I saw another fake work at home for Google ad today on Facebook. This time it’s a fake newspaper called the Watertown Tribute News with an article about Mike Steadman the college dropout pushing the Easy Google Profit and Google Cash Secret Club methods of working from home for Google for “only $1.97 or something”. Click on any link on the news site and you go to a snazzy offer page at yoursearchprofits.com. Can you work a part time job with Google for only $1.97? Is Mike just a nice guy who made good and is now raking in $10,000 a month “posting links for Google”? No he is not, he’s a fictitious snake oil salesman for the modern age.
It’s funny how these affiliate advertisers keep recycling the same names and picture for these work from home do gooders over and over again. Mike Steadman looks VERY similar to Kevin Hoeffer, exactly the same as a matter of fact. And he must be brother to Mary Steadman’s from Mary’s Money Blog. Do they know something we don’t about affiliate marketing or are they just lazy? Is that guys face the key to increasing conversions? Is the name Steadman some magic password to getting customers to pony up their credit cards?
Why are Easy Google Profit and Google Cash Secret Clubs Scams?
In our opinion, these offers are scams becasue nowhere do they meet the FTC’s guidelines for what are called “negative option” offers. A negative option is one where you are offered goods or services at a reduced price and in return are signed up for recurring monthly charges. For more details on the FCC rules check out our article on The Easy Google Profit Scam
That’s right, it’s not $1.97, it’s something like $78.73 a month that you’ll be charged about 7 days after you give them your credit card, many people saying regardless of if you call to cancel. Check out the fine print:
I am ordering the Earn Google Cash™ CD and trial membership for $2.29 S&H, after the 7-day trial I will be charged $39.95 if I do not cancel. I also agree to the 14 day and 21 day bonus trials to Grant Master™ and Network Agenda™ for $7.95 a month and $9.95 a month thereafter, should I choose not to cancel.
Great! Now I’m signed up for three “trials” I didn’t want with monthly charges that I have to call three different numbers (that will never answer) to cancel. And what do you get in return? Very likely some stale information about using Google Adsense (a free program by the way) to earn money on your website by letting Google place text ads on your site.
I Was Taken By The Easy Google Profit Scam! What Do I Do?
- Don’t feel bad! Seems like thousands of people have been taken in by these sort of offers that trick you by not clearly disclosing you are signing up for monthly charges. You were tricked, it happens to the best of us.
- Call the number on the website IMMEDIATELY. Finding that number is up to you, they seem to keep changing. Have a witness listen when you call and/or record the conversation if possible. Unfortunately many people have complained that they can never get anyone to talk to when they call. You may want to skip this step and go right to #3.
- Call your credit card company and report the card stolen. They never clearly disclosed the charges you were signing up for and are going to start using your card for something you were not informed of. Treat it as if it was stolen.
- Monitor your credit accounts! Click here to sign up for Experian ID Protection monitoring. You just gave some shady characters your name, address, phone number, credit card and secret 3 digit card number. They tricked you once, you think they’ll stop at just the $82 they squeezed out of your card before you canceled? Experian is a large company, one of the Big Three credit reporting agencies. They clearly state that the ID Protection it’s truly free for a full 30 days, then only $9.95 a month if you don’t cancel in 30 days. I’d strongly suggest signing up for at least the free month to make sure no one tries to change your address or open a new card using the current cards details you gave away.
I Didn’t Get Taken, But What Can I Do To Help?
- Click Here to Share this on Facebook! Hit “Post to Profile” to warn your friends.
- Use the “Share This” links below to Digg or Twitter or Stumble or Reddit or Email or whatever service you use to share this so that other people might see it before they get scammed too!
- Email this story to your friends.
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George, it’s true, you can totally make money every month using Google Adsense or Adwords. One needs organic traffic and the other needs cold hard cash for advertising. However, you don’t need to pay anyone $70 a month to learn how. It’s free.
i know someone who makes 2 K a month through google ad… and he’s doing it part time…
I found an ad by Mike Steadman on a fake newspaper, Washington Reporter. Why doesn’t someone stop this guy?????
I nearly fell for it until I looked at the fine print! Who doesn’t want to work from home? Making money from home is not easy and we all have to do our due dilegence when it comes to protecting ourselves from these scams. If it says you can make a ton of money in a short period of time, then buyer beware. Nothing is THAT easy!
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