Comments on: Cautions & Concerns About Freelance Home Writers

By: Anne

Anne — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:04:36 +0000

Thanks Devon – helpful info as usual – you’re good!

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:49:35 +0000

You know I don’t believe in any listing site that charges any sort of fee. There’s plenty of work listed out there that pays well and legitimately if you hustle. I’m against ALL those “services” on principle, be they subscription sites, bidding sites, whatever.

To file a formal complaint, you find the information for the CEO/Executive office and CC the BBB in the executive office’s area, the Attorney General’s office in the executive office’s area, AND the Attorney General’s office in your home state. If you’ve actually paid money to these scammers, file a police report at your local precinct.

If you can’t find the info on the CEO/executive office, then send formal letters to both the BBB in your area and the AG’s office in your home state. The AG offices tend to be very active in clamping down on these kinds of scams, and BBB complaints help protect others who bother to do a little research.

It usually takes 4-6 weeks to get a positive result, but you get one. Adn it only takes 15 minutes to write a letter. 15 minutes is worth it to help stop these scumbags.
Devon Ellington´s last blog ..Monday, July 6, 2009

By: Rob Robillard

Rob Robillard — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:55:15 +0000

No need to be sorry, Anne. I wasn’t blaming you. The sad fact is that these ads are like a rash, all over the web. The one I replied to didn’t make any wild claims. It just looked like an ad for a freelancer.
I love this newsletter, by the way. Keep up the good work!

By: Jessica Bosari

Jessica Bosari — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:32:12 +0000

Anne, you are doing a great job. I love the leads I get here. Maybe the only way to avoid bad ads is to live and learn. If you find out a job is junk, don’t post it again.

Somethings can be spotted. I think the $300 per article headline should have tipped us off in the first place. Buyers do not tell you what they will pay upfront in most cases. They usually don’t even discuss the pay in the ad.

Your blog offers great leads and is one of the best sources I have found.
Jessica Bosari´s last blog ..Quality Content for your Website

By: Anne

Anne — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:29:05 +0000

I’m sorry Rob… we’ve tightened our criteria but since they don’t say up front they are fee charging, it’s really difficult to tell as you know.

By: Martha

Martha — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:23:33 +0000

Thank you for posting Scott’s letter. I have been ticked off at these people for so long. If they were a legitimate company then they would give you more then just a 7 day trial. I mean, what can you really do in just 7 days. I need at least 2 – 4 weeks to tell if something is going to work or not. They would also make it clear that the 2.95 was a trial. When I joined it wasn’t clearly stated that I would have to pay $47 after 7 days. I didn’t know until after they took my money and of course refused to give it back. The fine print was too fine to see, it was not clear and I have great eyesight.

By: Scott Rose

Scott Rose — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:02:40 +0000

Spam e-mail can be forwarded to the FTC at spam@uce.gov

They don’t use it to resolve individual complaints but they do use it to gather info for investigations and prosecutions.

Anybody receiving spam from http://www.freelancehomewriters.com should forward it to spam@uce.gov

By: Rob Robillard

Rob Robillard — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:53:20 +0000

I responded to one of these ads, months ago. I had to go through the entire application process before they tried to hit me up fore money. I still get spam from these guys. Thanks for putting out the word!

Rob

By: Anne

Anne — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:38:02 +0000

It’s a good thought, but I’m not going to hold my breath.

By: Anne

Anne — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:34:11 +0000

Glad you’ve found leads. I’m trying to figure out how to filter out the bad ads without spending way more time than we already do… any ideas?