"Get Rich" Schemes under Google Name
Google Adsense is a successful business model for
publishers. It enables genuine content owners to monetize their content
through ads served by the Adsense servers.
However, it appears that there is a proliferation of
"Get Rich" schemes that are coming up across the globe which are becoming
a source of concern.
Some of the schemes provide genuine services such as
providing website templates or designing assistance for maximizing ad
publications. Such services have a role to play and need to continue.
However, along with the genuine services there are
many service offerings where the public are being lured into a membership
of a scheme with a promise of "Monthly payments from Google" as if the
servies are being used by Google. Such offerors collect some upfront
money and use it for developing a website in the name of the member and
placing adsense ads in these websites.
Most of these sites display content related to online
casinos, pornographic stuff and other material which would attract a
matching set of ads.
Though it is possible that these sites attract
visitors and provide "Ad Views" and also provide occasional "Click
Throughs" etc resulting in revenues flowing to the members in the form of
cheques from Google, there is a need to spread a word of caution to those
who subscribe to such memberships.
Firstly the member is providing authority express or
implied to the service provider to create a website and place certain
content there in for the purpose of generating some income for which he
does not pt in any effort other than paying the membership fee. These are
dummy sites with no real content and Google has every right to treat this
as a "Fraud" on the Adsense scheme. It may stop payment and hence the
member may lose the promised revenue.
Second and more dangerous aspect is that if the
websites display content which are of pornographic type or promotion of
legally banned online lotteries or say terrorist related information or
distribute virus, then the responsibility for the illegal activity falls
on the owner of the website.
I have therefore requested Google Adsense team to
clarify on whether they recognize such schemes as "Frauds" and waiting
for their reply.
In the meantime, I request Google to strengthen their
system of clearing content owners for the purpose of ad sense eligibility
and also take action against the service providers who are misusing the
Google brand to collect money from the public under the above types of
get-rich schemes.
Google needs to accredit genuine service providers who
project their service fairly as "Template Creators" and" Advertising
Agents". But those who provide ready made website packages with content
meant to take the adsense ads need to be dis accredited. For this purpose
Google Adsense should display on the web a list of accredited and banned
service providers so that public can use the services of the genuine
service providers while avoiding others.
This caution posting has been placed in this forum for
the special information of public in India where these schemes seem to be
spreading like wild fire.
We have avoided providing the names of the specific
service providers but those members of the public who have been lured for
such memberships and not getting their payments may report to the
undersigned through e-mail
naavi@vsnl.com so that it may be brought to the notice of the larger
sections of the public.
Naavi
June 3, 2008
