Warning: If You've Read My Max Web Directory Post, Please Read This
January 29th 2008 13:18
UPDATE: I've been advised by Sponsored Reviews to remove the Max Web Directory post from my blog and have done so. Though they haven't yet confirmed that this company is fraudulent, they are about 90% sure that the credit card used in conjunction with the account is stolen. They aren't 100% sure, because the card's owner has not yet reported it stolen. However, all attempts to verify the identity of the advertiser have failed, and thus its account has been frozen.
While they are not yet positive of fraud, they advise erring on the side of caution. IF YOU HAVE USED A CREDIT CARD TO MAKE A PAYMENT TO THIS ADVERTISER, YOU WOULD BE WISE TO CONTACT YOUR BANK AND REQUEST TIGHTENED SECURITY FOR YOUR ACCOUNT.
They again emphasize that they cannot yet confirm that the company is fraudulent--only that they haven't responded to attempts to confirm their identity. They state, "We do not want to call them Thieves until we have proof, but at this point we are 90% sure."
WRITTEN EARLIER:
I'VE JUST LEARNED FROM SPONSORED REVIEWS THAT THIS COMPANY APPEARS TO BE FRAUDULENT. (I LEARNED THIS THROUGH THE AUTOMATED SYSTEM, RATHER THAN FROM A LIVE PERSON.) WHILE ITS ACCOUNT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION, I WANT TO WARN MY READERS TO REFRAIN FROM LISTING WITH THIS DIRECTORY. FOR YOUR SAFETY, I'VE DECIDED NOT TO WAIT UNTIL THE INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETE TO INFORM YOU OF THIS POSSIBILITY. WHILE I DON'T WANT TO CAUSE A PANIC, I DO FEEL THAT MY READERS HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW ABOUT THIS SITUATION WITHOUT DELAY.
IF THE RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION TURN OUT TO BE IN THE COMPANY'S FAVOR, I'LL BE SURE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT IT'S SAFE TO DO BUSINESS WITH THEM. BUT, IN THE MEANTIME, IT WOULD BE BEST TO REFRAIN. IF YOU HAVE ALREADY DEALT WITH THEM, PLEASE CONSIDER TAKING STEPS TO ENSURE THAT YOUR ACCOUNT IS SECURE. SHOULD THE RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION NOT TURN OUT TO BE IN THE COMPANY'S FAVOR, I WILL REMOVE MY RECENT POST ABOUT THEM FROM MY BLOG.
MY SINCERE APOLOGIES FOR HAVING TO POST THIS NEWS!
Regretfully,
Jeanne
P.S. I've also added this warning to my earlier post about this company.
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Comment by Pat
Books Are For Losers
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Oh, is it? Please explain.
Thanks!
Jeanne
Comment by Pat
Books Are For Losers
I think it leads to an emphasis on trying to make money, rather than trying to write well. But that's just me.
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
I appreciate your honesty. But what makes you think that ethical bloggers would post content they might not otherwise post just because they're being paid to do so? I've seen many advertising opps on the various paid posting sites that I'd be inclined to post about without payment--and if you've read my blog much, you know that I post about many websites without monetary compensation if I believe they might prove helpful to my readers. I see nothing at all wrong with accepting payment for a post that I might write without payment.
I consider the main purpose of advertising to be getting the company, website, or product out before the public--or in this case, the reader--so that he or she can make up his or her own mind about it. Of course, the potential is always there for a paid blogger to post only for the money, without regard for the reader; so a blogger must weigh each opportunity carefully.
There are many opps I won't take, no matter how much money they offer me, and I will never post a paid review that I am not allowed to disclose as such, because I believe it's only fair to my readers for every paid post to be fully disclosed. For the same reason, every single paid post goes into my "Paid Posts" category, without exception; and if the advertiser doesn't want that--and some don't but would rather have "sitewide disclosure only"--I always refuse those opps because I won't sacrifice my integrity for an advertiser's money.
Just wanted you to be aware that, just because a blogger posts a paid review, that doesn't automatically indicate that he or she has "sold out." There are many, many ethical bloggers out there. And, yes, many of us post paid reviews--but we do so responsibly.
Thanks so much for your input!
Jeanne
Comment by Pat
Books Are For Losers
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
I wasn't referring to "coincidentally" posting content that happens to be sponsored content. I was referring to accepting opps to write sponsored content that I would have been willing to write had it not been sponsored.
And, incidentally, not all sponsored content is required to be positive. Most advertisers only require that it be honest, fair, and constructive--and in fact, many prefer that it be neutral or that it simply serve to announce (or "create buzz" about) their product or service.
Appreciate your thoughts, as well as your honesty!
Jeanne