Work at Home Reviews

The release of the Google Home Income Kit signifies one thing and that’s that new laws and regulations will do little to deter misleading and fraudulent business practices.  These so called Google kits have been plaguing the internet for over a year now and it’s clear that they’re not slowing down.

Several months ago the FTC issued new guidelines for the internet marketing industry yet their affect seems minuscule.  It does seem that proponents of these Google Kits are more careful these days, in the past they made outrageous claims like, “Make $500 – $1,000 a Day Posting links on Google.”

Now their subdued pitch simply reads, “You Could Make a Lot of Money Working With Google,” sadly this seems to be the only evidence of increased legal compliance.

You See There are 2 Major Problems with How Google Home Income kit is Marketed…

First off, more likely than not you came across it through a misleading “newspaper” article, basically an ad that is made to look like an online newspaper featuring a story about a successful work at home Mom/Dad who’ve been using Google Home Income to make a fortune.

These fake sites use a host of tricks to make their cheap site look completely legitimate.  They add weather reports, fake comments, advertisements, and most deceptively an IP reading script that customizes the newspaper based on your location.

Here’s an example of one of these fake sites…

The article is very misleading and does not explain with any accuracy what you’re really buying into.  When you sign up for these kits you’ll get access to a website that features internet marketing information, specifically showing you how to use Google AdWords to sell products for a commission.

They never tell you that you need to have money to invest as Google’s ad system operates on a pay per click basis, and they don’t tell you that you can easily lose money with this system.

The second problem with Google Home Income is in their billing process.  They advertise the kit for 1 dollar, but if you read the fine print you’ll see that it actually costs much more than that.

By submitting this form you are ordering Creative Synergy Training and the trial membership for $1.00 Instant Access. If you do not cancel within the 3-day trial period, you will be charged a one-time amount of $129.95. In addition, you will be provided access to an online Learning Center which will bill at $39.98, unless you cancel, 30-days from the date of enrollment and you will be re-billed every 30 days at $39.98 per month until cancelled. To cancel call 877-557-5473 M-F, 7am-5pm, MST within 3 days of the date you ordered. As special bonus gifts, you will also receive a Risk Free 14-day Trial membership to Home Source. You may cancel anytime during the trial period by calling 1-800-537-0984 M-F, 8am-5pm, MDT. If membership is continued you will automatically be charged $29.95 a month.

There’s nothing wrong with having a program that charges a monthly fee for its continual use but as you can see here, Google Home Income is simply out to rob their customers.  If they really were sincere about offering a trial of their product they would allow you more than 3 days to do so.  They also wouldn’t sign you up for all the additional monthly programs that you need to cancel.

If you ordered Google Home Income, without reading their terms and conditions, you can cancel buy calling the phone numbers above.  Remember to call both numbers and cancel each program separately to avoid any extra charges.

So is Google Home Income a Scam?

I think it’s pretty clear that these are not people you want to do business with.  I can’t think of any legitimate company on or offline that I’ve ever done business with that uses this type of misleading billing practice.

It’s clear that the way they make their money is by running up the bill on people who, in their desperate need for money and work, failed to read the fine print.  I’d recommend staying far away from Google Home Income as they’ll leave you with nothing but a headache and an empty wallet.

In the latest work from home trend, marketing companies are focusing on selling the dream of Google work from home opportunities.  There are hundreds of these websites claiming that if you sign up for their kit they’ll show you how to make $200 – $600 a day posting links on Google.

The most egregious of these offenders go out of their way to make you believe that you’ll be working directly for Google Inc.  They post pictures of Google headquarters in CA and will even use buzzwords like “hiring,” “employment,” and “work at home jobs.”

What’s even worse is how low they’ve stooped to market these Google work from home kits.  The most common method is to use a fake online newspaper.  They create a website that mimics the home page of popular online news portals; they even include minute details like a weather forecast.

These fake newspapers feature one article with a variation of one of the following headlines:

How a Stay At Home Mom Makes $7359/ Month on Google

Is Working Online At Home The Next Gold Rush?

Breaking News: Google Hiring Americans to Work from Home

These articles profile a successful work at home Mom or Dad who are using one of these kits to not only survive these hard times, but make a killing working from home.  At the bottom of the article there’s a procession of comments, which are also fake, followed by pictures of checks and more links to purchase a start-up kit.
Here are some examples of what these sites look like…

Google Work at Home Kits the Biggest Scams to Date?

Aside from the deception used to get you to click through to one of these kits, the worst part is still to come.  These kits are practically given away for nominal shipping and handling fees of around 2 bucks; however you need to read the terms and conditions to get the full story.

What you are really signing up for is a trial period of the product; depending on which kit you purchase you have between 3 – 7 days to cancel.  If you fail to do so, they will begin to charge you a high monthly fee for the continual use of the product.  To make matters worse, often times they take the liberty of signing you up for additional trials for products you never even heard off, much less requested.

This is completely unethical and these Google work from home opportunities have fleeced customers for hundreds of thousands of dollars.  Since these billing stipulations are hidden in the fine print most people fail to see them until it’s far too late.

If you already fell for one of these scams there are several things you can do:

1) If you still have the link to the original offer, follow it and read the Terms and Conditions page to get a cancellation number.  What makes this difficult is that these kits are hosted on complicated domains like “https://secure3.on1inetrack.com/goph/?offer=go_qg…”

Almost no one remembers them and to further complicate matters these sites are always changing names and numbers.

Here’s a list of some of the more popular ones at the time of writing this article:

2) The easier option is to call your bank or credit card and report these fraudulent charges.  In most cases your credit card company will have a phone number for you to call and cancel the monthly charges.  Still, this doesn’t always work and in many cases people have resorted to reporting their cards stolen and are not taking responsibility for the purchase.

It’s pretty clear that you should stay away from any offers that resemble anything mentioned in this article.  The information in these Google work from home scams is outdated and definitely not worth the monthly fees.

Kevin Hoeffer is a name synonymous with internet spam; his site KevinsMoneyTree.org has been advertised on almost every popular outlet on the net.  His “make money from Google” ad has plagued Facebook, MySpace, News sites, and countless others leading him to internet infamy.

I first heard about Kevin Hoeffer and his “blog” almost a year ago and assumed that by now he’d faded away, but it appears that he’s back in full force.  When fake blogs first started being used, there were thousands of them; they were exactly the same down to the fake Google checks and bogus story.

Originally these blogs were used to market the Google Money Tree home business kit. This lasted up until several months ago when the FTC filed suit for a number of infractions.  Undeterred, other companies quickly stepped in to fill the place of Google Money Tree and this marketing juggernaut only grew bigger.

The problem is that these sites are too effective at convincing people to sign up for scams so marketers didn’t want to stop using them.  This led to a phenomenon known as “Flogs,” fake blogs that are used to sell bad products.

KevinsMoneyTree.org is a fine example of this marketing tool.  There’s nothing real about the site, from the fabricated persona of Kevin Hoeffer to the checks, the comments, the misrepresented corporate logos, and all the pictures.

However, what really makes this a scam and what’s led to the FTC crackdown is the actual kit that the owners of KevinsMoneyTree.org are selling.

Why the Google Cash Kits are the Biggest Scams of 2009

After reading the hype on Kevin Hoeffer’s site you’re directed to a one page site that looks something like this,

It’s difficult to nail down a name and company for each of these because due to the FTC involvement they’ve turned to fly-by-night marketing.  This means they’re always changing URLS and names for the kits and by the time one is exposed they’ve already moved on.  So while a site like KevinsMoneyTree.org may stick around the current kit that they’re marketing is always changing its appearance.

The main problem is that the entire opportunity is misrepresented.  Google is not hiring anyone and there’s no position where you get paid a wage for posting links on Google.  What they’re referring to is using Google’s search engine advertising platform to market affiliate offers.

This is a legal and recognized way of making money, however you’re still not getting paid for posting links.  The only way you make money is if someone clicks your ad and purchases the product you’re an affiliate for, earning you a small commission.

Nowhere does Kevin Hoeffer say that you’ll need an advertising budget and that you’ll be working on a commission basis; the only thing you hear about is making 5k a month posting links.

Here’s Where It Gets Worse…

What made these Google Kits such notorious scams is not just the substandard info they market but their horribly deceptive billing policies.  On Kevin Hoeffer’s site he says you can get started for $1.95 in shipping and handling fees.

However, what you aren’t being told is that after a short trial period you’ll be charged an outrageously high monthly fee.  This info is hidden in their terms and conditions…

Following your risk-free 3-day trial to MyMoneyPlan, you’ll be charged the monthly subscription fee of $59.84. You’ll have 3 days from your initial sign-up date to access and use the system. You’ll also receive 10 days free access to Search Profit System. After the initial 10 free days, you will be billed $29.71 should you choose not to cancel. After your initial risk-free trials, your subscription will automatically renew approximately every 30 days from the date you signed up. You can cancel any time after the risk-free trial period, in which case you won’t be refunded that month’s subscription charge, but you will have member access through the end of the month, and you will not be billed again. For questions or to cancel you may call 1-888-673-3212 Mon-Sat, 7am-7pm, PST.

As you can see not only do they charge you for the kit but they also sign you up for additional bogus programs that you never even requested.  This is precisely what’s landed these companies on FTC watch lists and has forced them to constantly change their image.

So is Kevin Hoeffer and KevinsMoneyTree.org a Scam…?

The answer is a resounding yes; his site alone has been responsible for taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from innocent people.  Many folks never think to check the Terms and Conditions and only find out about the hidden charges after they get their credit card bill or are hit with overdraft fees.

The point is that the websites are misleading and the information is not worth the high monthly fee.  Additionally, many people complain about trouble getting support, difficulties reaching someone to get their refund or to cancel, and even getting charged without ever receiving the kit.

It’s pretty clear that if you want to avoid a massive headache and unauthorized charges you need to stay away from Kevin Hoeffer and any site that looks similar to his.  In case you missed it, here’s the number to cancel 1-888-673-3212.

It looks like the owners of TheInternetProfitHouse.com haven’t been paying to attention to the new FTC regulations. A quick look at their website reveals many violations of new and old guidelines put forth by the Federal Trade Commission, not mention a whole host of other shady practices.

These one page Google Kit type websites have been plaguing the Internet for close to a year now. They’ve made use of the latest tools in online deception, including billing fraud, and despite prevalent legal threats are showing no signs of slowing down.

I found out about The Internet Profit House by visiting a site called internet-news-daily.com, which featured an article on Mary Steadman and her success working from home with Google. The article described how all Mary does is post links on Google which earn her $25 per link.

The article closes with a link to TheInternetProfitHouse.com claiming that you can get started for just one buck in shipping and handling fees. This feel good story has been responsible for convincing hundreds of thousands of people into signing up for one of these kits; sadly the entire thing is one big fraud.

If you scroll past the comments on the article, which are all completely fabricated, you’ll get to the disclaimers for internet-news-daily.com. Curiously, this section is longer than the entire article itself and reveals some very interesting things about Mary Steadman and internet news daily.

The reasons for the massive legal protection:

1. This is not a real newspaper.
2. They are completely misrepresenting the opportunity.
3. The testimonial is bogus and is not a real representation of earnings.
4. They are using companies’ trademarks without their knowledge or consent.

This is just what’s wrong with the site linking to TheInternetProfitHouse.com; when you get to the actual sign-up page you’re greeted with even more red flags. Let’s take a look.

Here’s a list of infractions found on The Internet Profit House:

1. Another misrepresentation of popular trademarks which have no association with the product.
2. Exaggerated and unsubstantiated income claims; they think that if they can prove that one person made that much money they can get away with having those outrageous figures in their sales pitch by covering it with a “results not typical” disclaimer. According to the FTC that is no longer allowed.
3. Bogus timer; no matter how long you take to sign up for this thing they’ll always take your money.
4. Unlawfully using the trust marks; if they were a legitimate site those icons would link to a profile for TheInternetProfitHouse.com signifying that the website has been approved. As is they’re just using the images with no sort of merit attached.

Again, this is just what’s wrong based on a quick once over. When you get down to the terms and conditions you’ll find out exactly why you shouldn’t do business with this company.  They say that all you need to do is pay the $0.99 for S&H to get started, however the full story is revealed in the fine print:

When you order the Risk Free Trial of My Online Cash Secrets you will be charged only $1.97 (non-refundable) for access to the The My Online Cash Secrets training program. You will have a full 7 day risk free trial period from your original purchase date to decide if the My Online Cash Secrets program is right for you. At the end of your 7 day trial period you will be charged $68.53 for access to the The My Online Cash Secrets program.

Refund Policy: Please note that no refunds are given after the expiration of the 7 day trial period. The mailed business kit is yours to keep and since there are no additional physical products with My Online Cash Secrets, no returns of any sort are accepted. You can cancel your membership at any time by simply contacting customer service via telephone or email.

Their Contact info is as Follows:
Toll Free Customer Service: Phone: 877-340-4694 – Customer Service representatives are available during regular business hours. E-mail: support@myonlinecashsecrets.com
My Online Cash Secrets
Athinodorou 3,
Dasoupoli, Strovolos,
P.C. 2025 Nicosia, Cyprus

So what we have here is a site that doesn’t disclose the full price of its course and is counting on the fact that you don’t read the fine print in time to cancel. The best part is that they’re located offshore, which means that all legal disputes have to take place in Nicosia, Cyprus. Good luck canceling…

By this point it should be pretty obvious that you need to stay far away from TheInternetProfitHouse.com/My Online Cash Secrets or whatever they’re going to be calling themselves next month.

Click Money with Google is the latest entry in the long line of Google biz kit work at home products.  These notorious kits have been around for about a year now and show no signs of slowing down, even with the government and law enforcement on their backs.

I won’t go into the whole story but if you take a look at the Terms and Conditions provided by Click Money with Google you’ll start to see a big part of the picture.  These kits are known as “continuity programs” or “negative option marketing schemes.”

What that simply means is they charge you monthly fees after your trial period is over.  Technically nothing wrong with that except that they don’t advertise it as a trial and this information is buried in the small print.

Here’s what’s found on the bottom of the Click Money with Google website:

Terms, Disclosures, and Electronic Signature Information. NetPro Marketing’s authorization to provide and bill its services is obtained by way of your electronic signature. Once submitted, this electronic order constitutes an electronic letter of agency. NetPro Marketing’s reliance on your electronic signature, as obtained above, is done pursuant to the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act and the electronic Signatures in Global and National Transactions Act. Both laws specifically preempt State laws that recognize only paper records or handwritten signatures. By submitting this form, I am ordering the Click Money CD™ and trial membership for $.99 S&H. After the 7 day trial, I will be charged $59.95 a month thereafter if I do not cancel. I also agree to the 14 day and 21 day bonus trials to the Fast Grants Members Site™ and Network Agenda™ for $14.95 a and $9.95 a month thereafter, should I choose not to cancel. I have read and agree to the Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions. For questions, call 1-888-249-4806, anytime, 24 hours a day.

This is common practice for these kits, not only do they hide the fact that they will be billing you a monthly fee but they also sign you up for additional useless programs that have their own monthly charges.  There’s no mistake about it, websites like Click Money with Google are only after one thing and that’s your money.

The reason they offer their product for dirt cheap is just to get your billing info; once they have that they are banking on the fact that many people don’t bother to read the terms and conditions or forget to cancel in time.  This way they get to bill you for a full month and there’s nothing that you can do about it.

The only way to get past this would be if the product was so fantastic that this kind of deceptive billing would be excusable.  However that’s not the case, as many former customers have pointed out. The information you get is a basic how-to on how to use search engines like Google to advertise affiliate offers.

What makes things worse is that programs like Click Money with Google are advertised in bogus newspaper articles in which the author claims that he’s making a fortune posting links on Google.  This is a complete misdirection as they don’t mention that you have to pay for these links through Google Adwords, otherwise known as Pay Per Click advertising.

So is Click Money with Google a Scam?

I think the answer is pretty clear.  If you’re interested in learning about how to use Google to make money there are plenty of legitimate resources that cost far less than Click Money with Google and offer much more value.

To make matters worse, many times the most common complaint from customers is that they sign up for these kits and never even get the product.  Other people complain that these companies take money out of their accounts before the trial period is up.

What it comes down to is that dealing with this company is more of a hassle than anything else, and when you’re concerned about starting a business or making money online there’s no need to put yourself through this unnecessary nightmare.  If you did buy into this program without knowing of the additional monthly charges, call them to cancel at 1-888-249-4806, and make sure to cancel all 3 programs.