Directory listing scam?
Discussion
Right, not entirely sure about how to get around the naming and shaming policy here, so I'll put everything in and then if it's wrong can one of the mods alter it accordingly please?
I received a 'renewal advice' the other day to upgrade my business listings on the website directory-of-businesses.com
I don't recall ever entering my detail on it, but the weird thing is that the business name they've put on the address is completely wrong.
I'm 99% sure it's a complete con, albeit an elaborate one to get people to send in an amount just shy of 100 quid.
The reason I'm more dubious is that when I go to the website there are plenty of business listings, but there's not one telephone number (that I can find) to contact them to have things updated. And it says that thy are contactable via email on the contact page, but there, again, doesn't seem to be one.
Have any of the other PH massive ever heard of them or know of a similar scam?
Edited to add: They also give a Business ID and a numerical password so I can log in, but I'm not so sure this isn't a way of getting details out of me in some other fashion.
Perhaps I'm just being too cautious...
I received a 'renewal advice' the other day to upgrade my business listings on the website directory-of-businesses.com
I don't recall ever entering my detail on it, but the weird thing is that the business name they've put on the address is completely wrong.
I'm 99% sure it's a complete con, albeit an elaborate one to get people to send in an amount just shy of 100 quid.
The reason I'm more dubious is that when I go to the website there are plenty of business listings, but there's not one telephone number (that I can find) to contact them to have things updated. And it says that thy are contactable via email on the contact page, but there, again, doesn't seem to be one.
Have any of the other PH massive ever heard of them or know of a similar scam?
Edited to add: They also give a Business ID and a numerical password so I can log in, but I'm not so sure this isn't a way of getting details out of me in some other fashion.
Perhaps I'm just being too cautious...
Edited by racefan_uk on Monday 26th February 15:32
I've had a quick look at their site and it looks l;ike I'm on it - even though they've never contacted me for my details.
What a lot of these organisations do is pinch your details from other directories you may have signed up for, such as Yellow Pages or Thomsons Local. They do not charge for this initial listing. What they do is contact you directly and ask would you like an upgrade to the entry they already have.
I usually tell them to get lost - after a fashion.
What a lot of these organisations do is pinch your details from other directories you may have signed up for, such as Yellow Pages or Thomsons Local. They do not charge for this initial listing. What they do is contact you directly and ask would you like an upgrade to the entry they already have.
I usually tell them to get lost - after a fashion.
The word "bargepole" springs to mind:
http://stopecg.blogspot.com/
The only directory really worth paying for (at least for SEO penetration) is Yahoo's directory. Also, try to get into dmoz.org (free of charge, but can be hard to get into), as that feeds into many other directories by default, and helps your Google pagerank.
http://stopecg.blogspot.com/
The only directory really worth paying for (at least for SEO penetration) is Yahoo's directory. Also, try to get into dmoz.org (free of charge, but can be hard to get into), as that feeds into many other directories by default, and helps your Google pagerank.
Edited by jacobyte on Monday 26th February 17:08
Could be a new directory who as Eric says have taken details from elsewhere to get started. I've had it a few times, though generally they don't bring in any business.
However be weary. One of my clients got done by a Directory scam (Name was someting to do with Europe). They sent him the details they were supposedly were going to print about his business, which were incorrect. There was space for him to correct the details and fax back along with quite possibly the smallest small print I have ever seen which detailed a listing fee of several hundread euros a year for the next 3 years.
They now send him letters reguarly threatening legal action (not that it'd stand up in court of course)
However be weary. One of my clients got done by a Directory scam (Name was someting to do with Europe). They sent him the details they were supposedly were going to print about his business, which were incorrect. There was space for him to correct the details and fax back along with quite possibly the smallest small print I have ever seen which detailed a listing fee of several hundread euros a year for the next 3 years.
They now send him letters reguarly threatening legal action (not that it'd stand up in court of course)
Gassing Station | Business | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff