FTC Shark Bait? How do People Still Get Away With This?

by Flierboy

Posted: 14 years ago 17 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

I clicked on a Google News link, and got this pop under:

Daily News & Events

It's an MMO opportunity not so cleverly disguised as a real factual newspaper report.

Where do I begin? Misrepresentation? False advertising?...

I thought crap like this had been brought to a halt, and only some bottom feeders must be idiots enough to do this.

Then I noticed the Alexa ranking of this respected NY Guardian "newspaper" : 13,827!

Wow, obviously well funded and organized operation driving several tens of thousands of visitors daily.

And getting them from supposedly clean and safe sources like Google News.

Please oh please somebody already clean the gutter of this filth and slime and make the Net clean again.

Crap like this burns for me for a couple of reasons.

First, the lives of vulnerable gullibles it destroys under this mask of respectability (Wow, a real newspaper report on MMO, must be legit!).

Second, the bad name it gives to all of us in the community who work on creating long term value for our markets.

Down with the scammers, I say

. Is there a simple, not too consuming way for us to report junk like this to FTC or other authorities?

Apologies for the rant. Thanks for reading

#bait #ftc #people #shark

Dennis Gaskill 14 years ago

In less time than it took you to write that, you could have went to the Federal Trade Commission site and watched a video on their front page telling you how to file a complaint.
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InternetMarketingIQ 14 years ago

The rules only apply to the other guy.

There are a whole lot of unethical people on this planet.

Do you think companies like Google are truly ethical? Who are you going to report these people to and what are they going to do about it?

I'm with you... these people suc&, but there is so little you can really do.

Don't make yourself unhappy.

And if people were not so stupid these types of tricks and scams would die because they wouldn't work.
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kindsvater 14 years ago

I point out a lot of illegal crap, but this looks legal ....

It discloses, right at the top:

"*This publication is an advertisement for Home Income Profit System"

Seems to me this is a merely an online version of an advertorial. Print advertorials have a long history and, as successful marketers like Dan Kennedy note, often very effective.

Check your local newspaper this week. You'll probably see at least one advertorial.

Unless the content of the advertorial is false, such as false testimonials or income claims, instead of ranting about this you may want to see how you could apply such a proven advertising technique to your marketing arsenal.

.
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- Midas3 Consulting 14 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by kindsvater
  
  Check your local newspaper this week. You'll probably see at least one advertorial.
  
  .
  
  Indeed.
  
  Pick up a copy of any bodybuilding magazine, the line has become so crossed between editorial and advertorial, the only telling sign is tiny 6pt verbiage top right (usually in a light grey colour) saying it's an advertorial.
  
  Even then I'm not sure half the audience reading it would know it wasn't the magazine suggesting how marvelous the products are.
  
  This is widespread in traditional media, but of course slap it up online and it's evil incarnate.
  
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Russell_

14 years ago

The FTC rules only apply to a very small amount of the internet too. Anyone overseas can still do what they want for the most part.

Its one of those things that you just have to laugh at, and then get back to work. Hard work will usually pay off better than the scamming and spamming, or at least maybe youll go to bed at nigh knowing your doing things the right way.

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kindsvater

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Russell_

The FTC rules only apply to a very small amount of the internet too. Anyone overseas can still do what they want for the most part.

Not exactly. If anything, the opposite is true.

Since people worldwide can sell to US citizens, US law can apply to those transactions. The FTC regularly sues companies with no connection to the US other than they sold products via the Internet to US citizens.

.

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Dennis Gaskill

14 years ago

Originally Posted by kindsvater

I also remember reading many other nations have adopted our FTC rules, or a variation of them.

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TCrosby 14 years ago

This crap has paid ads on the likes of comcast, yahoo, espn... major sites. It's driving me nuts
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seasoned

14 years ago

Originally Posted by kindsvater

AND some foreign governments SUPPORT the US and its laws AND some laws have similar ones abroad!

I am the FIRST to say I HATE the courts! I HATE most of the laws! I HATE lawsuits! No offense but, at least for the most part, I HATE lawyers, though YOU sound like a nnice guy.

People fight about the "HCP", but I can tell you about how I have spent well over $5000 on just ONE STUPID thing because of 3 STUPID laws from the FDA! The FDA should probably be SCRAPPED and redone. HECK, I had to drive HUNDREDS of miles, and pay $300 to learn what I already knew. Diabetics have to know the SAME things, but THEY don't have to drive to other states, take the course, or pay over $2000 for the device that works in a similar fashion.

*****BUT*****, the FTC is actually an example of some of the BEST enforcement. They have TONS of laws almost nobody on this site seems to know about. Still, they may have saved EACH person here thousands of dollars!

I find it hard to believe that other countries don't have similar agencies. Australia, Canada, and the EU have an agency that is a lot like the FDA here and, in some cases, they are MORE restrictive. I just read an ebook from a guy in australia that tried to buy a rather harmless thing that has been sold in the US for DECADES, but is illegal in Australia. He EVEN specified it was ONLY for his use. He never got his order, He got a sternly written notice, from customs, telling him that he was in violation of that law, and the substance was illegal! And companies, like bodybuilding.com, have to restrict sales of some items to other countries!

Steve

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Black Hat Cat Banned 14 years ago

Originally Posted by Flierboy

I thought crap like this had been brought to a halt, and only some bottom feeders must be idiots enough to do this.

Hmmmm.....interesting....why did you think this? Are laws against murder the reason murder has been brought to a halt?

Oh, wait.
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John Atkins 14 years ago

FTC Shark Bait? How do People Still Get Away With This?

Same way some people steal & get away with it
Same way some people kill & get away with it
Same way some people sell drugs & get away with it

Rules & laws don't stop the bad acts from happening.
They reduce them but they can never stop them. Nothing
can.
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- DaveManTheCaveMan Banned 14 years ago
  
  They seem compliant..
  
  This is from the bottom of the page
  
  "This publication provides the Author's opinions and neither the Publisher nor the author intends to render legal, accounting, financial, business or other professional advice with this publication. With regards to licensing of a business enterprise, any legal accounting or tax matters. Author and publisher is an Affiliate of the company offering the business opportunity and are remunerated by advertiser. Author and publisher strongly suggest that the reader seek the services of appropriate licensed business, financial and or legal professionals before proceeding with any actions and comply with the local, state and federal licensing and guideline requirements which the reader resides or conducts business.
  
  Google is in no way associated with this website. The Publisher and Author disclaim any personal liability, loss or risk incurred as a consequence of the use and application of the offer, either directly or indirectly, of any advice, information, or methods presented in this publication. Individual comments are unedited and not the opinion of Author or Publisher and not liable for their comments and opinions.
  
  EARNINGS & INCOME DISCLAIMERS
  
  Any earnings or income statements, or earnings or income examples, are only estimates of what we think you could earn. There is no assurance you'll do as well. If you rely upon our figures, you must accept the risk of not doing as well. Where specific income figures are used, and attributed to an individual or business, those persons or businesses have earned that amount. There is no assurance you'll do as well. If you rely upon our figures; you must accept the risk of not doing as well. Any and all claims or representations, as to income earnings on this web site, are not to be considered as average earnings. Testimonials are not representative. There can be no assurance that any prior successes, or past results, as to income earnings, can be used as an indication of your future success or results.
  
  Monetary and income results are based on many factors. We have no way of knowing how well you will do, as we do not know you, your background, your work ethic, or your business skills or practices. Therefore we do not guarantee or imply that you will win any incentives or prizes that may be offered, get rich, that you will do as well, or make any money at all. There is no assurance you'll do as well. If you rely upon our figures; you must accept the risk of not doing as well.
  
  Internet businesses and earnings derived there from, have unknown risks involved, and are not suitable for everyone. Making decisions based on any information presented in our products, services, or web site, should be done only with the knowledge that you could experience significant losses, or make no money at all. Only risk capital should be used.
  
  All products and services by our company are for educational and informational purposes only. Use caution and seek the advice of qualified professionals. Check with your accountant, lawyer or professional advisor, before acting on this or any information.
  
  Users of our products, services and web site are advised to do their own due diligence when it comes to making business decisions and all information, products, and services that have been provided should be independently verified by your own qualified professionals. Our information, products, and services on this web site should be carefully considered and evaluated, before reaching a business decision, on whether to rely on them. All disclosures and disclaimers made herein or on our site, apply equally to any offers, prizes, or incentives, that may be made by our company.
  
  Author and publisher is an Affiliate of the company offering the business opportunity and are remunerated by advertiser. The Publisher and Author disclaim any personal liability, loss or risk incurred as a consequence of the use and application of the offer, either directly or indirectly, of any advice, information, or methods presented in this publication. Individual comments are unedited and not the opinion of Author or Publisher and not liable for their comments and opinions. Author or Publisher is not associated with Google Inc.
  
  *INCOME CLAIM WARNING: Testimonials do not depict typical results. Photographs or images are depiction of individuals and payment methods. These income examples are representative of some of the most successful participants in the program. Some individuals purchasing the program may make little or NO MONEY AT ALL. These claims are not a guarantee of your income, nor are they typical of average participants. Individual results will vary greatly and in accordance to your input, determination, hard work, and ability to follow directions. No person or company can guarantee profits or freedom from loss. By using this website you are agreeing to our Earnings and Income Disclaimers, Privacy Policy, and Terms and Conditions.
  
  You agree that our company is not responsible for the success or failure of your business decisions relating to any information presented by our company, or our company products or services.
  
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redrabbit 14 years ago

Hey I'm Eric and I'm new to this forum.

Simply file a complaint.
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Midas3 Consulting 14 years ago

Originally Posted by Flierboy

only some bottom feeders must be idiots enough to do this.

Idiotic bottom feeding millionaires.

There's nothing idiotic about it,they convert very strongly.

In fact some of the smaller CPA companies use those LP's for their own internal divisions.

Less hassle than the "lauras blog" crap .

You're entitled to your opinion as to the morals of those running the LP but rest assured they don't fall into the idiot category.
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JayXtreme 14 years ago

The page in question isn't breaking any laws.....

All you really are doing here, is giving a perfectly legal site, some extra strong backlink juice from the WF, and an extra bit of publicity...

I bet the owner is lovin' it. It ain't my kinda site, but I bet it works fantastically well, and is legal.

Go ahead, file a complaint...

Peace

Jay
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LB 14 years ago

These types of ads are in just about every print magazine on the rack and have been for years.

Are you just now upset because the government told you what to think?
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FTC Shark Bait? How do People Still Get Away With This?

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