Fraudulent Referrals??
By wooitsmolly
@wooitsmolly (3613)
United States
August 17, 2007 8:17am CST
I have been purchasing referrals from buyrefs for awhile. Specifically for one website, surfbounty. I have been paid by them many times without a problem. I have $104.00 of pending payments from them currently. I emailed to find out when I will be paid since they never seem to have a set time of paying out... sometimes it takes a few days, sometimes over a month. Well, they write me back saying,
"It has come to our attention that all of your leads are fraudulent; you will not be receiving payment for these. Your Surfbounty account has been cancelled."
I asked them how they are fraudulent? I mean, they might be for all I know, I pay for most of them. But at the same time, how would that be a fault of mine? Couldn't they just take the money from those referrals out of my account and close THEIR accounts? My account is still up, though I doubt they will respond to my email.
I will try to contact buyrefs to see if I can find out where they get referrals from.. but I still have a message sent to them from over a month ago that has not been answered.
5 people like this
15 responses
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
19 Aug 07
I believe through many of these sites it states in the rules that you cannot buy referrals because that is dishonest, however I am not sure about the one site you referring to. In fact, you take a chance with all sites that they won't pay you. You should ask them where it says that you can't buy referrals. Have a nice day.
Pablo
1 person likes this
@wooitsmolly (3613)
• United States
19 Aug 07
Yeah, you're right, but this site doesn't say anything about purchasing referrals or anything, but it is always a risk.
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
19 Aug 07
Can you still go to the sight? Is the sight still opened? How horrible it is for your to be blaimed for something that is beyond your control. I am sorry to hear about this
@wooitsmolly (3613)
• United States
19 Aug 07
I can still log in, so I guess they didn't delete my account. Not that it does me much good. lol. Thank you
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
18 Aug 07
Hmm.,this rings alarm bells. Initially I would suspect that surfbounty is a bit
of a fraud. But you say you have been paid by them many times. I know of a number of companies, that rather than pay what they owe, make up an excuse that is your fault.
It could be that the paid referrals were fraudelent, that is why I have never purchased any. I just don't see how one can make people sign up to something.
Either way, Surf Bounty should be replying to your emails. Denopunce them all over the net.
@apsara60 (6610)
• Israel
19 Aug 07
yeah this is the reason why I don't trust internet. Dealing with money matters on internet is always risky. You never know who is really honest and who is going to cheat you in future. Good that you started this discussion as I was also thinking of buying some referrals. But now I am not going to do this mistake.It is better to work hard alone. I hope your problem will be sloved. Do let us know how you progress on this.
1 person likes this
@killahclaire (3665)
•
17 Aug 07
Och man that is crap.
I bet you though in Surfbounty terms and conditions it says you are not allowed to get referrals from one of those databases of people whether you pay for it or not because then chances are the referrals will not be active and there is no point.
You should get Yuwie and send referrals there to make you money. Banner on my profile.
1 person likes this
@wooitsmolly (3613)
• United States
17 Aug 07
I read the terms and couldn't find anything like that. I'm pretty sure the referrals come from a GPT site or something. I don't doubt their inactivity, but inactivity doesn't equal fraud! Ah well. I have gotten so many Yuwie invites I don't know what to do with myself lol I still haven't joined.
@arrgophil (96)
• United States
17 Aug 07
How does buying referrals work?
What does the company charge?
How do you make money when you pay for the referral?
1 person likes this
@wooitsmolly (3613)
• United States
17 Aug 07
I explain it on my blog. There's a link in my profile. :)
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
18 Aug 07
If I were you, I would chalk it up to Experience and find other sites and ways to make $$ that are more legal. I would if I were you leave that site, hang your head proud, and maybe warn others about sites like this in the future.
Too me, in reality, sounds like it is time to move on to something else.
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
17 Aug 07
I wouldnt ever buy refs
One thing they get the names for what people send to them and alot might not even been there at all. just like when ya do snail mail and buy leads half of them have moved and no longer there but I would find out why I paid for something like that .
you are doing the right thing keep after them!
1 person likes this
@meme0907 (3481)
• United States
18 Aug 07
Hey wim,
That's a real b.itch that this is happening to you there is a site I think it's whois.com where you can get all the info about who owns a site then you can really get up in their s.hit-Good luck to you chickie I hope you get this all straight.
+'s |:)
1 person likes this
@DavidReedy (2378)
• United States
17 Aug 07
Hmmm... makes you wonder if any internet business, company, group, identity.... can be trusted.
1 person likes this
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
17 Aug 07
Usually, when a site complains about "fraudulent referrels" it is because there are multiple accounts from the same IP address.
This could be because multiple people are using the same computer; which is why some sites say only one account per household.
It could also be one person opening multiple accounts; which is also forbidden by most sites.
Basically, it looks like your referrals are not reading the site's TOS before they attampt these things OR they are ignoring the TOS completely.
1 person likes this
@sizzle3000 (3036)
• United States
17 Aug 07
I have a lot of point sites but I have never bought referal before. I tell others about the programs I am on and then it is up to them to decide if they want to join. Some of these point sites are not on the up and up, I am sure that the sites where you buy referals are not up and up.
I would immagine that they only give you money for the referals when they participate on the site. Most sites have some sort of control on the accounts. This is to make sure that people do not make money on their referals when the referals are not really working on the site. I can understand this precation.
Keep trying to get in touch with the site that you bought the referals from and see if they won't give you your money back. It seems like they are just taking your money for nothing. Good luck
@write2adaline (98)
• United States
17 Aug 07
Check the surfbounty terms and conditions. Lots of places I have looked at say they dont let you use purchased referalls or referalls that are offered an incentive in any way.
1 person likes this
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
17 Aug 07
Sounds like the buggers don't want to pay you the monies owing :( sorry to hear that.
1 person likes this
