Watch out!!!....warned is forearmed.!!!

[Candy Bouwer]

This little add appears at the top of your screen....
It looks so inviting but has a catch...R4.99 per day +++

Inbox (1)
One of Your Friends Has Sent You an IQ Quiz to Take!
sa.QuickIQQuiz.com
Ads by Google

it asks you for your mobile for varification...
I fell for it....but didnt' hit the terms and conditions.

[Dave A]

I'll refer this to Google. I'm not allowed to click through on ads from this site, so unless I come across this particular ad elsewhere, I can't follow up personally to see if it's misleading or something like that. In a more general way, please bear in mind when clicking ads that advertisers advertise with the aim of procuring business in some way. I would hope that would not involve deceptive practices, but unfortunately I can't guarantee that.

I don't know if this link will work for non-publishers, but here is some info about reporting an inappropriate Google ad.

[IanF]

This little add appears at the top of your screen....
It looks so inviting but has a catch...R4.99 per day +++:

Candy
Send them your bosses cell phone number.

[duncan drennan]

Candy
Send them your bosses cell phone number.

I don't know how keen Dave would be on that

I had a look, the terms of fairly clearly laid out at the bottom of the site, and you can unsubscribe by sending STOP. It is a bit of a fine line as to whether it is misleading - it is certainly not clear what they are selling you though.

[Dave A]

Thanks for sending me the link so that I could bypass the paid click, Duncan.

Interesting one. The salt technique. I'd call it more frustrating than misleading. I'm no fan of premium rate sms subscription services when all you want is a once off answer, but the deal is clear.

[IanF]

Just think what could happen with this is someone just put in your cellphone number without you knowing then you get charged. This could be abused.
Candy give them Duncan's number he knows how to unsubscribe.

[Dave A]

I would hope that the first sms would carry some detail and the opportunity to protest if you had been subscribed by someone else.

Just a note for the folks following this - I might get asked to remove this thread. I seem to recall content is not supposed to draw attention to Google Ads. But I'll be guided by Google as to whether this discussion crosses the line. I have linked to this thread in my query so I'm being as straight up and honest as possible.

[duncan drennan]

I would hope that the first sms would carry some detail and the opportunity to protest if you had been subscribed by someone else.

If you look at the T&C's then you are in for about R15. R9 to join, R4.99 for the daily msg (I assume you receive one when joining) and then R1 to unsubscribe.

[Yvonne]

I was somewhat "miffed" as it appears as if someone on the forum who has you on their list as a "Friend" has sent this specifically to me as it is in the "Inbox"
I went through the process to the end and then realised what it really was.
In view of this surely the saforum has a right to ask that it be removed from any site that has "friends" - as this is misleading.

Yvonne

[Dave A]

I was somewhat "miffed" as it appears as if someone on the forum who has you on their list as a "Friend" has sent this specifically to me as it is in the "Inbox"

Please accept my apologies, Yvonne

I haven't had a response from Google, but I have noticed a change in the advert itself that makes it a little clearer that it is a Google ad. Hopefully that will help reduce this sort of confusion.

[Dave A]

This just in:

Hello Dave,

Thank you for your emailnotifying us of the services of one of our Google AdWords advertisers, that you believe are deceptive.

The AdWords program provides a venue for companies to advertise their services. We value customer service and hope our advertisers will provide quality care to our users. However, we are not responsible for nor are we able to monitor the actions of each company.

In response to your email, I will review this advertiser's account to check for incongruities. However, I suggest that you contact the Better Business Bureau or Consumer Affairs division of the city where the company is located, as they will be able to investigate your case and act on your behalf. Such organizations provide a more effective forum for addressing cases of consumer dissatisfaction.

Sincerely,

Preeti
The Google AdWords Team

[sharlene striepe]

quickiqquiz scam

also got caught however did send stop to 31947 at a cost of R1.00 no worries I just want this stopped and not have to pay R4.99 per day for this iq quiz, so warning to all other persons out there that migth get caught as well will check my statment and see what I was charged for this silly mistake.

[sharlene striepe]

also fell for the same trick, just hope I never said ok to terms and conditions, but the pin would not work, but i got a sms saying send stop to some number to unsubscribe, prayng that it has now been cancelled, will check my cell phone account very careful end of the month.
i wonder who we could contact if it just does not get un subscribed, any ideas?

[Dave A]

i wonder who we could contact if it just does not get un subscribed, any ideas?

I would think the place to start would be your cellphone service provider.

I've got an update of sorts on this story. As a publisher, I can block ads by the site they link to. I actually blocked the site complained about in my Google Adwords account. Google whined that I'd blocked a good performing ad, but I stuck to my guns. However, it seems there are multiple domains being used. At least the one claiming a message in your inbox disappeared which I think was the most "misleading," but banner ads kept coming up that were obviously for a similar program.

There must be good money to be made in this sms subscription game.