Better Business Bureau has received more than 1,500 complaints about several dozen Web sites that are trading on the Google name to entice people who want to learn about making money from home. Because the sites often use the Google name and prominently display its iconic logo, consumers often assume they are getting a job with Google when in fact they were getting taken in by yet another work-at-home scheme.
"Web sites touting a huge money-making potential for working from home can be very appealing, especially around the holidays when families are looking for ways to earn extra money," said Karen Nalven, BBB President. "It is unfortunate that most work-at-home opportunities fall short of delivering what they promise and victims find themselves actually loosing instead of making a few extra dollars."
Two Web sites, Google Treasure Chest and Google Money Tree, quickly racked up 523 and 782 BBB complaints respectively before being called out by the Federal Trade Commission and state Attorneys General for misleading consumers. The Web sites have been taken down, however, BBB has received complaints about many other work-at-home schemes using similar tactics, including Google Biz Kit, Google Cash, Google Money Profits, and Google Success Kit.
While the schemes go by many different names and are found on many different Web sites, the complaints to BBB tell a similar story. Complainants state that they signed up online to receive a free trial of a CD or access to information that would show them how to make money from home using Google. Consumers had to provide a credit or debit card number to cover shipping — which is typically only a few dollars.
Complainants to BBB state that they were billed before their trial ended — or never even received the CD — and continued to be billed after they had cancelled their order. Complainants also found mystery charges from several other businesses for services they didn’t realize they were signing up for with their “free” trial. One Georgia complainant’s bank account was debited $433 by various entities including Grant Finder, Web Training, Powersale, Safelock, Google Chest, Search Chest, A1Member and Auction Support.
Before signing up for any work-at-home opportunity, BBB advises job hunters to:
• Review the business’s BBB Reliability Report® at bbb.org to see if BBB reports complaints or other concerns you need to consider.
• Beware of any offer that guarantees a lot of money for little effort and no experience.
• Thoroughly read the Web site’s terms and conditions, keeping in mind that a free trial could cost you in the end.
• Be wary of work-at-home offers that use logos from Google, Twitter or other prominent online businesses. Just because Google is in the name, it doesn’t mean the business is affiliated with Google.
• Research the Web site with Whois.net or a similar site for determining domain name ownership. If the site is anonymous or individually registered, beware.
For more advice on evaluating work-at-home companies and schemes, visit www.bbb.org.
BBB, the leader in advancing marketplace trust, is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Businesses that earn BBB accreditation contractually agree and adhere to the organization’s high standards of ethical business behavior. BBB provides objective advice, free business BBB Reliability ReportsTM and charity BBB Wise Giving ReportsTM, and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. To further promote trust, BBB also offers complaint and dispute resolution support for consumers and businesses when there a is difference in viewpoints. The first BBB was founded in 1912. Today, 125 BBBs serve communities across the U.S. and Canada, evaluating and monitoring more than four million local and national businesses and charities. Please visit www.bbb.org for more information about BBB.