90 replies to this topic

[jehochman]

Be careful when outing scum. One prolific scum was calling my clients repeatedly, and I got tired of explaining, so I posted my explanation online so I could point people to it. A few months later, the scum deployed a bunch of hate sites to smear me, Aaron Wall and others. I had a few weird prospects who found this stuff and got scared off. Some people who were smarter and understood, "Wow, if people are putting up hate sites about you, you must be really famous!"

I eventually decided that having negative stuff on my site looked bad, so I moderated what I was saying. Then I reported all those hate sites as spam, and they eventually disappeared.

Y'all be careful about posting negative stuff. Out the scam without naming the scum. The scum change names frequently so we need to teach people to recognize the scam itself. There can be consequences, as Aaron Wall discovered when one scum filed a frivolous lawsuit against him.

Whoever received the call should contact the FTC and report it as Internet fraud.

[qwerty]

Welcome, webbpdx

You're allowed to type "asshat" around here if the hat fits. No need for $$ as far as I'm concerned.

Out the scam without naming the scum. The scum change names frequently so we need to teach people to recognize the scam itself.

Absolutely. And that's why it's our policy here to describe practices rather than naming names. We accomplish a great deal more by teaching people about practices to watch out for than we would by saying that some particular guy is evil.

[webbpdx]

Welcome, webbpdx

You're allowed to type "asshat" around here if the hat fits. No need for $$ as far as I'm concerned.

Thank you! Very glad to be here! I was a regular lurker over at SEOChat for awhile, but after the fallout I decided to start venturing around some more. By the way, are there rss feeds for this site? Would like to get this in my reader

[torka]

Yep -- just scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page and look in the lower left hand corner. You should see the little orange box lurking there.

And BTW, welcome to the forum!

--Torka

[webbpdx]

Yep -- just scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page and look in the lower left hand corner. You should see the little orange box lurking there.

And BTW, welcome to the forum!

--Torka

Wow, everyone is so friendly here! I'm loving this! Nice to find an SEO forum not filled with attitudes and ego overflowing. Thank you again

[ChipJohns]

webbpdx

This IS a great place to hang out.

some of the best seo minds around, like you said, without the ego.

And, you don't get all of that "COOL HYPE TALK." No one concerned about the A-list crap, etc.

you get ..."Real people talking about real issues"...

Welcome!

[Jill]

Welcome webbpdx!

If you have Firefox, we also have that little orange feed thingee up in the location field for the RSS feed reader.

[webbpdx]

Welcome webbpdx!

If you have Firefox, we also have that little orange feed thingee up in the location field for the RSS feed reader.

Hello there

Sure do have it, but I like using my rss app rssowl over the browser. Shoulda looked for that infamous orange button... stupid mondays.

[bobmutch]

Hey Jill where is the voice of reason here. You have allowed Denis's name and company name to be posted here and it seems no one has checked with him to see if he has really done this. Where happened to innocent until proven guilty.

I am guessing that Denis will say that he didn't call Leann and that his email was compromised and he didn't send any emails out.

And who know perhaps he wasn't the one that contacted her.

I am going to give him a call in the morning and it should be interesting to see what he says.

[juliesjewels]

Where happened to innocent until proven guilty.

I don't know Dennis or his company and I'm a believer in "innocent until proven guilty". But, IF Dennis actually did what has been alleged do you really think for one minute he will stand up and say, "Yep, I"m guilty. I did all of those thing." Heck NO!

[Leann_Pass]

Hey Jill where is the voice of reason here.  You have allowed Denis's name and company name to be posted here and it seems no one has checked with him to see if he has really done this. Where happened to innocent until proven guilty.

I am guessing that Denis will say that he didn't call Leann and that his email was compromised and he didn't send any emails out.

And who know perhaps he wasn't the one that contacted her.

I am going to give him a call in the morning and it should be interesting to see what he says.

No. In fact Jill did NOT allow Denis's full name or the url of his current site to be posted......in fact, after posting here FOREVER, I knew she wouldn't go for it and I didn't even attempt ---- THAT DOES NOT mean anyone else can't or shouldn't or won't!!

Want to read about it? Try:
http://www.searchran...il_and_seo.html
http://chipjohns.blogspot.com/
for starters.
And if I might say, I am not in any way, shape, form or fashion scared to say just who Denis is............
READ HERE in full color about it you want: Cold Callin Slick Talkin SEO Blackmailer Denis or Denis look-a-likes gotta problem with it? I really don't care!!

Have a great night - I AM!!
Leann

Edited by Leann_Pass, 22 March 2006 - 01:30 AM.

[Hyperformance]

Congratulations LeAnn, Chip - Others...

Exposing this type of unethical and cheating company is a very good thing.

People and businesses should be aware. The problem I have found is that they (prospects) are not listening at all times - we need to be constant and vigilant.

It would seem that until the person or company understands that they need website marketing help is the same time they start looking - and they know nothing of prior industry (SEO) events, and unfortunately - they do not do enough homework - or background checks before jumping in bed with someone (so to speak).

Continuing to warn people - even prospects we do not work for (yet), will help everyone (The Industry) the most. This includes our seminars and newsletters!!!

I am quite sure Denis is not too happy about the negative attention, and is probably losing customers as they become aware of the tactics posted and written about.

(I still think I should call him and offer to hear his side while we video tape the interview as an educational tool, exclusively pushing his company!)

Good Job all!

[Jill]

Hey Jill where is the voice of reason here. You have allowed Denis's name and company name to be posted here and it seems no one has checked with him to see if he has really done this. Where happened to innocent until proven guilty.

I did? Cuz if it's here somewhere, I missed it. Let me know so I can remove it.

[bobmutch]

Hi Leanne,

>>>>No. In fact Jill did NOT allow Denis's full name or the url of his current site to be posted

You may need to read my post again. I said "You have allowed Denis's name and company name" not his full name and URL.

Again lets just consider if perhaps it was not Denis that phoned you but his ex-girlsfriends new boyfriend for a joke to get back at him.

>>>>Want to read about it? Try:

I read both of them before I posted here.

Again: What happened to innocent until proven guilty.

I think the idea of posting about this kind of behaviour is good but I don't think it is right to post thier name or company name until you are certian. I think if you had of called the company back (you may have but I havn't seen that posted anywhere) and asked to talk to him and this person picked up from were they left off then you would be in the clear.

[SearchRank]

I am guessing that Denis will say that he didn't call Leann and that his email was compromised and he didn't send any emails out.

Is Denis a friend of yours, Bob?

Call him? Right! "Hey Denis, are you calling SEO's clients and telling them that they are about to be banned from Google but that your company can save them and then if they do not allow your company to save, you blackmail them stating that you will report them as a spammer to try to get their sites banned?"

Denis replies, "Yes that is what I did. I lied about their sites being in danger and then I use scare tactics if they do not wish to hire us."

Is that what he will say? I seriously doubt it. But you have given him a good alibi now haven't you Bob.

And for the record the story was collaborated by three reputable people (Leann, ChipJohns and Leann's client), one of which has all the email correspondence to prove the story to be true. I do not believe for a minute that any of these people would make up a story such as this just to dis-credit another company.