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Mich
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FreelanceHomeWriters.com
Okay, I won't link to them so they don't get link backs from the forum here, but I've been seeing this advertisement around the google ads for
FreelanceHomeWriters-dot-com and I had someone ask me about them, so I went there to investigate and here's what I discovered.
First, the website looks nice, great colors, professionally done - all well and good, but when you click on more information it takes you to a a
really high pressured copywritten sales page that is just not what a 'writer' would typically see for a business posting job offers for writing. It
talks about how much money you can make - how if you write three article per day you can make 10,000 bucks per year - wow oh wow, whatever, and man,
just think if you do 8-10 per day - you'll be rich rich rich.
Yeah, BS. First, most people can't write quality articles at the rate of 10 article per day every single day. Second, I'm really suspicious that they
even have enough listing to cover that many per day for every person who wants to do that many.
So I decided I'd at least give them the benefit of the doubt and check them out before making any further judgments about them. I signed up -
something I had to do before I could see job postings, and once I did, I figured I'd be able to see at least a partial listing of jobs.
Boy was I wrong. Instead, once they had my email address (thankfully I use a yahoo address just for testing sites like this one so they can't spam my
real email), I was then taken to a screen where I was told that TODAY ONLY! I could get my membership from them not at the high 99.95 they usually
charge, but for only 49.95!!!!
They even give a nifty membership card and all that other good crap. You cannot see the job postings unless you pay - so there is no way to see if
there is even a job posting.
So I was thinking in my head: SCAM!
So what did I do? I went to read the FAQs and here is #1 listed on their Frequently Asked Questions:
" How do I know this isn't a scam?
Answer: Absolutely not! We wouldn't be able to do business online very long if we were only here to blindly take your money and leave you high and
dry. We've been online for nearly 6 years now and are very proud to be legit!"
First - Absolutely not! didn't actually answer the question that was asked, but you know - when it comes down to it, any place that has to actively
tell you that they are not as scam are, indeed, usually a scam.
Secondly, they charge a fee without even letting you look at what the site has to offer...
Okay, I wrote this article:
http://selfemployment.suite101.com/article.cfm/tips_for_freelance_c...
Which is about tips for freelance contractors to protect yourself when freelancing, and with the exception of freelance bid sites, no one should EVER
pay for a freelance job to the employer themselves. Freelance contract employers pay you - you don't pay them!!!!
Never ever pay someone money to give you job - EVER!
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russelllindsey
Founding Member
Posts: 246
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Location: Bay City, MI
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Mood: Happily Ever After...
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Thanks for checking it out! I've seen there ads before. It is amazing to see all of those scams out there. No matter what you want to do, you have
to be careful.
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Melanie
Founding Member
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I've never even seen the site, but it sounds like they are selling membership to a job's database or perhaps an ebook about how to make $10,000 a year
as a freelance writer or something like that. It doesn't appear they are giving you a job writing for $49.95.
Actually, I just went and read the FAQ and it seems very clear that they are selling a 'system' or database of markets that can make you money, not
offering a job.
This would be no different form Michy (or anyone) writing a book about how to make money freelance writing and selling it online, or charging a small
subscription fee to view her big list of updated markets. Would THAT be a scam?
I just get angry when people yell "SCAM" anytime someone is trying to make money. I suppose it is because I'm in internet marketing myself. Where is
the scam?
I'm sorry for the seeming defense of this site. Really, I know nothing about them and would not recommend anyone purchase a 'system' for freelance
writing. I'm not about to sign up and actually find out what they are offering, but I read nothing on there that said they are guaranteeing you a job
writing for a certain amount or anything like that. It's only a scam if they promise something and don't deliver.
Melanie 
"Go forth boldly in the direction of your dreams." Thoreau
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Going Forth Boldly -- The Chronicle of Becoming a Professional Fiction Writer
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russelllindsey
Founding Member
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You have a point. In addition to working on turning my writing into a career, I'm working on setting up a retail website as well. As you can
imagine, creating e-books is part of the long-term picture. You've given me something to think about. I'm really going to have to take care to make
my site professional.
| Quote: | Originally posted by MelanieS
I've never even seen the site, but it sounds like they are selling membership to a job's database or perhaps an ebook about how to make $10,000 a year
as a freelance writer or something like that. It doesn't appear they are giving you a job writing for $49.95.
Actually, I just went and read the FAQ and it seems very clear that they are selling a 'system' or database of markets that can make you money, not
offering a job.
This would be no different form Michy (or anyone) writing a book about how to make money freelance writing and selling it online, or charging a small
subscription fee to view her big list of updated markets. Would THAT be a scam?
I just get angry when people yell "SCAM" anytime someone is trying to make money. I suppose it is because I'm in internet marketing myself. Where is
the scam?
I'm sorry for the seeming defense of this site. Really, I know nothing about them and would not recommend anyone purchase a 'system' for freelance
writing. I'm not about to sign up and actually find out what they are offering, but I read nothing on there that said they are guaranteeing you a job
writing for a certain amount or anything like that. It's only a scam if they promise something and don't deliver. |
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Mich
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While it IS true that they are selling a 'system', part of the system is that they have a job board, where they guarantee there are enough paying
leads there to utilize their system. The problem is, they do not allow you to 'see' that job board in order to verify any of this before you give them
both your email address and your money.
Additionally, one of the ripoff reports sites said that they were unable to get their 100% satisfaction guarantee refund.
Add to that the very poor grammar and spelling issues in the FAQs, and I was less than impressed.
I know I'm harsh - but I'm sick of writers getting the short end of sticks. They have an affiliate program, so of course there is GLOWING praise from
their affiliates, but when I emailed three different affiliates of theirs, they all told me the same thing - they have never purchased nor tried the
'system'; they were just affiliate marketers and this program had a good %.
I will note that I did only say I was thinking it was a scam - I never did actually CALL it a scam. Semantics, I know, but one is libelous and the
other is not - so I guess sometimes semantics are important.
The thing that gets me about this particular system is that it doesn't really DO anything for you - and you can find free paying job leads all over
the internet - like right here in my own forum - and freelance writers struggle enough in the beginning as it is.
So please understand, I am NOT one to tear apart a company without cause - I've been to other forums that do that, and I really want this one to be
different - so if I offended, I do sincerely apologize for that (I'm an internet marketer too, after all) but please know that I researched this site
in depth before I posted anything here and I read what many people had to say about it, emailed people, etc., before I ever said a word.
Hope that helps clear up my intentions a bit more....
Again, sorry to anyone I offended... but my opinion stands as far as freelancehomewriters.com
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J Riva
Accentuate Writer!
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Location: Michigan
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Michy,
It sounds like you did a good bit of detective work here and no one should doubt that you've had enough experience in the business end of writing to
know a scam when you smell one.
Jean
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Melanie
Founding Member
Posts: 4762
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Mood: At the cusp of my new writing life.
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Oh, I understand you aren't calling it a scam Michy. I wasn't trying to say that you were.
I think the place sounds fishy myself, and not a good choice for anyone interested in a freelance writing career. Like I said, I'd never recommend
anyone do that, and certainly never purchase such a system/program/subscription myself.
It IS a bad idea. It is a bad website (spelling, grammar, heck, even the come-on is not very enticing) People can find plenty of job listings in
other places (like here!) But that doesn't make it a scam.
Melanie
"Go forth boldly in the direction of your dreams." Thoreau
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Going Forth Boldly -- The Chronicle of Becoming a Professional Fiction Writer
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Mich
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Update: After signing up for the initial section to get to the part where Freelance Home Writers asks to pay for membership, even though I did not
complete the transaction, they had to get my email address (I use a yahoo address for possible spam sites where I don't have to worry about my real
email being spammed). While I can't verify they sold my email, I do know that today they spammed me themselves.
I removed the links but they were affiliate links and here is the copy and paste (without the links) to the email Freelance Home Writers sent me
today:
Michelle, $5k a month for Free
Wednesday, June 4, 2008 3:18 AM
From: "Freelance Home Writers" Add sender to Contacts To: "Michelle"
Michelle,
I've got something quite important
to tell you about...
The other day I got a package from my
friend Mike Masters.
He'd sent me a copy of the new product
he just finished up. It's called the
Instant Money Toolkit...
http://link_removed
I spent about 4 hours on Monday night
reading through the 250 page book he sent
and I gotta tell you...
This is just about the best thing I've
ever read, seriously. And I'm not
even done with it yet!
You'll learn every step you must take
to start, run and succeed with your
own online business and you'll even
learn how you can bring in an extra
income of at least 5 thousand bucks
per month.
Mike breaks it down into the exact 5
Critical Business Tools you'll need
to master to achieve success.
And then he shows you exactly how to do it!
Step-By-Step!
And guess what?
Right now Mike's letting you grab
your own copy for next to nothing.
All you need to do is pay for the
shipping and handling, which is
less that a movie ticket. And Mike
will send you a copy of his
incredible program.
You can grab yours below:
http://link_removed
Now, I've gotta tell you something. I've seen
dozens of these "get the product free, just pay
for shipping" in the last few months.
Most all of them are pure trash and not even
worth the shipping price. You get some thin
little book packed full of nothing
but fluff and sales messages.
Well, thankfully Mike Masters is
breaking the mold here...
I can honestly say that I'd gladly pay between
100 and 250 bucks for Mike's product and I'd
feel damn good about it.
Yes, it's worth that much...
Luckily Mike is a strong believer
in over-delivering and he's succeeded once again.
Get yours now for free today
http://link_removed
Cheers,
Charles Wellmore
Work at Home Group Chief Editor
P.S. Oh, did I mention that Mike has packed this
with over 250 pages of the most hard-hitting
business training I've seen in months. You'll
literally be walked through each and every step
you must take to build your own six figure business!
http://link_removed
Unparalled Marketing LLC., P.O. Box 52, Winnebago, IL 61088, USA
To unsubscribe or change subscriber options visit:
http://link_removed
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Melanie
Founding Member
Posts: 4762
Registered: 1/17/2008
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Mood: At the cusp of my new writing life.
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Thanks for that follow up!
That is not the way to run an internet business.  Makes me mad really. I'm an
'internet marketer' and these people spamming and scamming just make others shy away from legitimate lists and newsletters.
Melanie
"Go forth boldly in the direction of your dreams." Thoreau
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Going Forth Boldly -- The Chronicle of Becoming a Professional Fiction Writer
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flyingbird65
Founding Member
Posts: 1530
Registered: 1/17/2008
Location: Michigan
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Mood: alive (barely) lol
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Whats sad is there are a lot more just like this out there. More so then all the ligitimate ones.
I agree with Melanie, this makes me mad.
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Mich
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More spam from this place:
Flag this message(URGENT) Ice Cream MeltsThursday, June 19, 2008 4:15 AM
From: "Freelance Home Writers" Add sender to Contacts To: "Michelle"
Michelle,
Go here now and learn how
to make hundreds, if not thousands
every single day from home.
And right now you can secure your copy
for free.
But hurry, quantities are very limited (only 79
units left) and these are going faster than ice
cream melts on a hot summer day...
http:lineremoved.
Enjoy,
Charles Wellmore
Work at home tips
Unparalled Marketing LLC., P.O. Box 52, Winnebago, IL 61088, USA
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Mich
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Flag this message(URGENT) Ice Cream MeltsThursday, June 19, 2008 4:15 AM
From: "Freelance Home Writers" [reply@freelance-home-writers.com]Add sender to Contacts To: "Michelle" [michymlj@yahoo.com]
..............................
Okay, when I received the last spam email from them, I clicked on the unsubscribe and was supposed to be unsubbed from them, but then early this
morning, I got another spam email.
I will refer back to my original post about FreelanceHomeWriters and this time I am going to call them a scam flat out - their desire is not so much
to sell you a program or membership to a forum with job listing but rather to get your money and your email address.
One of those they get without even showing you anything on their website.
DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY HERE....and don't give them a good email address that you use regularly unless you want spam.
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flyingbird65
Founding Member
Posts: 1530
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Location: Michigan
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Mood: alive (barely) lol
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Its reasons like this I have 4 or 5 email addresses.
3 of them I use regularly for one reason or other. The others I use when checking on a site I'm not sure of. Thankfully I don't do that very often.
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m.c.mute
New Member (Welcome me!)
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While others may be hesitant to call the Freelance Home Writers organization a scam, I received this e-mail today:
Dear 123Greetings user,
Recently you requested information to work at home... Based upon your
profile we have hand picked you for this work at home job. Out of
20,000 applications you were 1 of 25 picked for this job.
We would like to congratulate you for making the right decision
in working with us. You have a 48 hour window to claim your
position before we fill it with the next in que.
Click Here
Regards,
Michael Stathmore
Freelance Home Writers
Of course, I never submitted any sort of application and the e-mail was obviously spam. I usually do not even read these types of spam e-mails, but
this one piqued my curiosity a little. The links in the e-mail take you to their site wherein is detailed all that is outlined in the post above.
However, since the wording of the initial e-mail states explicitly that a job is being offered rather than a service, I am going to go ahead and call
this a rather blatant scam.
Of course there is a silver lining for me here, in that if I had not gone looking for information on the company I never would have found this forum.
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Mich
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Thank you for stopping by! I'm so glad you found us!
Also thank you for adding your post to this thread - This particular thread is one of the most viewed on this forum and it is bringing a lot of new
writers here - that's good for many reasons, but the biggest reason is that people might just be warned and not fall for this scammer.
The more I learn about them, the more upset I get.... they have an affiliate program, and that in itself usually lends to spam if it's not
monitored.
Hey, welcome to the forum! I hope you'll stick around!
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twnkltoz
Founding Member/Moderator
Posts: 2032
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Welcome to the forum, m.c.mute! Thanks for weighing in!
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Mich
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(giggles) Just FYI. No one has to get on a scale in order to be a member of our forum...LOL
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Melanie
Founding Member
Posts: 4762
Registered: 1/17/2008
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Mood: At the cusp of my new writing life.
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| Quote: | | No one has to get on a scale in order to be a member of our forum |
Thank goodness!!! 
Melanie
"Go forth boldly in the direction of your dreams." Thoreau
----------------------------
Going Forth Boldly -- The Chronicle of Becoming a Professional Fiction Writer
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Mich
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I know, me too! That's why I wanted to clarify (wink)
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chaosfairy
Banned for Life
Posts: 362
Registered: 7/17/2008
Location: Texas, not Dallas not Waco
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Mood: lost
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chinese and chocolate anyone?
Welcome to the Forum!
I love you Momma Forever.
***Mental Note: make room for more mental notes.
***Mental Note: Get a PDA your brain is low on memory.
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m.c.mute
New Member (Welcome me!)
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Thanks for the warm welcome! I imagine I will probably stick around. There seems to be a lot of good information here, as well as some smart and
talented individuals. Who knows? I may even speak up every now and then.
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twnkltoz
Founding Member/Moderator
Posts: 2032
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Michelle L Devon (Michy)
(giggles) Just FYI. No one has to get on a scale in order to be a member of our forum...LOL |
Then why did you make me get on one??
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cari
New Member (Welcome me!)
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They've now lowered the price.
Boy was I wrong. Instead, once they had my email address (thankfully I use a yahoo address just for testing sites like this one so they can't spam my
real email), I was then taken to a screen where I was told that TODAY ONLY! I could get my membership from them not at the high 99.95 they usually
charge, but for only 49.95!!!!
When you go on the site it's the same info except now it says instead of $69.95, now it's only $2.95!!!!! I'm sorry but this is just crazy to me.
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Melanie
Founding Member
Posts: 4762
Registered: 1/17/2008
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Mood: At the cusp of my new writing life.
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That is crazy!
And welcome Cari!
Melanie
"Go forth boldly in the direction of your dreams." Thoreau
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Going Forth Boldly -- The Chronicle of Becoming a Professional Fiction Writer
----------------------------
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Mich
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| Quote: | Originally posted by twnkltoz
| Quote: | Originally posted by Michelle L Devon (Michy)
(giggles) Just FYI. No one has to get on a scale in order to be a member of our forum...LOL |
Then why did you make me get on one?? |
For kicks.
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Mich
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| Quote: | Originally posted by cari
Boy was I wrong. Instead, once they had my email address (thankfully I use a yahoo address just for testing sites like this one so they can't spam my
real email), I was then taken to a screen where I was told that TODAY ONLY! I could get my membership from them not at the high 99.95 they usually
charge, but for only 49.95!!!!
When you go on the site it's the same info except now it says instead of $69.95, now it's only $2.95!!!!! I'm sorry but this is just crazy to me.
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Yeah, but if you read the very fine print the 2.95 is a 'trial' and then after a certain time they bill your credit card for the full amount.
I would be terrified to give these people my credit card at this point - can you imagine?
Hey, welcome to the board! Thanks for popping in!
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Mich
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This was in my son's email today - TWICE. My fourteen year old son, who has never requested work from home opportunities before:
Hello aleck,
Recently you requested information to work at home... Based upon your
profile we have hand picked you for this work at home job. Out of
20,000 applications you were 1 of 25 picked for this job.
Click Here To Start
We would like to congratulate you for making the right decision
in working with us. You have a 48 hour window to claim your
position before we fill it with the next in que
Click Here To Claim Your Position
Regards,
Michael Strathmore
Freelance Home Writers
To Unsubscribe From Further Mailings Click Here
20816 S Dixie Highway Suite #135
Miami FL 33189
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cwilson26
Literary Master
Posts: 3521
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Location: Ohio
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Mood: Excited about the New Year!
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I got an email like that too in my yahoo email. I checked it out and you have to pay so I closed it off and deleted the email. I have gotten more than
one from them. Weird!
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Mich
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Spammer AND scammer.
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Xzendor7
New Member (Welcome me!)
Posts: 1
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I just received an email about this program and doing a Goggle search about this program came across your Forum. Thanks for the info; I also read
your Free Lance Tips, great info for the us newbies.
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snowangelcold
New Member (Welcome me!)
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Thank You!
I just recieved this e-mail today. I checked it out and decided to investigate when they were asking me for money without showing me anything! That is
how I found your blog. I am interested in writing and am so tired of getting scammed! I will probably be popping in quite often!
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moonshadow68
Founding Member/Moderator
Posts: 5108
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Location: Southern Illinois
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LOOKY Michy!!
All those times they spammed you and the board resulted in new cool people for us
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Mich
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Cindy, do you know what I find the most hilarious?
When you type freelancehomewriters.com into google, my forum comes up first - BEFORE freelancehomewriters.com does!
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moonshadow68
Founding Member/Moderator
Posts: 5108
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Location: Southern Illinois
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hehehehehehehe....
That's great. You know what else it means? We get the smart ones who checked them out first...lucky us!
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Skwerly
Literary Master
Posts: 3475
Registered: 5/17/2008
Location: Yucaipa, California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Determined.
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LOL Michy, that is comedy! Pretty cool, too!
I seemed to be looking down from an immense height upon a twilit grotto, knee-deep with filth, where a white-bearded daemon swineherd drove about
with his staff a flock of fungous, flabby beasts whose appearance filled me with unutterable loathing.
My AC page:
Derek's Junk
My Horror Writing Forum: http://writersofhorror.myfreeforum.org/index.php 
I **love** creepy trees!
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Linc
New Member (Welcome me!)
Posts: 11
Registered: 8/8/2008
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THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU
I just have to say thank you again, unfortunately I made it past the "give me your email so I can fill your inbox with spam" part. You know these guys
are getting better, or I am poorer, because I never used to be tempted to even look at those. It sis seem fishy though to ask me to pay them so that I
could make them money and get a small cut of it, I guess you have to pay your affiliates.
Anyway, thanks again for having such an informative site.
 Linc
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bbrannan
Member Writer
Posts: 97
Registered: 8/4/2008
Location: Erie, PA, US, NA, Terra
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Yep, me too. Of course, I'm on so many Email lists and so many spammy things (because I can't help but look) that one more doesn't much matter I
guess. Anyway, welcome aboard. I just joined a couple days ago, same reason as you, found it the same way you did, and I'm unbelievably glad I did!
This is a super duper bunch of people off in here. Love you guys There are so!
many fun threads on here. Check out the dialects thread if you don't believe me. And tell us about yourself in the intro forum if you wanna.
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV
Erie, PA
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michaelw777
New Member (Welcome me!)
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I want to thank you Michy, for your site. This looks like a good place to learn and connect.
I guess I have to thank freelancehomewriters for leading me to you: they sounded too good to be true. But it'll be pretty faint thanks...
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chaosfairy
Banned for Life
Posts: 362
Registered: 7/17/2008
Location: Texas, not Dallas not Waco
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Careful Michy, FLHW.com may want you to start paying them royalties for all the members you get from people researching them!
I love you Momma Forever.
***Mental Note: make room for more mental notes.
***Mental Note: Get a PDA your brain is low on memory.
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Mich
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| Quote: | Originally posted by michaelw777
I want to thank you Michy, for your site. This looks like a good place to learn and connect.
I guess I have to thank freelancehomewriters for leading me to you: they sounded too good to be true. But it'll be pretty faint thanks...
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Michael, welcome! I'm glad you found us, and even more glad you didn't get suckered in by them.
Don't take the fact that this one place is scam-like to mean that freelance writing and working from home is. Many of us on the board here work from
home and make decent to very good livings doing it.
You can too, just not through them!
Welcome again! Hope you stick around!
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Morecoffee
Literary Master
Posts: 4622
Registered: 2/7/2008
Location: New York
Member Is Offline
Mood: Is suppose to be working but is hanging out here instead!
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 Hey look at all the new members. It really is hilarious how many people are
being sent our way because of these scammers. We're glad you all found us!
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Garret
New Member (Welcome me!)
Posts: 1
Registered: 9/10/2008
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
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Hi. I received this advertisement telling me I could make a lot of money, and I come here and like the Mailman in Monty Python I find myself with
quite a few other mailmen in this post room. So, I guess I'm not going to get rich posting on the internet now...Ah...shucks...
But it looked pretty cool here, and you seem like a level headed bunch, so I guess I'll come check you out from time to time.
Anyone have any good idea's then, about how I can get rich writing on the internet...
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Mich
Unregistered
Posts: N/A
Registered: N/A
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Garret
Hi. I received this advertisement telling me I could make a lot of money, and I come here and like the Mailman in Monty Python I find myself with
quite a few other mailmen in this post room. So, I guess I'm not going to get rich posting on the internet now...Ah...shucks...
But it looked pretty cool here, and you seem like a level headed bunch, so I guess I'll come check you out from time to time.
Anyone have any good idea's then, about how I can get rich writing on the internet... |
Sure, stick around here and we'll tell you!
Many freelance writers, writing only from internet contacts, are making 5 and 6 figure incomes. I post paying jobs right here on the board.
You can write for places like Associated Content, Suite101, Helium, DailyArticle, Constant Content, and bid at places like Elance and oDesk and others.
Stick around and holler at us with questions, and we can help you find REAL money on the internet, where you don't pay anyone but they pay you!
Welcome to the board!
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jazz_sue
Jr. Member Writer
Posts: 36
Registered: 10/12/2008
Member Is Offline
Mood: somewhat peevish
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I actually joined his rather superb site all of, ohh ... 3 minutes ago, on the strength of this one post! This forum appeared, along with quite a few
others of similar content, when I Googled FLHW. In my case it was to claim money back they'd taken without asking - interesting.
Here's my story:
I've had to give up my previous career due to health problems, but I'm a skilled writer - just lacking the necessary experience, in particular that
'Catch 22' published portfolio. At present, my sole income is from incapacity benefit, so I'm very wary of scams. What I DO know is, if you have the
skills - and are prepared to work hard - you CAN use your computer to ean a sensible income working from home.
With this in mind, I trawled the internet and contacted various 'legit' sites for details on scam-free homeworking schemes.
The one I was instantly referred to, over and over, in my emails was FLHM - in my naivety, I didn't stop to wonder if these 'anti-scam' sites might
not be run by the very company they were promoting, but still ... I joined.
I'm British, by the way. At the time, the on-site offer was a joining fee of just $2.95 (about £1.75) - for the next 7 days. Now, I took this to mean
that, after 7 days, the cost would rise to nearly $50, so I signed up. The amount was duly taken from my Visa account some weeks ago.
I swiftly found that their promise that 'anyone can start earning money from writing, even if you have no previous experience,' just did not ring
true. The only jobs worth bidding for demanded, in the first instance, that you submit examples of previously published work - hardly a 'beginners'
site. Also, there was more outlay involved - you often had to pay a membership to these sites, before your work would even be considered.
Bells started ringing. These were not accredited professional journalism sites (I accept that professional writing is a bit of a 'closed shop' in my
country) but on-line 'publishing companies' I'd never heard of! I now realise these were, likely as not, FLHW.scam in another guise.
I swiftly got the message that this was not what I'd been looking for in any case; I'd wanted to find a straight-forward writers' site where I could
send examples of my work to prospective employers in the hope they would pay me to do more. I did my best to earn back my £1.75, concentrating on
'free' traders where no further outlay was involved. But every time I went to bid (and without a portfolio this was inevitably 'blog' work which, I've
since discovered, is best avoided by serious career writers) the bids were either already closed or so many had got there before me it wasn't worth
proceeding. My email to the moderators, asking for advice on how I could get that coveted published portfolio when I couldn't GET published until I
had said portfolio to hand ... went unanswered.
I gave it up as a lost cause. I almost gave up any hope of writing for a living, as well - except I've since found an excellent site in Helium which
will, hopefully, give me the coveted published posts I need to (gulp!) further my career by extending my services to elance - who despite their high
profile professionalism (double gulp!) DON'T demand money up front.
But here's the big scam.
Today, several weeks after I last signed in to FLHW.scam, I went online to check my bank account - I had insufficient funds to pay a phone bill, which
seemed odd.
FreelanceHomewriters had got there first, taking the equivalent of nearly $50 from my account, without so much as a courtesy mail to warn me or give
me the chance to decline their kind 'offer.'
I'm about to try and get it back - with a few reasons as to why. Don't hold out much hope, though. It involves emailing their bosss, see.
As you say, 'kosher' online writing agencies don't need to make sneaky charges like this. They don't have to. I was ripped off, good and proper. They
might not come across as a scam site in the first instance, but there are much better places out there to pay your commissions to. Me? I'm sending
this to Writers Forum magazine as a cautionary tale. With any luck, I'll get paid for it. If not, I'll try Moneymail - at least I'll see my work in
print!
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Mich
Unregistered
Posts: N/A
Registered: N/A
Member Is Offline
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Jazz_sue, thank you so much for sharing your story with us so others might be benefited from it. I have found from others I've talked to that getting
your money back is a difficult process, in spite of the 100% money back guarantee they claim to offer.
If you browse around here a bit, you'll see we have a thread for Helium and several other Helium writers who would happily offer you some page views
and reading and critiquing of your work over there to help you be as successful as you want!
There are other opportunities in the paying writing gigs as well... if you have any questions, please ask! We'd love for you to stick around!
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Skwerly
Literary Master
Posts: 3475
Registered: 5/17/2008
Location: Yucaipa, California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Determined.
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I find it extremely funny that ONE company's attempt to bend people over is bringing the would-be victims HERE! Goes to
show what a small group of good people can do, Michelle!
Welcome, new members, to our little community. Like David vs Goliath, we may be small but we have the ability to strike quite vigorously,
and where it counts. The big scammer companies may have money on their side, but I'm finding it usually isn't accompanied by much intelligence,
something that abounds on this site!
To Accentuate, and fighting the good fight!
I seemed to be looking down from an immense height upon a twilit grotto, knee-deep with filth, where a white-bearded daemon swineherd drove about
with his staff a flock of fungous, flabby beasts whose appearance filled me with unutterable loathing.
My AC page:
Derek's Junk
My Horror Writing Forum: http://writersofhorror.myfreeforum.org/index.php
I **love** creepy trees!
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jazz_sue
Jr. Member Writer
Posts: 36
Registered: 10/12/2008
Member Is Offline
Mood: somewhat peevish
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I had a narrow escape today. Based on what I'd learned about this company and its so-called 'no risk trial offer' I double checked another that I'd
trialed a few days back - this was to expose scam survey companies for an article I'm writing, so I knew it'd cost me a few bucks. Not an area for a
'green' newbie to get involved with, obviously, because sure enough, they were about to deduct nearly $40 from my account ('7 days is plenty of time
to give it a trial run, after which we will deduct a one-off lifetime payment of just $39.99 from your account.') No way, incidentally, of cancelling
said agreement - interesting, that. As was the fact my email to their customer services team went undelivered.
Hmmm.
Yep, that bank account is now well and truly closed - at great inconvenience to myself, I may add. Still, at least I wasn't 'scammed' twice over.
Home Survey Workers is well mentioned in the consumer press, FLHW less so. See below.
It appears that this site is overstocked with HSW complaints, but has yet to kick off in our direction. Who will be the first to oblige? (I think our
Mighty Moderatoress might enjoy this!):
http://www.complaintsboard.com/suspicious-companies/freelance-homew...
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Mich
Unregistered
Posts: N/A
Registered: N/A
Member Is Offline
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The problem is, I really can't DO anything about it since I never really DID any 'business' with them... I simply reported on what I observed from the
outside and shared what I've heard from others.... I think to file a report, one really need to have actually had financial dealings with them.
Though I will look into offering them a link here to see what's being said.
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jazz_sue
Jr. Member Writer
Posts: 36
Registered: 10/12/2008
Member Is Offline
Mood: somewhat peevish
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Did I say I got ripped off, to the tune of $50?
I may have been a twit, but ... oh, I am sooo going to enjoy this!
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Mich
Unregistered
Posts: N/A
Registered: N/A
Member Is Offline
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Please, do keep us posted.... I'd love to see them go down!
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