website build scamming
- Source AARP bulletin December 2018
There's a lot of attractive smoke and mirrors out there on the internet. Don Simmons (pseudonym) age 66 ran a successful pool maintenance business in South Florida for over 20 years. Health problems left him looking for a new source of income
Two years ago he received an email from a company that could set him up in an internet business for $ 50. that would get him up and running with a killer site. The website was built as promised
As weeks turned into months, however, not a single person visited his website. But he got plenty of attention from telemarketers asking how his business was growing. He was deluged with pitches as to how to grow his site. He was mystified as to how they all knew he had a website and how he could be so easily found.
The answer is, scammers offer inexpensive web design kits to generate leads for themselves. He was bombarded with calls indicating he would never draw in business with such a low end site He was told there was too much competition . However for 3.000; 5,000 or 15,000 the site could be upgraded to generate lots of sales!
The site didn't even show up in Google. The company offered to fix that by adding more keywords to which he reluctantly agreed for a $1,000 fee.
It's a major gravy train.with the growth of independent contractors in what is called the new "gig economy" US e-commerce sales were $360 billion in 2016 and are expected to nearly double by 2021 to $638 billion. A lot of money is being made online, so people adopt that mindset. The only sale that was made was a $15.00 baseball cap to a friend.
Tips on how to avoid;
- Be wary of income claims - A promoter must disclose detailed proof when claiming you'll make a certain amount of $ in a given time.
- Look at disclosure documents- The offerer must detail thair cancellation and refund policies and share past legal issues.
- Research- enter the company name or it's principal players with terms like complaints or scams into your search engine to see what emerges. Also, contact the state attorney general's office
- Get expert help. Consult an attorney, accountant or other business adviser before you put any money down or sign any papers.
My advice- Hang on to Weaalthy Affiliate for dear life. You have all the knowledge and guidance right here. It is refreshed weekly and constantly archived.
Be wise in your choices. Let nothing get in your road of upward and onward!
Recent Comments
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Mike I am a Mike also David Micheal but I go by Mike except when online. I looked for something for nine years before I found WA I am glad I am with you and my new family here at WA. I have bought a bunch of junk programs myself but mostly I saw that what they were saying was not true and got my money back. This is including someone that started here at WA. There are a lot of people that don't care if you make money or not. I am glad to be here with you because this is for real. I have yet to make any money but I know if I keep with the training and keep posting I will. This is going on my fourth month could you look at my website to see if you have any suggestions. dmgdesignandmarketing.siterubix.com
Thanks Sruffey
We are a family I don't have any credits if you don't want to help me fine. Others do I will ask you anything again.
Sruffey
Good afternoon Donnie,
I agree with you but with friends, in a PM, one can swap links.
I have sometimes put a link to a WA post this particular person missed.
Having said this the WA system giving 2 comments and getting back functions very nicely.
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
Good afternoon Sruffey,
I know I am not Mike but I had a look at your website.
Here comes my feedback if you are interested.
The first impression is: Where are the colors, photos, statistics, images, videos etc. You only have text and that is boring. Mike has been writing posts with many colorful things making it easier for the layman to understand the concept.
I would suggest you bring some life to your website.
I hope this has helped some.
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
I know but my laptop will not let me do a lot of things, one of these things is download anything. I bought the laptop from a friend who they are well off and I thought it would be a better laptop. I was wrong and when I tried to erase their stuff off of the laptop, I screwed something up on the laptop, now I can't download anything to the laptop. I live on a little government check and haven't had the money to get someone to look at it. All right now is write posts, I know it needs some bells and whistles. By the way I have a degree in web and graphic design should have a Bachelor degree damn Algebra ii. I do have a associate degree and Adobe Creative Suite software Photoshop illustrator indesign dreamweaver but can't use it because I cannot download it onto my laptop. I know that it is plain and simple and just text. Thanks for the feedback, I guess I meant what do you think of my posts.
Thanks Sruffey
Good Morning Sruffey,
Well, with your skills you are more than prepared to make a beautiful website. I think there is no way around, you have to go to a computer shop to have the laptop completely cleaned of all the stuff of the previous owner, otherwise, it will not be a success. As far as I know, it will not cost the world.
With best wishes.
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
In three months I have had 300 visitors and one month I was using my dumb smart phone and it is real dumb lol. I live on $770a month and it is not easy. I am buying a car and insurance and rent, I am broke most of the. Month. I have to pay for my WA premium membership and my phone. I will get me another laptop or get this one cleaned out. I know how much this is hurting my site, but at least I am getting content on the site so when I do get where I can add a good looking logo and images and maybe some video I will have this site in good shape. Thanks for the support and encouragement.
Sruffey
Mike:
Thanks for the timely warning. With Internet sales growing as it is, many people are bound to see it as a magic bullet and will want to jump on the gravy train. Yours is certainly sound advice.
Hugo.-
Thanks for that Mike great post and awesome advice.
Hope many newbies read this as well to steer clear of the shiny object syndrome and realize just how great they have it here.
Andre
Mike,
Best advise I have heard this week and probably for the next 10 years :)
Thank you,
Susan
The instant rags too riches niche is probably one of the largest in the industry.
The promoters and copy writers rake it in, as usual it is the little guys that get squeezed.
When looking at creating that online presence, we need to do due diligence, and look for signs of integrity and longevity, in doing so, we can create our own legitimacy and sustainability.
We need look no further than wealthy Affiliate.
Thanks for sharing Mike.
Alex
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so many Mike- Great post and thanks for the heads up as always
Vicki