Comments on: FTC launches new initiative, “Operation Short Change” http://www.nextgenerationlaw.com/ftc-launches-new-initiative-operation-short-change/ Ideas for the next generation lawyer Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:28:16 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Kevin Thompson http://www.nextgenerationlaw.com/ftc-launches-new-initiative-operation-short-change/comment-page-1/#comment-1032 Kevin Thompson Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:46:19 +0000 http://www.nextgenerationlaw.com/?p=552#comment-1032 Thanks for the insight, J Hooper. I'm somewhat familiar with affiliate marketing but admittedly not very knowledgeable. It's a cousin of network marketing and it's an area that some clients inquire about. Clearly, I need to learn more about it. Thanks for the info. Thanks for the insight, J Hooper. I’m somewhat familiar with affiliate marketing but admittedly not very knowledgeable. It’s a cousin of network marketing and it’s an area that some clients inquire about. Clearly, I need to learn more about it. Thanks for the info.

]]> By: J Hooper http://www.nextgenerationlaw.com/ftc-launches-new-initiative-operation-short-change/comment-page-1/#comment-1031 J Hooper Sun, 05 Jul 2009 01:57:09 +0000 http://www.nextgenerationlaw.com/?p=552#comment-1031 Going after the originators of the scams is great - but to make a real dent in this onslaught of online “business opportunity” / “work at home” scams - the FTC needs to go after the affiliates creating the fake blogs /fake news sites and the CPA affiliate networks which act as middlemen. It is these two groups which give the scams the oxygen they need to spread like wildfire across the internet. If you visit wickedfire.com you will find these shady characters discussing their promotion of said offers and if you visit findaffiliateoffers.com or offervault.com and enter google into the search box you will find a list of the CPA affiliate networks promoting these so called bizopp offers on behalf of their clients. Affiliates get a bounty of around $40 for each “free trial” sign-up they recruit. So there are actually three guilty parties involved in the deception - affiliates (responsible for some of the worst examples of misleading advertising), CPA affiliate networks (middlemen) and the company with the offer. Same thing and same people behind Acai offers, Govt Grants, resveratrol, work from home offers, etc. Until Attorney Generals and the FTC crack down on the affiliates and the CPA networks, rather than just the original companies or individuals behind the offers, these fraudulent deceptions (and misleading websites) will continue - as CPA affiliates and networks just shift their focus to the next offer… Many CPA affiliate networks often encourage their affiliates to use fake blogs (flogs)/ fake news sites, use fake testimonials etc - so it’s not just a case of a few rogue affiliates but rather widespread acceptance of unethical and illegal methods within this sector of the affiliate marketing industry as “the norm”. See: http://www.jayweintraub.com/2009/06/the-perfect-storm.html Going after the originators of the scams is great – but to make a real dent in this onslaught of online “business opportunity” / “work at home” scams – the FTC needs to go after the affiliates creating the fake blogs /fake news sites and the CPA affiliate networks which act as middlemen. It is these two groups which give the scams the oxygen they need to spread like wildfire across the internet.

If you visit wickedfire.com you will find these shady characters discussing their promotion of said offers and if you visit findaffiliateoffers.com or offervault.com and enter google into the search box you will find a list of the CPA affiliate networks promoting these so called bizopp offers on behalf of their clients.
Affiliates get a bounty of around $40 for each “free trial” sign-up they recruit.

So there are actually three guilty parties involved in the deception – affiliates (responsible for some of the worst examples of misleading advertising), CPA affiliate networks (middlemen) and the company with the offer.

Same thing and same people behind Acai offers, Govt Grants, resveratrol, work from home offers, etc.

Until Attorney Generals and the FTC crack down on the affiliates and the CPA networks, rather than just the original companies or individuals behind the offers, these fraudulent deceptions (and misleading websites) will continue – as CPA affiliates and networks just shift their focus to the next offer…

Many CPA affiliate networks often encourage their affiliates to use fake blogs (flogs)/ fake news sites, use fake testimonials etc – so it’s not just a case of a few rogue affiliates but rather widespread acceptance of unethical and illegal methods within this sector of the affiliate marketing industry as “the norm”.

See: http://www.jayweintraub.com/2009/06/the-perfect-storm.html

]]> By: Tex http://www.nextgenerationlaw.com/ftc-launches-new-initiative-operation-short-change/comment-page-1/#comment-1028 Tex Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:33:37 +0000 http://www.nextgenerationlaw.com/?p=552#comment-1028 Here’s a link to the Fox story mentioned above: "http://www.comcast.net/video/operation-short-change/1170883160/fanFinance/newest/" Here’s a link to the Fox story mentioned above:

“http://www.comcast.net/video/operation-short-change/1170883160/fanFinance/newest/”

]]> By: Tex http://www.nextgenerationlaw.com/ftc-launches-new-initiative-operation-short-change/comment-page-1/#comment-1026 Tex Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:40:17 +0000 http://www.nextgenerationlaw.com/?p=552#comment-1026 Interesting. I saw Karen Hobbs, FTC attorney, talk about this new program on Fox News TV today. She was in charge of the Business Opportunity effort until about a few months ago, when it was turned over to a new attorney. Interesting. I saw Karen Hobbs, FTC attorney, talk about this new program on Fox News TV today. She was in charge of the Business Opportunity effort until about a few months ago, when it was turned over to a new attorney.

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