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Autosurfs are a relatively new form of work at home scam. The premise is that you spend a certain amount of time each day surfing websites through the autosurf, and for that you get paid. Sounds good, right?
This kind of opportunity is presently under investigation by the FTC, and as of this writing I am watching to see how it will turn out. Perhaps some autosurfs will turn out to be legitimate, but there is a strong possibility that some will turn out to be nothing more than a new form of Ponzi scheme.
Let's take a look at how these are supposed to work so you can understand what puts these at risk of being declared Ponzi schemes.
Autosurfs claim that you are earning money for viewing websites. However, in many cases all you have to do is turn on the autosurf and walk away; there is no actual need for you to watch. The websites are supposed to be paying you for advertising. However, if you aren't watching, this is scarcely work of any sort at all. So effectively the sites are increasing the number of hits they get, nothing more.
Now autosurfs say they will pay you a percentage of whatever investment you make daily. One popular one says you will earn 12% daily, and get paid every 12 days. Not bad. Much better than the average person could earn on the stock market or just about any other way.
However, saying you can pay this much regularly is one heck of a premise for a business. You do need to look at how this money is being earned.
Where the risk for a Ponzi comes in is if this money comes from the recruitment of new people who pay in the money that becomes your daily 12%. If that's the case, guess what? You've just found a likely Ponzi.
However, they may say the money comes from other places, and this is why I cannot definitively call this a scam at this point. Surfers may also pay attention to the ads, and possibly become customers. Sites may have legitimate ways that they earn money. As they do not reveal these to nonmembers, I cannot assess the accuracy of such things.
12% earnings per day is a ridiculous amount of money, and I know of no business model that would allow that to be earned legitimately day in and day out, and this is why I say to be exceptionally cautious in dealing with autosurf companies. While sometimes companies do earn an exceptional return on investment, such as the Million Dollar Homepage, please note that these are exceptions to the rule, may have been successful marketing gimmicks, and imitators typically do not report anywhere near the same return on investment. The odds of being able to make 12% a day every day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year are slim to none.
All in all, caution is strongly recommended in signing up with autosurf companies. You do not want to get tangled up in a legal mess if you fall for a Ponzi scheme, not to mention the heartbreak of losing money. I will be updating this section as more news comes out about Autosurfs and the investigation into them.
Here are news reports on this topic as I find them. It should be interesting to see how all this turns out in the end. I won't comment on the news stories; rather, I will let you make your own judgements.
FBI Probes Site, Ponzi Scam Alleged
FBI INITIATES ASSESSMENT INTO ONLINE COMPANY - From the FBI website
Modern-day firm brings to mind 1920 Ponzi scheme
FBI Encourages 12daily Pro Users, Still Without Refunds, to Report
SEC shuts down $50 mln Internet Ponzi scheme
SEC filing against 12DailyPro - PDF copy of the court papers
SEC news release
Things are not looking good for autosurfs, folks, although I understand some are making changes to avoid being labeled Ponzi schemes as well. With all of this going on, it is becoming more and more important to use extreme caution when considering joining one of these "opportunities."
"Auto-Surfing": What You Need to Know - From the SEC
First try to clear it up with the company. If they are uncooperative, let them know that you will be contacting officials about the matter. Then do it.
Data Entry
You have great typing skills, so data entry sounds like a great work at home opportunity. How do you know if it's real or a scam?
Reshipping
Recieve a package someone else bought, then forward it on. What could possibly be wrong with that? Plenty!
Payment Processing
Cash a check or money order while keeping your share. So easy, could it be true?
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