’t tested this scientifically, but I’m pretty sure there is a direct correlation between the number of capital letters and exclamation points in an ad or sales page and its level of scummy scamminess. The more flashy colors and images, the less truth the opportunity contains.

Have you bought our ebook yet? It’s only ten bucks, fer cryin’ out loud. It shows you where to find real work-at-home jobs and how to separate the junk ads from the legitimate work. (Most of the jobs it shows you how to find are in writing and editing, coding, graphic design, and other computer-intensive fields. It’s probably not for you if your computer skills stop at browsing the Internet.)

Because it’s Saturday and the sun is finally shining here, I’m in a giving mood. I’ll give a free copy of our book to you if you made it to the end of this post and are one of the first five readers to email me and ask for one. Write me up: joe[at]ivetriedthat[dot]com.

The FTC’s New Rules on Advertising

• Consumer testimonials would have to be substantiated and ads would have to include generally expected results. Endorsers, not just advertisers, could be held liable for deceptive claims. “You’d have to say not only is it extreme, but how extreme is it,” the FTC’s Richard Cleland said.
• Celebrities who talk up a product in an interview must disclose if they are getting paid for the promotion. Celebrities who endorse products would have to disclose if they have an ownership interest.
• Expert endorsers, like doctors, must have experience in the product area they are endorsing. If they don’t, the limits of their expertise must be stated. For instance, an ophthalmologist identified only as a doctor could not be portrayed as an expert physician endorsing a hearing aid.
• Bloggers who get free products and then endorse them on their blogs would have to make it clear they got the products free.

I’m most excited about the first bullet point. The words “ads must include generally expected results” are like music to my ears. “Endorsers could be held liable for deceptive claims,” is poetry, plain and simple.

Now, do I really think that we’ll see a change in Internet advertising. No, at least not for a while. Only after the FTC starts dishing out punishments for violating these rules will we see a change. It took them quite a few years to lay the basework for stopping online scams; who knows how long it will take them to actually pursue those using deceptive marketing.

How Will New FTC Rules Impact Internet Advertising [shoemoney]

Background Information on the Conficker C Worm

The Conficker worm, also known as Conficker C, Downup, Downadup and Kido, popped up last November and has been estimated to infect up to 15,000,000 computers by exploiting a vulnerability in the Windows Server service. Yes, that was fifteen million computers. The creators of this worm will be able to retain full control over every computer affected. It has been one of the fastest spreading worms the Internet has ever seen. Currently, the virus hasn’t initiated any attacks but the real show is set to begin on April 1st when the first set of instructions will be downloaded by the worm.

Why Should You Be Worried?

Well for starters, no one knows exactly what the hell this thing does. There have been guesses, but no one has been able to figure it out. Microsoft has put up a $250,000 reward for anyone who can provide any information as to what the worm will do and how to stop it. It has left leading security experts the world over left scratching their heads in bewilderment.

Some theories as to what the worm will do have been downright scary. The leading theories are that Conficker C could possibly use every computer to initiate denial of service attacks, steal personal and private information (ie. credit card or social security numbers), completely erase hard drives and delete every file on the infected computer, or do something as simple as initiate hundreds of spam pop-ups like traditional malware. The point is that no one quite knows yet and we won’t find out until April 1st.

How to Protect Yourself from the Conficker C Worm

If you think you might be infected or even want to take safety precautions, run any or all of the following tools. If any of these websites appears to be down, you might be infected. Move on to the next one until you find a working site. Microsoft Windows Live OneCare safety scanner. Kaspersky’s KKiller. Remove Downadup (aka Conficker or Kido) by BDTools.net.

Use the following tips to ensure that you are fully protected from not just Conficker C, but any other virus or form of malware out there today.

• Update or Install an Antivirus Scanner – I use and personally recommend that you use Kaspersky Anti-Virus Products. Kaspersky has been leading the way in terms of online protection and their security software is the best on the market today. Delete your free copy of McAfee and uninstalled your outdated Norton anti-virus and install a Kaspersky product today.
• Perform a full system scan with a Malware Scanner – Malwarebytes provides free software that will eliminate any spyware or malware on your computer. If you’re getting random popups or your computer has slowed down considerably, click here and download the free version of Malwarebyte’s Anti-Malware. A scan will take roughly 15-20 minutes and will eliminate any form of malware or spyware on your computer.
• Perform a Windows Update – You can run this right now. Click on the Start Menu, then go to programs, and at the top of that list click on the Windows Update icon and follow the instructions on the window that pops up. You will download any available updates, further protecting you from any potential attacks.

Spend the next 10 or 15 minutes making sure your computer is properly secure. Trust me, it will be worth your while.

I figured, everybody older than seven and younger than 90 is doing it, so there must be something to it, right? I mean, something this popular has to be either really fun, really forbidden, or it helps people make money. So I signed up and started gathering “friends” like flies.

People I haven’t talked to since elementary school were inviting me to be their friends. At least one person who I was more than happy to have lost contact with found me on Facebook and invited me to be her friend.

I ignored her invitation. Twice. Yeah, I’m kind of a jerk like that.

So now I get inane little updates from people I haven’t heard from for decades. Rebecca is going to do laundry now. (”Ahhh,” I think. “Rebecca is going to do laundry now.”) Kara is really tired and is going to bed. Pierre still has openings for his course. Don’t you want to sign up? Want to buy Lauren’s natural miracle soap?

I mean, as if the Internets weren’t already vapid enough, I now get “cute” little Facebook pokes and gifts and, oh! what’s this!? I’ve been kidnapped and am being held for ransom! Or I’m the lettuce in Hannah’s BLT. Its text messaging writ large with graphics and color—a world that is hostile to any exchange more significant than liking something up or down and posting your latest golf score. The only thing missing from this surreal stew of insipidity is the Hello Kitty background, and that’s probably coming. If the medium is the message, then we are well and truly screwed.

You exaggerate, you will say. You need better friends, you will say. True, true. But what if all the time spent on Facebook were instead invested in building your Niche Blitzkrieg sites or generating income by filling business needs in your area? That’s a lot of wasted productivity, if you ask me.

Yes, I’m the old guy in your neighborhood who is always yelling at the kids, “Get off my lawn!” Any other questions?

You’ve Tried That

We want some feedback from your end. What program(s) have you joined? What do you think? How are you progressing? Are you making money? How many Porsches have you bought with your new found income? These are just some sample questions we’d like you guys to answer. After all, it helps us improve our recommendations.

Ideally, we’re looking for feedback on the following programs: In Your PJs, Niche Blitzkrieg, and Build a Niche Store as they are programs we’ve been heavily promoting. But, we will readily accept feedback on any program you’ve come across here at I’ve Tried That.

If you haven’t found anything yet, make sure you read through our recommended list of ways to make money online. It’s entirely free for you to use. We try and keep it constantly updated as we come across new websites and programs.

You can use our email form to send feedback by clicking here. Your emails are sent to both Joe and I. So, if you’re trying to write to Joe to tell him to break up with me and start his own website with you, well, don’t. We both read everything that is submitted. I’ll also be randomly giving out copies of our book to submitters who leave quality comments. Thanks for helping improve I’ve Tried That!

The super exclusive sale that ends today.

I’ve been analyzing sales pages online for quite some time now. I know some of the most cheesy sales techniques used to close a lead and I can spot them coming from a mile away. However, once I stepped out from behind the keyboard, I was lost. I picked a hell of a day to walk into LA Fitness because as my luck would have it, today only, there was a special new members discount.

Two members could sign up for the price of one! I find it amazing that my girlfriend and I walk into a gym the very same day the entire membership was 50% off. Regardless, we ended up liking what we saw and did become members. After talking to other couples who are also members, we did find out that we were given a break. It wasn’t as much as we were lead to believe, but any amount of saved money is good these days.

A personal trainer? Damn, these people are good at selling.

Our monthly membership came with a free fitness assessment. I was reluctant to use it, but my girlfriend insisted we at least see what it included. I already knew I was out of shape and I didn’t need someone else to tell me so.

Within ten minutes of sitting down with a fitness trainer, I realized I was absolutely clueless about weight loss, weight gain, proper nutrition, cardio workouts, how to use nearly every piece of equipment, and I was pretty sure I was entering and exiting the gym in the wrong fashion as well. Of course, we were hit with the upsell and eventually caved in.

So, here I am out a couple of dollars and in a one-year fitness contract. I know this is a good thing, but my bank account seems to say otherwise. I do live a pretty sedentary life though. Since I work from home, my daily exercise routine consists of walking from my bed to my computer to the kitchen. I know this membership is a good thing. Here’s to 12 months of a more healthy lifestyle.

Wish me luck.

We have written here, here, here, and here about scummy gimmicks that hide secret charges in their Terms and Conditions. You think you’re signing up for a “free” kit for $3.88 shipping and handling. But then, when you don’t cancel after your 7-day trial, you get hit for a $90 monthly charge for a membership you didn’t know you were signing up for. It’s a practice also sometimes called negative options marketing.

You can try to cancel. You can try to get a refund. You can cry, threaten, and cajole. But if you follow the comments in the posts I linked above, you’ll see that the pimps selling this kind of junk make it very difficult, if not impossible, to meet their refund conditions. Don’t let bad behavior go unpunished.

Sweet Vengeance

Here’s one way you can hit those deceptive marketing bastards back. Thanks to alert reader Eugene for posting this:

I got the slam too. what a dirty little trick. I found the right place to let Google know about this evil use of their trademark.

Go here and report the trademark infringement:

http://www.google.com/support/websearch/bin/request.py?contact_type=g_trademark&ctx=contactpolicy

I’ve tried it and I got a huge amount of perverse satisfaction by reporting “Google Money Tree” to Google for trademark infringement. If you’ve been bitten, strike back by turning them in. Unfortunately, the link above will only help you report improper use of Google’s trademark. But hey, it’s a start.

Before You Write Us or Comment…

This is for that busybody who is all in a lather right now. You know who you are. Before you write to me and say something stupid and obvious like, “Hey, everyone should read the terms and conditions before signing up for stuff. It’s your own fault if you gut sucked in when you didn’t read what you were signing up for,” just shaddup, alright? Take your bad, self-righteous self out for a massage and a colon cleanse and come back when you’re not so uptight. I’m the only one who gets to lecture around here.

Now, I can’t leave it alone. I don’t know what’s changed but I’m slowly becoming addicted to Twitter. I don’t know why. I’m posting more frequently and I can’t stop reading other peoples updates. Twitter is still more or less useless, but I’m beginning to see the fun side of things.

Subscribe to our Twitter.

Are you in the dark about Twitter? Am I speaking French? Well, Twitter is a website that lets you stay connected with friends, family, or coworkers through quick and simple messages that all revolve around the question, “What are you doing?” It may sound a bit pointless, but it’s fun and keeps you in contact with others. If you don’t have a Twitter account, click here and sign up. It’s free and the signup process is quick and painless.

Now that you have a Twitter account, you need to follow our updates on Twitter. Why? Because I’ve decided to randomly give away free copies of our book to new subscribers. I’ve already given away three copies and I’m usually in a generous mood. Right now, I’ll be giving out books randomly, but I’ll be planning a better method of distributing books. Of course, I will tweet about it.

Click here to follow our Twitter account and enter to win a free book.

Idea for a new Twitter account? I’ve also been thinking about creating a Twitter account with links to various money saving deals around the web. Sort of like a Slickdeals/FatWallet meets Twitter. I’m also thinking there could be monthly Amazon gift certificate giveaways. I need to write this down on paper and work it out. Either way, would you be interested? Let me know!