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Thread: Watch out!!!....warned is forearmed.!!!

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    Silver Member Candy Bouwer's Avatar
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    Watch out!!!....warned is forearmed.!!!

    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.
    "Networking" is my "CONTACT" Sport!"
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    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
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    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.
    Last edited by Dave A; 23-Jun-08 at 04:40 PM.

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    Moderator IanF's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Candy Bouwer View Post
    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.
    Only stress when you can change the outcome!

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    just me duncan drennan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by IanF View Post
    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.
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    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
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    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.

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    Moderator IanF's Avatar
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    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.
    Last edited by IanF; 23-Jun-08 at 09:02 PM. Reason: Spelling
    Only stress when you can change the outcome!

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    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
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    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.

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    just me duncan drennan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dave A View Post
    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.
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    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

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    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Yvonne View Post
    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.

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