If you think you have been defrauded by a get-paid program, the chances are you probably have. This article sets out the steps you should take if you feel you have been scammed.
1. Check the TOS, FAQs/Contact the Program
In some circumstances it is possible that the program is not intentionally scamming you, and that your issue will be resolved. The first step you should always take is to check the "Terms of Service" and "FAQ" pages of the program in question to see if your problem is discussed there. Remember that the program may specify in these pages the time within which payment should be made to you (usually around 30 days), so be sure to consult this. If your problem is not discussed on these pages, then you should make reasonable attempts to contact the owner(s) of the program, for example by using their "contact us" form.
2. Submit a Complaint
If a program is acting in bad faith or fraudulently, then GPTBoycott will be able to boycott that program if it receives enough complaints. If we receive five complaints, we can add the program to our "Watch List", and if it receives more than ten complaints we can boycott the program. The effect of this is to raise awareness of the problem, and to help others to avoid the site in question. A boycott is not merely a symbolic gesture; many sites refuse to accept advertising of boycotted sites. It is therefore very important that you use the submission form to register your complaint with us.
3. Try the Forums and Join the Mailing List
If you think you have been scammed in a particular way by a program, the chances are that someone else will have felt the same way as you. One excellent way to share information of this kind is by posting at our discussion forum. If you have comments to make about a program, good or bad, please let our visitors know by sharing them on our forum. Our forum is often subject to heated debates and complex threads, but please feel free to start your own discussion thread and get feedback and advice from our community. You may also want to consider joining our mailing list, which sends regular updates about new boycotted sites and information about GPTBoycott.
4. Report the site to the BBB
When you have completed the first three steps, you may want to consider reporting the program to the Better Business Bureau ("BBB"). They will attempt to mediate with the program to solve your problem for you. You can submit a complaint with the BBB at their website.
5. Complain to Payment Processors/Hosting Companies
In some circumstances, it may be a good idea to report the site to the payment processors it uses. This is only encouraged where you as a member have paid money for goods or services not delivered. PayPal, E-gold and Moneybookers all allow those who have lost money to fraudulent programs to report their loss, and in some cases they will be able to either reimburse the money you have lost, or alternatively close the account of the fraudulent program. However, they will under no circumstances be able to reimburse you for monies accumulated in your get-paid program account and not paid. Only if you have spent your own money should you consider this step, since it will otherwise be of no avail.
6. Help GPTBoycott
One final thing you may want to do is to help GPTBoycott further its aims in the get paid community. Helping us help others can be as simple as adding a link to a web page. To find out more about helping us, please visit the 'Help GPTBoycott' section of our site - the more we can spread the word about what we do, the more people we can help avoid scams. Alternatively, if you wish to make a donation, large or small, this would be very appreciated.
Article written by Rob.
