Scam Warning: Fraudster pretending to be FreeIndex!
We have been made aware that a company or an individual has made several phone calls to businesses on FreeIndex asking for credit card details for payment relating to their FreeIndex listing and profile.We can assure you that this is no way connected to FreeIndex, and if you receive this sort of phone call, do not hand over any credit card details or make payment in any way. FreeIndex does not charge businesses to be listed on the directory, full stop.
The built in cold call protection which we integrated into FreeIndex earlier this year should stop them from making a large volume of calls, but if you do receive a call we would very grateful if you could get as much information as possible about them, e.g. Location, individuals name etc, and then let us know so we can try and take action.
Thanks
The FreeIndex Team
Posted : 28 Sep 2009
comment 282 Comments
info Comments on this article are now closed.
Contacted yesterday by a guy named Darren said he worked for Free index 0800 0890879 ext 1169. Was selling priority listing at the top of the free index page, ones with logo. Freeindex related?
Thank you FreeIndex for warning us.
A nice lady trying to convince me that for only £275, they guarantee to make my business on the top of the list in google
A nice lady trying to convince me that for only £275, they guarantee to make my business on the top of the list in google
28 Oct 2010
Clive KnowlesAlso received a call from a guy saying he's from Google offering to add our site to the top 5 search results etc. This was within 1min of signing up for freeindex
Thanks for warning! just picked up your message and I am getting myself into your info. Thank you Edmond OReilly
I also had a call- but unfortunately can't remember the name given- offering guaranteed hits on Google, etc. As soon as I explained that I have no budget for marketing at the moment (which is why I'm listing on Freeindex)- they hung up.
Please beware of Worldwide Marketing, I had to have my Debit card renewed to stop unauthorised debits. They also promised enhanced ratings in Google. They are based in Oldham.
Many thanks for info team Friendly
All the best, Chris (ITCCN)
All the best, Chris (ITCCN)
Many thanks for info Beauty Training Studio TEAM
We had a phone call yesterday from some one saying they could do us a great deal on making our free index ad better, we just hung up
Be warned! I've been contacted by these scammers in the past and they are getting better and better! If you like myself have any doubts, put the phone down and walk away :)
HI
Just put the phone to a chap who asked us for £123 for a special listing on google, he was very, very beleivable
Regards
Gary
Just put the phone to a chap who asked us for £123 for a special listing on google, he was very, very beleivable
Regards
Gary
thank you for the information
we had someone yesterday call us and ask us to pay £30 and what was our credit card details
Thank you for making me aware, i am ready for them
ok great so i dont have to pay a penny to advertise my buisness on here
thank you
12 Oct 2010
Miss Sam MurphyThanks for letting me the know! x
Thanks for the information.
i was called by the same girl today she is calling me back tomorrow i will be giving her nothing!! thanx so much for your tip!! i was also called by a man called Lee Abdillhali or a Leeban Abdilhali from Thompson Local!
i was called whilst filling in my profile on freeindex by a company called rank right
a girl called Kayleigh 01619058460 ext 607 she told me she knew all my details i had given you and that she was a reputable company is this not true as i have paid her
a girl called Kayleigh 01619058460 ext 607 she told me she knew all my details i had given you and that she was a reputable company is this not true as i have paid her
I had a call yesterday from a chap saying he was from free index, and i said the boss was away.
Excellent tips
Thanking you very much. we had few calls but we do not know who is? any way we do not buy normally these kind of products.
we much thanks full to you.
Best Regards.
www.sufiyan.info/
we much thanks full to you.
Best Regards.
www.sufiyan.info/
Literally just now I posted the business up and got a call 30 seconds later saying he was from google, then he said he got my info from google, then said he got my info from here but didn't know my name?!?!? Thanks for putting this up for free and offeri
Thanks for the information
thanks you. I am know already
Yes I also have had the same calls offering a place for my advertisement to be top of the rankings on google. My husband works in sales, so we were both aware that it was a scam.
Yes, i logged in to Freeindex to update our profile about a week ago and got a phone call whilst in the process of updating (from an Irish lady) saying they could put us to the top of Google. Said that we never pay or give out card details to unspecified
Thanks for the warning, I've had a couple of calls offering to get me to the top of google search, told them not interested.
I had call from lot of people saying we did that and this.
I do not beleive any of them without checking and getting proof.Even they proof I only give the Credit card with couple of hundreds credit limit which you can always recall them by your credit ca
I do not beleive any of them without checking and getting proof.Even they proof I only give the Credit card with couple of hundreds credit limit which you can always recall them by your credit ca
I get loads of calls like these you mentioned. I tell them to type in my web search details as they are in front of a computer anyway, and when they see I come up at No.1 on Google & Bing, they soon hang up!
i had cold callers wanting to put me at number one on google search for a fee of about 100 quid` funny coz i said i dont needvto coz im number 1 on yahoo search and 4th on google anyway ha ha i told them to stick it. big up freeindex
i have recieved 2 calls from a pushy sales person over a few weeks ago claiming to get me at the top of the page with google, he sounded very convincing and i said i will think about it and asked him to ring me another time which he did 4 days later. in t
thanks that is useful to know.
I have just noticed this warning and had received several calls from someone saying they were freeindex and offering me various packages - they sounded quite high pressure sales and I rejected their offers
Thanks for this notification - I must remembe
Thanks for this notification - I must remembe
4 Aug 2010
Miss Deborah JonesDear Freeindex Team, I have recieved several phone calls from some one proclaiming to be from yourselves offering me an all in package and guarentee 1st page on google as well as other offers they were offering me all this for a one off payment of 395.00
Nice work FreeIndex. I get a load of cold calls from 'agencies' acting on behalf of business indexes. Each time I tell them I will perform a transaction on the website only.
Great work!
Great work!
We recently had a call from a really polite lady asking for the director off our company , when told he is not here they wanted to hang up but i managed to get their details "The Forrester Fund",be warned there are scammers and haven't called since.
Well done freeindex I feel safe that your looking after us thanks Pete
Thanks for the warning!!!!!
Hopefully the site can be improved to stop this matter
Hopefully the site can be improved to stop this matter
Thankyou for the warning, I never give my bank deatails out on the phone to anyone, even my own bank!!
As soon as I updated my entry,I got a call fron an anonymous number confirming that I had updated,and they wanted to place me up to number one on first page of google.But my question is how did they know I had JUST updated.?????
Great warning, but why doesn't Freeindex do something about how the scammers get the info. Say, stop using the updates? Makes me never want to update anything on FI if this happens.
I signed up a few days ago and I've had about 10 calls from 0151 236 7884! Googled the number & looks like its an adwords company. There's even a forum about it.. vultures!!
Hello all!
I got a call at 0858 this morning from a company calling themselves Vision. The young lady i spoke to seemed to be rather confused about where they had gotten my number from and was promising me that they had googled me and found my number a
I got a call at 0858 this morning from a company calling themselves Vision. The young lady i spoke to seemed to be rather confused about where they had gotten my number from and was promising me that they had googled me and found my number a
Yes, I have only recently been using FreeIndex and had phone call just a few minutes ago while I am editing my page. She offered Google key phrases for £99 for one month. Her phone number is - 01616141346 - (I pressed 1471). But I did think at first she w
i have also had "first point" call me last week, whilst talking to him i was on the net looking around for scam alert, nothing came up. but when i said i wasn't interested at the moment he got a little stroppy, you could hear it in his voice.
Yes ,i have also received phonecalls but just ignore them,it had all the usual google rubbish in it,i pointed out that i am already at the top of google so dont fall for it.
I got a call yesterday from someone called Kayleigh after she saw my profile on here, saying that paying £139 per month would get my listing to the top of google. She was very rude when I said I wasn't interested and hung up the phone!
thank you for the warning ,its great to know that you are on the ball as per normal, keep up the excellent work guys.
I have had a call from a company in Manchester trying to sell Adwords on behalf of Google (build your profile etc) and promising all sorts - complete scam. Looks like they monitor the updates on the front page of Freeindex and then call you minutes later.
I haven't been approached by scammers this year so far, but last year i got an email saying that i owe £7 for administration if want to continue advertising for FREE on FreeIndex, not a bank breaking amount i know but It didn't take long to work out the
I think we all should be aware of any such phonecalls or emails that promise us something in return for bank info.
Hi, Just read through the comments and can I just say to anybody out there that if anyone calls and says they can get you to the top of google just hang up. NO BODY can get you to the top of google. It just does not work like that. You can only get there
I had somebody try this a couple of weeks ago. I didn't sign up at the time and said I would have to think about it. I was then bombarded with calls from him over the next few days.I didn't answer - I have caller display on my phone and as his was a Ma
thanks for the advice
Thanks for the warning.
thanks for the warning will give you details if i get a phone call
Thanks for the info
Thank you for this warning
Had a phone call today, but they rung off when I got suspicious
I've had a similar thing happen. This company rings you and claims they can get you on the first page of Google if you hand over £250 and then £100 per month to keep it there. Glad I saw this thread.
@ Mark Maclennan.
I had the exact same call.
Ashley offering to put me in a sponsored link on Google through Adwords, he guaranteed page 1, a big no-no as far as I know. £139+VAT then £99+VAT
0161 968 8041 I told him he was annoying me and I was hang
I had the exact same call.
Ashley offering to put me in a sponsored link on Google through Adwords, he guaranteed page 1, a big no-no as far as I know. £139+VAT then £99+VAT
0161 968 8041 I told him he was annoying me and I was hang
Mind the other one where they offer to advertise for you plus support 'Brake' or something to do with the police, usually based in Liverpool - got caught with this one £169 - how stupid am I!
having listed my business on a free listing recently i received a call from the forrester fund . these people claim to be a charity but i smelt a rat. instantly goggled their telephone number and all the info came up warning about these people scamming pe
i was called today from ashley 0161 968 8043 offering top google searches for £130 for my company !!!! be aware as i have being had before in the past .
17 Jun 2010
Simon PayneI was called today offer support and SEO from this website.
Thanks for the information.
thanks for info on scam
Thank you for the information, I have had several calls but did not note the name of the company/individual. I thought it was a bit strange so asked for all the information to be put in writing!
We have just had a call from a company claiming that they represented "The Forrester Fund". As far as I can see with a quick check of the tinterweb, it all looks genuine. BUT if you look a bit further down the Google list it unfolds into a tail about the
hi i keep getting calls from a company calling itself vision can you tell me if this is bogus they try to get me to advertise in some magazine for kids cancer charity
if you kan tell me if they are ok or not. regards
grahams painters.
if you kan tell me if they are ok or not. regards
grahams painters.
Thank you for this vaulable piece of information - it is gratefully recieved. I have signposted many of my self employed friends to your site as I think it is one of the best around! Thank you again
Thank you for the information,
Brilliant service,
Kind Regards.
Brilliant service,
Kind Regards.
Thank you for this! I have had calls actually, again from an 0161 number but I didn't take note. If they call again, I will definitely get more details and hopefully you can track them down! I love this site - thank you for being the best. I have told l
8 Jun 2010
George SkylarkYeah thanks for warning, but hopefully nothing like this in Red Rock ICT. But if it will happen, we let you know. Kind regards
thanks for the warning, will comply. Have told some new people who are signing up with you about how good you are.
Helpfull
I joined this site today and have 4 phone calls already, they are like vultures, if i get anymore i will try and get some details from them.
no
had a call yeaterday about up grading my account?
very grateful.
Thank you I do appreciate this warning. Kind Regards Liz
I was contacted by a male last week after submitting my information. They told me that i would be charged £4 per hit to the site. I did not give them any payment details but told them to cancel my request at this point they hung up the phone.
thank you very much for letting me know
Excelent
just had a phone call from a person telling me they where from freeindex and could guarantee me first page on google for a monthly fee.
Is this genuine? there phone number was 0161 241 3670.
regards,
colin brazier.
Is this genuine? there phone number was 0161 241 3670.
regards,
colin brazier.
Thank you for the warning!
27 Jan 2010
Margaret RyanThank you for letting me now i will keep a watch out for this thank you once again
Thankyou
Are there any problems at the moment as i have not received any reviews lately and i have been told that they have been sent.
Are there any problems at the moment as i have not received any reviews lately and i have been told that they have been sent.
thank you for the information. d h allen
Thank you for the information if i am contacted i will tell you right away.
Thanks for the warning
8 Jan 2010
Lyndon Charmanreceived a call today,but did not give any details,many thanks,centrfurb.
Hi I received a phone call from a person called Craig trying to sell me some upgraded version for 289 + Vat the number he gave me was 08447361089.
VERY WORTHWHILE WARNING
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
Thank you for the warning.
Very professional and timely.
Very professional and timely.
thank you
ok.Thanks
27 Dec 2009
Steven ThornleyTHIS IS A GREAT IMPROVEMENT TO YOUR WEBSITE
Thanks for the advice.
Good call! A very important piece of info, nice one!
Many thanks for the warning
Thanks for informing me of this scam.
Thank you for letting me no busnisses like ours try to get scammed quite alot . Many Thanks and you have a fantastic web site. Have recommended prople to use this.
thats Nice to Know i will inform ICL Members
Thank you
8 Dec 2009
Vasile Robuvery useful, is good to know
unfortunately I think that we have been a victim of these calls and as an upgrade to our details paid a sum of money to this fraudster.
Many thanks for the information - I will of course let you know if I receive any such calls
Dean Archer
Dean Archer
Thanks for being busines savy and making us aware of the scams out there to destroy the community
We are getting emails asking us to re-new our active advert - is this a scam.
Thankyou for this information, I am now very aware of this..
More organisations should be putting out the articles of this nature to stop the fraudsters!
Thanks
Thank you for this infprmatipn which has been noted
Thanking you for your prompt advice to scam problems
Regards
Steve
Regards
Steve
Thank you for making me aware of this fact.
thank you for this!!!!!!i will be on the look out now!!!cheers!!!!!!!
Thanks for your warning and advice. Des Sheppard
I think this is a great idea for companies who advertise with you, give them a reassurance and a sense of security that they only deal with genuine businesses and prospect leads.
6 Dec 2009
Joanne Hi i cannot edit my profile the part that tells you about the third party and not to use WE etc
I have just listed my mobile number for txts offering leads, is this genuine??
Thanks very much for your info.
Kind regards
Kind regards
Thank you very much for the responsible approach to notifying customers listed of this activity. Much appreciated
This is very heartening to read. I have not however been approached.
thank you for this info,will be on guard cheers!!!!
Great to know
Thnak you for keeping us informed
I've just received an email seemingly for Freeindex asking me to 'set my preferences'. The link leads to http://www.freeindex.co.uk/myfreeindex%28leadupdate%29.htm
Is this a scam too or is it genuine?
Is this a scam too or is it genuine?
hi there, i have had various calls from 07891384420 asking for card details. Please call me 07916351065 should you want further details. Alan Blakey.
Thanks for the information
Thank you for updates
very usefull, thanks
Nice to know ...
Thanks
Thanks
Thank you for protecting us from the scammers
Thanks for the heads up guys!!
Thanks for advice
Interesting,informative and helpful, thanks!
Thanks for the heads up!
Chris
Chris
I received a call last week - said he could get me onto google first page - only name I managed to get was "Des". or is he infact working for you. Its a bit of a coincidence?
Thank you it is good to know that freeindex is on the ball
thanx for this notice , keep up the great you all do
Thanks for the info. Great to see that you are on top of these issues.
VERY PRO ACTIVE
Thank you for this information, we will try to take details.
Thank you that was really good to know:)
Thank you for telling us,we will let you know if we get any calls.
Regards Mr G Coles
Regards Mr G Coles
Many Thanks for the warning.
Ivana Cullup
The Healing Room
Ivana Cullup
The Healing Room
Ok thank you
havent had any calls but I know freeindex would not do that but I am carefull if I do get any calls i will contact you
I have had a call. Didn't give details but did ask for payment to upgrade listing. Line of approach was my free listing has ended & I now need to pay. I told them I wasn't interested. This was approx 3 wks ago.
thank you .
all noted and thanks for your support
rose
rose
Thank you. Freeindex is very responsible.
ok cheers for the heads up
i have had contacts from somebody purporting to be from google saying they got my phone number from this site and promising lots of leads
Thank you> Good to know you are working with us.
Thanks for the warning. I will be careful
Thanks Freeindex Team for letting companies know about this scam. This is extrememly useful info.
Many Thanks,
Denby Security & Automations Ltd
Many Thanks,
Denby Security & Automations Ltd
VERY QUICK AND WELL ACTED UPON, KEEP-UP!
Thank you for keeping us informed.
thanks glad to know
Very good article and appropriate advice.
Thank you.
Tom for wierITfree
www.wireitfree.co.uk
Thank you.
Tom for wierITfree
www.wireitfree.co.uk
I recieved a call but was a good few weeks ago, they did ask me to pay out for different types of ads and nearly did. thanx but dont have any details
Thanks for the warning. So far I have not been scammed, but will be ready if I get a call.
Thanks FreeIndex - the site is great and I have had loads of business as a result of my listing.
Keep up the good work.
Thanks FreeIndex - the site is great and I have had loads of business as a result of my listing.
Keep up the good work.
Thank you for informing me of this, I shall keep my eye out and let you know if I am contacted.
Simon
SDM Electrical
Simon
SDM Electrical
dear freeindex i have not had any phonecalls. but if i do i will get in touch
miss m austin.
miss m austin.
cheers for the heads up!
thank you mate,
Thank you for the warning.
A Big thanks to all your Management, Your organisation stand out among others
Thanks
Thanks
Many thanks for the thumbs up on this.
Hi Clive,
Unfortunately I am not in a position to help out at this time, all resources have been allocated to current projects.
I wish you all the best with this project.
Best wishes
Adam
Unfortunately I am not in a position to help out at this time, all resources have been allocated to current projects.
I wish you all the best with this project.
Best wishes
Adam
Thanks for the heads up!
Thank you for the warning.
He just called us at 1430 2.10.09 but my boss got the call, but we've only just seen this.
Luckilly Neil told him to do one!
Thanks for the warning.
SCOTT
Luckilly Neil told him to do one!
Thanks for the warning.
SCOTT
very helpfull information thank you freeindex
thanks for the warning hope you get to the bottom of this thanks
i have had about 10 calls from some one saying they will give me 5 key words on google to help me get noticed is a scam if so could you let me no he is calling back this week some time thanks
hi thankyou for the info i will contact you if i get contacted i think it is fantastic that you have put out a security alert and wished others would do the same
regards&respect
lasersport north wales
regards&respect
lasersport north wales
Very useful and appreciate the warning.
Very helpful.
Cheers
Dave
Cheers
Dave
Do you have a business offering google adwords for Freeindex clients
yes we had an email but Im afraid I deleted it as i know you are a free site, sorry i dont have any info
regards joanna
regards joanna
Thank you for the tip off . I will let you know if anyone calls.
Don H.
Don H.
WE TO HAVE HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM
AND PUT A WARNING ON OUR WEB SITE AS WELL
AND PUT A WARNING ON OUR WEB SITE AS WELL
Thanks, I appreciate your concern and for notifying us
29 Sep 2009
Helen YoungThanks for letting me know about this, if I get a call I will find out what I can and let you know. Many thanks for the continuing good work.
Regards Helen Young
Regards Helen Young
YES i was contacted by lavora marketing and i paid £139 for adds on google. They have generated NO work at all and i deem them a total waste of money that i don't really have to spare
thanks
gb roofing solutions
gb roofing solutions
thankyou for letting us know i will be more alert
thanks
Hi i have been telephone by a company called merdian media asking for money saying that they were working on behalf of freeindex.
28 Sep 2009
David WintonThanks for the heads up on this, much appreciated.
Yes I will let you Know
THANK YOUFOR YOUR NOTIFICATION ON THIS MATTER, I HAVENT RECIEVED ANY SUCH CALLS BUT I WILL BE AWARE OF THEM NOW. THANKS AGAIN.
PERRY
COOKERTECH SERVICE.
PERRY
COOKERTECH SERVICE.
Thank you for information
UK Based & Owned