It's examples like this one that, while they make for great stories, they are a blight on the performance marketing space. They are sheer evil genius but also the reason people associate lead gen / affiliate marketing with shady.
The Setup
So, you want to see shady? Here it is. The formula starts with this conundrum - making money online is tough. Making money when taking the media risk is even tougher. It is why many individuals and small companies that rely on arbitrage all too a turn to the dark side. It's much easier to tweaking messaging that building technology. And, messaging is a social phenomenon. Once, one person starts, others feel compelled to follow, especially if that other message appears to convert better. Sooner or later, we hit the bottom, which is what happened in the world of acai flogs. That scam may be almost extinct, but there area always enterprising people to jump in, especially if they can minimize the media risk. That's what is happening here. While it was on paid search briefly, this one runs through spam. Not the compliant commercial messages people call spam but pure spam.
The Scam
The unlucky ones have received a message like this:
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Dear applicant
Thank you for submitting your details for available work options.
We look forward to reviewing your application, but can not do so until you complete our
internal application.
The pay range for available options range from $35.77 pr hr to $57.62 pr hr.
Prior being considered, we will first have you to formally apply.
Please go here to begin the process:
http://wurl.ca/?r=1npm
Furthermore, the following perks are potentially open:
- Paid Time Off
- Health Benefits Package
- Higher than average salary
- Dear Lisa, How are you? I remember that the last time we met with girls in the café you complained about the lack of passion in your relationship with Joe. I think all couples get through such a crisis sooner or later. But I can share with you a sure-fire remedy. So keep hope and rebuild your flawed relationship as I‚ve done it! Hugs, Jane Reimbursement
- Full 401(k)program
Please take the time to follow the directions and complete the entire
application process.
Best regards,
The Rockzone Management Group
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It might say Rockzone or Rockforce or Rockwoods or any number of innocuous names. Flog afficionados will recognize some of the language as pure biz opp, a favorite monetization tactic for the flogs. That's what it seemed like might happen here. The "I forgot to take out copy I use for my V1&gra ads is a nice touch." Go today to the link above and you see this:
“Website is down for upgradation. It will be up soon.
Best
RockWoods Management Team”
I’m not sure what upgradation is. When the link was working, clicking on it took you here:
Then here:
And finally here;
Evil. Simply geniously evil.
Click on the link, and you go here:
But not before your browser does this:
http://www.rockwoodsmanagement.com/apply/credit.php
http://securetracksys.com/creditxr.php
http://securetracksys.com/favicon.ico
http://xrevtrk.com/?a=48&c=644&s1=fnl
http://securetracksys.com/favicon.ico
http://clickztrax.com/?a=2344&c=25409&s1=48_fnl
https://clickztrax.com/default.aspx?a=2344&c=25409&s1=48_fnl
http://ocsp.starfieldtech.com/
http://ecdtrk.com/?a=20&oc=405&c=2&m=13&s1=2344
https://ecdtrk.com/default.aspx?a=20&oc=405&c=2&m=13&s1=2344
http://ocsp.starfieldtech.com/
Why does it work?
The ugly site with poor monetization only works because of
a) the little to no cost of media,
b) the completely, ridiculous wording of the offer, and
c)the offer being a continuity product.
Let alone how fraudulant it is, it would not monetize (as defined by the percentage of people who click the creative, go to the site, complete the form, click the link, then sign-up for a free trial) well enough to purchase media.
Some fake but aggressive assumptions: CTR on landing page - 40%. CVR of form page - 40%. CTR on final step - 40%. CVR on free trial offer - 10%. Bounty on offer - $40. These super high assumptions would yield a revenue per click of $.26. Not bad in the grand scheme, but not competitive enough for media.
This scam isn’t ultimately scalable, which is the good news. The bad news is that it deals with an already highly charged customer acquisition businesses - credit monitoring services - and continues to put a blight on those who actually want to add value. The good good news is that there are a number of networks who actively want to see this behavior stopped. Why? Luckily, enough people can make enough money not engaging in fraud, and thereby have a huge financial incentive to see it stopped. And they did. This link was down 48 hours after the email. We'll see where this mole decides to poke its head again.
