Valueclick to pay $2.9 Million to settle FTC charges

[geg2]

Online advertiser ValueClick, Inc., will pay a record $2.9 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that its advertising claims and e-mails were deceptive and violated federal law.

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2008/03/vc.shtm

[Kasami2k4]

Thats retarded :l my friends mom actually clicked on a free laptop add from VCM, filled out some of the subscriptions, then cancelled them before she got charged. She ACTUALLY got the laptop.

[misterproline]

Thats retarded :l my friends mom actually clicked on a free laptop add from VCM, filled out some of the subscriptions, then cancelled them before she got charged. She ACTUALLY got the laptop.

Yeah it's not that theyre not giving the laptops or ipods or whatever it is they're giving away....it's the fact that up front its not free.
People have to subscribe for things which in turn don't make it free.

If they are smart enough like your friend then they cancel right away and don't get any fees at all. Sometimes people don't cancel and when the first bill comes they're like wtf?!?! Sometimes people don't cancel and end up using the service or product and like it.

VC screwed up by violating those terms and saying they were free when they really weren't. Sounds like they also screwed up by leaving injection vulnerabilities to hackers. Probably patched by now? But nobody wants that...

I'm guessing they're going to be cutting on publishers and keeping more from advertisers to makeup for this loss.

In conclusion.....MORE MONEY FOR THE GOVERNMENT.

[Kasami2k4]

Thats still retarded =\ What about freecreditreport.com? Hell, the domain name says its free, but you have to sign up for 1 of 3 other companies to see this supposed free report lmfao..

they havent gotten sued yet. WTF?

[bensark]

they can afford it

[Scilynt]

did VC actually make the sites/offers or are they just allowing advertisers that are sketchy?


As for the "free ipod" type stuff, there are plenty of legit ones but they rely on the users not following through or paying attention. Just like so many other industries with small print sneakiness.

I've gotten a TON of those various freebies in the past...everything from 61" HD tv to playstation3, ipods, laptop and PC's and more. If you work with legit companies and follow the directions you can get some pretty cool stuff :).

[urheart]

did VC actually make the sites/offers or are they just allowing advertisers that are sketchy?


As for the "free ipod" type stuff, there are plenty of legit ones but they rely on the users not following through or paying attention. Just like so many other industries with small print sneakiness.

I've gotten a TON of those various freebies in the past...everything from 61" HD tv to playstation3, ipods, laptop and PC's and more. If you work with legit companies and follow the directions you can get some pretty cool stuff :).

Can you pass some of those links my way? Because I need a laptop. LOL.

[cm_reloader]

i think this is just fxxxed up... there are other companies out there they run similar deceptive banners as well. It's just part of the advertising.

[widget]

This Is Madness!!

[dustin]

Wow, that totally sucks.

[Benahue]

2.9 million doesn't seem like very much though for Valueclick.

[Taghyra]

Well, I hope we don't see any consequences... :(

[trocobob]

wow that is a big amount . I know now why they didnt replied to all my emails sent to them lol

[bensark]

its nothing for them and will have no consequences for us.

they are famous for not replying to emails but once you get in they look after you, never fail to pay on time and work with decent companies.

[CharmRoyal]

Thats still retarded =\ What about freecreditreport.com? Hell, the domain name says its free, but you have to sign up for 1 of 3 other companies to see this supposed free report lmfao..

they havent gotten sued yet. WTF?

I hate that website, I was going to check it out for my mom and I was like, what the hell this isn't free...

[Kasami2k4]

try annualcreditreport.com