I have been reading alot of different stories from other people who have also been victimized by this scam. And I have learned that it can be even worse than what happend to me if you do not act immediately once you realize that you have been scammed.
The people running this scam will tell you that you "agreed" to the monthly charges even if you did not know about them. They will claim that what they are doing is legal because even though the monthly charges are hard to find unless you are looking for them, they can be found on the site with some effort. This is NOT true. You can not legally charge someone for anything that was not CLEARLY and PROMINENTLY disclosed before the purchase comittment was made.
Think of it this way...it would be like if you went into Wal-Mart and somewhere in the store (maybe up above the batteries in automotive) there was a little bitty sign with tiny letters that said..."By purchasing anything from any dept. in this store you are also agreeing to be billed $79.90 a month for the rest of your life for the honor of being one of our customers." And then when you challenged it you would be told that "well we disclosed those terms to you on a sign that was clearly posted in the store". Sounds ridiculous doesn't it? Well what these people are doing is the exact same thing and you do NOT have to put up with it or accept it.
Not only can you get your money back that has been stolen already but you need to move to protect yourself from them stealing any more of your money. Some people have made the mistake of accepting the scammers story about this being legal and then simply cancelling their membership to avoid further charges.
By doing this you are basically going up to the criminal who just stole your money and asking him nicely to please not steal any more of your money. If you let them get away with it the first time, don't believe for a second that they will not hit you again. Remember that your credit and or debit card number is now in the hands of a criminal who just stole your money.
If you have been hit by this scam...Read the steps below and if you have not already taken these steps to protect yourself...do so immediately.
Step 1:
If you paid using a Debit Card...go down to your bank and explain to them what has happened and tell them that you did not authorize these charges. Tell them that you want the charges reversed and you want your debit card canceled and a new one issued.
If you paid using a Credit Card...call your credit card company and tell them that you want the charges reversed because you did not authorize them and you want your credit card canceled and a new one to be issued.
This will prevent any further charges being made to your credit and or debit card.
Step 2:
File a formal complaint with your state's Attorney General's office. In many states this can be done online from your state's website.
Step 3:
Contact the hosting company where the site is being hosted and tell them what happened and demand that they shut down the web site immediately.
Even if you have not fallen victum to this scam, if you come across any of these wesite's, please contact the hosting company where it is being hosted and demand that the site be shut down.
I will be working on compiling a list of these sites with the contact email for there hosting companies and post it to this blog to make it easy for everyone who would like to help fight this repulsive scam. Follow or subscribe to this blog and check back for updates. Believe me, I'm just getting started...:)
Step 4:
Contact everyone you know and give them the URL to this blog so that they will not be the next victim of this scam.
If I can get enough people who have been victimized by this scam I will look into organizing a class action lawsuit and post that information to this blog so be sure to subscribe to this blog if you would be interested in participating in that so you will be notified when I have that information available.
The reason that this scam is so rampid on the internet is because it is going unchalleged. If enough people band together, we can make a difference.
The people running this scam will tell you that you "agreed" to the monthly charges even if you did not know about them. They will claim that what they are doing is legal because even though the monthly charges are hard to find unless you are looking for them, they can be found on the site with some effort. This is NOT true. You can not legally charge someone for anything that was not CLEARLY and PROMINENTLY disclosed before the purchase comittment was made.
Think of it this way...it would be like if you went into Wal-Mart and somewhere in the store (maybe up above the batteries in automotive) there was a little bitty sign with tiny letters that said..."By purchasing anything from any dept. in this store you are also agreeing to be billed $79.90 a month for the rest of your life for the honor of being one of our customers." And then when you challenged it you would be told that "well we disclosed those terms to you on a sign that was clearly posted in the store". Sounds ridiculous doesn't it? Well what these people are doing is the exact same thing and you do NOT have to put up with it or accept it.
Not only can you get your money back that has been stolen already but you need to move to protect yourself from them stealing any more of your money. Some people have made the mistake of accepting the scammers story about this being legal and then simply cancelling their membership to avoid further charges.
By doing this you are basically going up to the criminal who just stole your money and asking him nicely to please not steal any more of your money. If you let them get away with it the first time, don't believe for a second that they will not hit you again. Remember that your credit and or debit card number is now in the hands of a criminal who just stole your money.
If you have been hit by this scam...Read the steps below and if you have not already taken these steps to protect yourself...do so immediately.
Step 1:
If you paid using a Debit Card...go down to your bank and explain to them what has happened and tell them that you did not authorize these charges. Tell them that you want the charges reversed and you want your debit card canceled and a new one issued.
If you paid using a Credit Card...call your credit card company and tell them that you want the charges reversed because you did not authorize them and you want your credit card canceled and a new one to be issued.
This will prevent any further charges being made to your credit and or debit card.
Step 2:
File a formal complaint with your state's Attorney General's office. In many states this can be done online from your state's website.
Step 3:
Contact the hosting company where the site is being hosted and tell them what happened and demand that they shut down the web site immediately.
Even if you have not fallen victum to this scam, if you come across any of these wesite's, please contact the hosting company where it is being hosted and demand that the site be shut down.
I will be working on compiling a list of these sites with the contact email for there hosting companies and post it to this blog to make it easy for everyone who would like to help fight this repulsive scam. Follow or subscribe to this blog and check back for updates. Believe me, I'm just getting started...:)
Step 4:
Contact everyone you know and give them the URL to this blog so that they will not be the next victim of this scam.
If I can get enough people who have been victimized by this scam I will look into organizing a class action lawsuit and post that information to this blog so be sure to subscribe to this blog if you would be interested in participating in that so you will be notified when I have that information available.
The reason that this scam is so rampid on the internet is because it is going unchalleged. If enough people band together, we can make a difference.
Related Articles:
CONSUMER ALERT - Google BizKit
SCAM WARNING! - Google Bizkit
UPDATE - Google Bizkit
This information is extremely helpful, I only wish I found it before I too fell victim to this nonsense. Just like this blog mentioned, I thought $1.95 was worth it to check out this site. Within minutes I realized it was useless and used the customer service contact email address that was listed where I signed up for the $1.95 Free Trial to immediately contact them to cancel any service or subscription associated with this purchase. I received an email confirming my cancellation. I just received my credit card statement and was also charged $69.90 but another company. After over an hour of explaining and arguing, the GoogleBizKit people wanted me to fax the email that they believe I never sent or received to cancel to them along with my credit card statement. RIDICULOUS... they talked in circles, contradicted themselves, and want me to contact the original company where I did agree to be billed $1.95 to issue me a credit for $69.90. (They are listed as two different names on your credit card statement). I believe a class action suit is necessay. These people are criminals.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree about the class action suit. What needs to happen for that is we need to get as many people that have been victimized by this scam together on this blog so that I can have some hard numbers to take to a law firm.
ReplyDeleteThank you Richard. I thought I would do a little research before I fell for this scam. I am glad you were honest enough to post what happened to you.
ReplyDeleteWhen someone commits a crimial act using the mail this constitutes mail fraud which is a federal offence. I would be curious to know if having fraudlant charges appear on your credit card statement, delivered by mail, might in fact qualify as mail fraud. If this is the case then the US Postmaster General could investigate. Postal inspectors have very broad powers and federal laws are not limited by state juristictions.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks Richard. Being a retired IT worker who is seeking extra income, I thought this would be a way. Your post here has confirmed my original suspicion, another scam. Fortunately, when I filled out the page asking for the pertinent information, my browser wouldn't allow me to send it. A blessing in disguise which helped me find your post. I will be looking for anycharges on my CC for any amount that looks suspicious. I will also be contacting my CC company with an alert.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your reseach and your post. We are all in depressed time and making money from something I enjoy (the Internet) sure sounded good.
I wish I had read your story before I ordered a Kit. I cancelled during the 7 day trial period and my account was still debited for $79.90. In debiting my account, I had 3 transactions that bounce, for a total of $105.00. I'm out a grand total of $191.85. I contacted the company several times, only to get no satisfaction and hung up on. I was promised a supervisor would call me within an hour, after they decide what to do about the situation. No one called. When I called back I was told that someone would call me tomorrow. Well, I'm not holding my breath for that. I am on board with you for a class action lawsuit. Thanks for the steps to follow concerning this matter.
ReplyDeleteEric,
ReplyDeleteI am along for the class action suit as well. I was hit on this and I began to do my calls in order to recieve my refunds due to the fact that I never recieved anything from these companies and I do mean companies. So I am going to kill my credit card and get a new one. I have fought for this country twice and been shot at everyday for 22 months only to come back and be scamed...thanks for your information
Thank you for your post but me name is not Eric...:)
ReplyDeleteFound the same scam on page masquerading as a news website:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.net-news-daily.com/3/?s=VC_Pop14n
Domain info:
Domain Privacy Group Inc.
c/o net-news-daily.com
7030 Woodbine Ave. Suite 800
Markham ON L3R 6G2
CA
Domain name: net-news-daily.com
Administrative Contact:
Domain Privacy Group Inc. privacy-526706@domainprivacygroup.com
The domainprivacygroup.com in turn is advertising itself this way:
"With a Domain Privacy Group private domain you can:
* Reduce domain-related spam
* Protect yourself against identity theft
and fraud
* Fly under the radar of harassers,
stalkers and data miners
* Keep your side projects anonymous
* Maintain the privacy of you and your family"
A nice place to hide...
Hey Rico, Jus found 38.77 on my c c.So I typed in ClickSellGo & got 2 alota complaints then to this page.I want to THANK YOU 4 tellin me what I need to do.My c c compmany told me if I had a dispute to wait till I got my statement & fill out the back of it.Well $#%@ by the time it gets back itll have another 38.77 on it.I think I need to have another talk w/ my c c company.Jus 2 make it official ill call Clicksellgo & cancel.Plus i want to find out just what co.they got my c c info from cause i absolutely refuse to buy into Adsense,Adwords,PPC or any of that stuff when all i gotta do is look at the top of any google page to find what works.Im a newbi but i now that much.And yeah i like the way they write out the (Prices)numbers so we dont catch it as easy.Plus man u gotta be an attourny to understand all that crap.I gotta keep taking breaks cause keep falling asleep but i do read every word of the terms.Anyway Thanks Rico Your A Pal.
ReplyDeleteHi Richard,Clicksellgo said i had 2 have ordered google kit or google revolution or orderd something over the Phone.Wrong-False to all of the above.They said it would b back in my acc in 5-7 days & No there would not be any other charges so we'll C. My c c Co. said i could cancel my card & get a new 1 Free but ofcourse i would have 2 update card info w/ my other companies.Hassle-but will if i have 2.I'll wait it out. I went through that w/ my bank card-had to cancel card(twice)& update info.Bank warned me too many charge backs would cause me to loose my acc with them & could never get another & would have trouble getting 1 at any other bank cause it goes on my permanent Banking Record.Just thot i'd throw that in there to let folks know what thier in for.Thanks Again Richard.May Karma come your way & return the Favor someday soon.You can find me on twitter(Ran1959)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info. I had this happen to me today and do not know who these people are. I didn't order anything on the 11/05/2009.Who are these people anyway. The bank said I can't contest the payment until it actually post right now it is pending. Thanks for the info. sure hope it works.
ReplyDeleteWARNING****
ReplyDeleteThis is what I found in my email: "Working Online-The Next Gold Rush?" The web address is
http://wallstreetnews9.com/as.htm?t202id=11931&t202kw=bizaTV113
It was posted in RSS feed 2.0 under Finance.
Did some research and learned it to be BOGUS.
I too fell victim, only they charged 99.00 to my debit card! Get the lawsuit going, im definitely on board!!
ReplyDeleteHate to say it, but I was scammed too...$1.95 then later they put a $99 charge. Thank you for the help as I will do what you said - CROOKS. I called and got nowhere. Can't believe I fell for such nonsense!
ReplyDeleteYes, count me in, I too fell for it. I have now been charged not once but three times. Going to my bank tomorrow. Have already filed complaints everywhere I can think of. Thank you, wish I had read some of this first. It has been an expensive lesson in the ways of the wicked.
ReplyDeleteI was scammed also. I have followed Richards suggestions and am in the process of having my bank get back the monthly charge of $73.18. When I contacted the co and tried to resolve it over the phone, I got nowhere. I wasn't able to speak with a supervisor ("she will tell you the same thing I have told you") although I requested that many times and now yesterday I received a phone message from "Jeremy with Google." He said "I was asked to follow up with you concerning some materials we sent to you. My phone # is 888-222-1143. I do need to speak to you about your account." I did not call them back. This happened a day after I closed my account with them, canceled my credit/debit card, and began paperwork with my bank to get refunded $73.18 which they pilfered out of my account. Stay tuned. I am very interested in class action lawsuit to shut these guys down.
ReplyDeleteHI MR.RESSIER...THE INFORMATION I HAVE ACQUIRED WITH YOUR BLOG SO FAR CLEARS ALL OF MY HUSBANDS QUESTIONS AS OF FROM WHERE WERE RECEIVING THESE ODD CHARGES...YES!..WE JUST FOUND OUT THAT WE ARE VICTIMS OF THIS CRIMINAL ACT TOO. VERY GLADY WE WILL SUPPORT LEGAL ACTION IF WE HAVE TO.
ReplyDeleteMY HUSBAND IS NOT FIGHTING 4 THIS COUNTRY 2 LET CRIMINALS LIKE THESE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE A DECENT AND HONEST WAY OF LIVING.
I WILL BE SUBSCRIBING AND KEEPING UP ON YOUR UPDATES..THANK U AND "GOD BLESS THE HONEST AMERICA"
Hi Everyone! I too have been scammed by this. I fell towards ordering this online for the 1.97 charge and a 0.06 International Charge back on Sept 15, 2009. I immediately called the number billed and reached no one. I then called a number I found online - 866-995-9812 - and told them to cancel these services as I immediately figured out this was a scam. That was on 9/24/09. Then on 1/4/10, I called to get my account balance and was told I was -478.00 in my acct and could never figure out why even after speaking with the supervisor for Cust Service at my bank. Thinking some error was made on my part (I am very anal when it comes to my account and have nver had an overdraft before in my life), I scrambled to get the money in the bank to avoid addtl overdraft charges. On 1/27/10, I called again to check my bal and learned I was being charged 47.50 by TQG BizKit and 1.43 international charges without my knowledge but was able to stop the charges. Upon further investigation, my bank realized on 11/30 I was also charged 99.00 without my knowledge by the same company thus creating the ripple effect which caused me to incur the 478.00 in overdraft fees on my account. I have now cancelled my debit card and my bank is working towards putting this as fraud on the acct. Hopefully I will be able to get back all the overdraft fees plus the 99.00, 47.50 and 1.43 charges which were charged to my account all without my consent. I tried to call the numbers my bank had for TQG BizKit which were 877-435-1027 (this is a Ford Dealership in St Louis, MO) and 877-435-6156 (this goes to an answering service which request for you to hold for the ext you are calling and then states the mailbox is full and disconnects.)This morning to be safe, I called my bank again and learned TQG BizKit successfully charged my acct last night for the 47.50 and 1.43. I still had no idea where the charges were coming from. After trying to research the business, I learned it was all linked to Google Profits which as I stated before was stopped on 9/24/09. I called the number I had found on the internet for them again - 866-995-9812 - and spoke to some lady named Joy who stated she could see I cancelled this back on 9/24/09, and would issue the credit back for the charges of 99.00 and 47.50, of course not back for the overdrafts fees that were received because they charged my account without my consent. I am not holding my breath. I can't believe I was dumb enough to fall for this and I am now out of pocket over 500 dollars hoping my bank will see this was fraud and will give me back the money I lost. I will gladly join a clss action lawsuit as this company needs to be stopped!!!! Just let me know what I need to do!!!
ReplyDeleteWow, Clearly I am not the only one this happened to. If there is any legal action taken. I am in too. Luckily I just happened to catch the $99.99 charge and just minutes ago cancelled my Debit card and contacted my bank. Thanks for the post and all the comments.
ReplyDeleteI too, have beem scammed. They charged me twice so far, $47.50 each time. The second time it was after I closed the account. For a month now they say they have issued a credit to my bank account. Each time they say wait five days. How many times do I have to wait five days until it is posted back?
ReplyDeleteThey will NEVER post it back. How can I make this any clearer than I already have. THEY ARE CROOKS and what they are doing is a SCAM for one purpose and one purpose ONLY...and that is to STEAL your money.
ReplyDeleteThe only way to get the stolen money back and prevent them from stealing any more money from you is to report the scam to your bank and have them do the charge back and issue you a new card.