Comments on: How To Spot A Scam Without Super Natural Powers

By: Kevin Lam

Kevin Lam — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:45:22 +0000

Thanks, Mike. Yes, quite common sense when you’ve been around for a while and know what to look for. Not everyone catches it. I’m not sure if I’ll write on the Nigerian scam. I don’t know much about it and I’m sure there’s enough articles on it at this point. I may look into it though.

By: Mike Stewart

Mike Stewart — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 02:55:13 +0000

Nice article Kevin. A bit of common sense here, but nonetheless a good article. I find it interesting how folks break things down so well. Will you do a post on Nigerian scams as well? I wonder why they are not doing the same type of doubleclick style banner ads…… lol

By: Jo

Jo — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 21:19:50 +0000

I came across this add today. How funny, it was even published today. Sad, what has happened to honesty now days?

Thanks for looking out for us.

By: Don

Don — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:24:20 +0000

“Mary Steadman” replyed to an ad i have in craigslist and offered the same website that “Texas SEO” shows above but the site i got said “rockport, tx” not grand praire” just another scam folks sorry

By: Kevin Lam

Kevin Lam — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 02:48:48 +0000

I can’t believe I get about 50 visitors a day to this blog entry alone. Most of it is through the search engines! I hope this has helped people and saved them money though. I should probably go to Alexa more often and uncover more scams, lol. There’s so many out there though. Maybe it can be a hobby I take up for the weekend posts, lol.

By: Kevin Lam

Kevin Lam — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 02:20:07 +0000

Thanks, John. No problem, it’s my pleasure. And from the looks of it, Alexa doesn’t care if an advertiser is a scammer or not because there’s a bunch of scam ads on there. I’m really surprised. But I guess they need the money.

By: John

John — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 06:59:41 +0000

Thanks For the info I too came across this same ad and almost signed up then something told me not too…glad I listened. Great job uncovering this one….

By: Albert Grande

Albert Grande — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:26:45 +0000

Thanks, Kevin, for pulling back the curtain on this one. Marketers have long ago figured out that social proof is a very powerful marketing tool.

Now the Scammers, with a bit of java script magic, can get all of the social proof they want. They just make it look like the person giving the testimonial is from your own home town.

Thanks for this gem of wisdom. Keep up the good work!

By: Mitch

Mitch — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:30:24 +0000

I see that sort of trick ALL OVER THE WEB! I can usually spot it right away when it says “Aliso Viejo,” because that’s where my ‘geoip’ is being read from, even though I’m in Laguna Beach nearby.

Thanks for the great post. I’m looking forward to more info like this, under this topic.

By: Kevin Lam

Kevin Lam — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:25:09 +0000

Hey Warren,

Yeah, the real reason I usually go ahead and visit these types of sites is to see whether they’re real or a scam. If they’re a scam, then I get to report it! Kinda like this other one:

http://kevinlam.name/jeff-donahue-hoeffer-matthew-donahue-grant-scam/

By: Warren Contreras

Warren Contreras — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:16:32 +0000

You went a lot further than I would have, I never even click the ads no matter how curious I get. When they make claims like that, it’s an automatic reject mechanism that kicks in and blocks my wrist from going even close to the link.

By: Davidrle

Davidrle — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:34:38 +0000

I always wondered how those ads always put your location in there like that now I know.