New SCAM: “Google Earth” scam email. Don’t PAY for Google Earth!

by Christine Cavalier on 14 February 2010

GOOGLE EARTH IS FREE. Do not pay for any service that claims you need to subscribe!

Why am I telling you this?

Because I just received this email at my YAHOO account (not my Google account, which was Hint #1):

Extraordinary Changes, Fascinating Sights for Google Earth 2010

Download Earth’s Newest Version – 2010
Check out Google Earth’s Most Popular Locations & More

Google Earth is the most exciting mapping tool today, and it only gets better with enhancements that let you get the most you can out of Google Earth.

Your Earth Code: 6208
http://gsummaryonline.com/re.php?lnk=1203592124&e=ccp6867@yahoo.com

- Great for small businesses: map your contacts!
- Add satends & family directly from your address book
- Look at History from Above: Pyramids, the Great Wall of China, & more
- Free videos help you discover Google Earth’s secrets
- Plan your trips: get accurate ETAs & travel routes

Your Earth Code: 6208
http://gsummaryonline.com/re.php?lnk=1203592124&e=ccp6867@yahoo.com

-Satellite imagery from NASA, Microsoft & others
-Take to the sky with our powerful flight simulator
-3D videos of places like Disneyworld, Area 51 & Budapest
-eBook that explains how to maximize Google Earth

Your Earth Code: 6208
http://gsummaryonline.com/re.php?lnk=1203592124&e=ccp6867@yahoo.com

New visualization capabilities will thrill and intrigue you.  With the newest version of Earth, you’ll discover things about the world you never knew before.

Best Regards,

Daniel Davis
Earth Team VP

If you want to stop receiving mail, please go to:
http://gsummaryonline.com/

or you may contact us at the following address:

Media Internet Consultants, Edif. Neptuno, Planta Baja, Ave. Ricardo J. Alfaro, Tumba Muerto, n/a, Panama

_________

I clicked through, not especially paying attention to the warning signs (not from google.com or anything resembling Google, hard sell, generic services, etc.). I clicked through until I got to the page that asked for money. That’s when I woke up. I tried to close the page and lo and behold, the 30% off offer of $58.97 for a 3 year subscription suddenly has a pop-down window that changes the offer to 50% off! Spam, spam, spam. And they almost got my money. I was thinking, well, that’s super cheap, only 7 bucks (US) a year for google earth?

Seriously, don’t check email when you’re tired.

While there is a pro version of Google Earth (for industry people, not you or me), this scam tries to imply that the entire product is PAY, which is not, the most common Google Earth is free. Don’t pay for services unless you really know what you and your company are doing.

Let your friends know about this scam, ASAP.

Stay safe, people, and hang on to your money!

-Christine Cavalier, PurpleCar

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Tagged as: abuse, bill, do I have to pay to use google earth?, earth, email, google, google earth, is google earth free?, money, pay, scam, subscriptions

  • http://www.sethgoldstein.net/ goldsteinmedia

    Why did you provide the hyperlink to the scam? :-p Thanks for the heads up

  • http://www.purplecar.net/ PurpleCar

    Well, I want people to see what it's all about, how it works. I can't really not provide it. Hopefully people will be smart enough to NOT GIVE OVER THEIR CREDIT CARD numbers.

    But yeah, you never know…

    ________________________________

  • guest

    I got that too. I suspected something…. so I left it be.

  • http://www.purplecar.net/ PurpleCar

    yeah it was a pretty clever spam.

    Peace!
    -PurpleCar
    http://www.purplecar.net/

    ________________________________

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  • Byonabicu

    I have received this spam repeatedly and it seemed suspicious from the start for all the reasons above. Thanks for the advice.

  • http://www.purplecar.net/ PurpleCar

    Good for you that you are smart enough to see through it. Let other people know

    how to run a search before they buy!

    I find this “Google Earth” subscription scam to be a pretty clever one. We have

    to stay one step ahead of these criminals or else we'll just absentmindedly

    click away our money.

    Peace!

    -PurpleCar

    http://www.purplecar.net/

  • Jack-thor

    It was IN my junk hotmail folder already, and i was looking for something else which may have got in there by accident… then it looked interesting!
    Thought i'd investigate, but, like you, once i got to the payment options i knew it was suspect. Then when i tried to cancel you get the 50% discount pop up, which just screams SCAM!!!
    So I backed out, no worries. But, as others have mentioned, a pretty clever scam, and this one seems aimed at a different clientele to the usual “free” trails stuff.

  • http://www.purplecar.net/ PurpleCar

    Jack,

    wasn't that pop up annoying? Plus, jeez, what a sure sign of SCAM. I can't

    believe this stuff works on people, but it does. Pop-ups like that should be

    subjects of Public Service Announcements. Seriously…

    Peace!

    -PurpleCar

    http://www.purplecar.net/

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  • Taylors Patch

    I got sucked in & did pay – now what do I do & who’s got my info?

  • http://www.purplecar.net/ PurpleCar

    OK listen, this probably isn’t an identity theft kind of scam. It’s a service
    that you paid for. It isn’t a phishing attempt, it’s just a bad business scam
    that takes advantage of people’s ignorance about how Google Maps works. Contact
    the service and see if you can revoke your membership. If they do not respond to
    your requests, then contact your credit card company and dispute the charge.
    Good luck.

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    I would like to thank yo for the efforts you have made in writing this article and I am hoping the same good work from you in the future as well.

  • Angela

    I got sucked in unfortunately i paid for the 3 year subscription.
    but i’ve got there details and if they don’t give me my money back I’m contacting authorities

  • http://www.purplecar.net/ PurpleCar

    Well, see if you can stop payment on it, with your credit card company if the
    website doesn’t offer you a refund. Authorities will take down a report but they
    can’t help you much. Good luck.

    Peace!
    -PurpleCar
    http://www.purplecar.net/

  • Dogpaw2

    I also saw the google earth “pay to play” site. I agree with Christine—–don’t click on it!

    Ricko2

  • Cool Bro

    ok but who made this scam

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