Oh, the levels pseudo-employers will go to in order to drive traffic to their sites and to get in your email face. Yours truly responded to a Craig’s List ad in my area asking for press release writing. Mind you, Frumpie went to great lengths to craft a good query and to send appropriate samples. The auto-response came back: “Click here for more job details.” But that’s not all; the page expects you to put in your name and email in order to view the entire info.
Guess what? There’s no press release work at all! No no no… what we have here is a web site called GigCrib that promises to send me work links for free. Now I ask you; is that really what was advertised?
Within minutes of signing up, the first jobs came in (as did the link to the “free” ebook). Here’s the first “JOB”:
Freelancing really is a great way to earn a living. You
can work from your own home, and earn a high income doing
interesting work such as writing, design and programming.
And it’s easy to find lucrative freelance projects when
you join Go Freelance.
Right now, you can sign up for a trial membership at just
$2.95, with no commitment or obligation. You get
immediate access to all the fresh jobs and
resources in our database. So in just ten minutes from
now, you could be earning money online.
There really has never been a better time to be a
freelancer – whatever your skills or experience, there
are opportunities for you to do extremely well as a
freelance professional.
Click here to join and find top-dollar freelance jobs
right now:
(Link removed to save you making that mistake)
P.S. Join today and you also get a bonus copy of Million
Dollar Freelancing – valued at over $100.00, but yours to
keep if you sign up now.
P.P.S. Membership is limited – so be sure to join now to
secure your place while you still can.
The other JOB:
She Makes $100s a Day at Home – You Can, Too
My wife’s best friend has a hobby that earns her a lot of
money. Not only does she get paid real cash for filling
in simple forms and surveys, she also gets great free
gifts and bonuses.
When we met yesterday, she showed us her latest freebies
- a case of good-quality wine, gift vouchers for a major
department store, a free vacation weekend and an Apple
iPod. And she also had a very healthy check ready to
deposit. How does she do it? Just click below to find out
her secrets:
ANOTHER LINK REMOVED: SAME REASON
P.S. My wife was so impressed, she joined in, too. And we
are already making money…and getting free gifts. What a
system!
That second link takes one to a marketing website. Press releases? Liars!!!
Harumph. And Frump you, GigCrib.
December 7, 2007 at 7:08 pm |
That would tick me off too. Nothing is worse then being duped into wasting you time.
December 7, 2007 at 10:42 pm |
*grimaces* Some people will try anything to generate visits. I wonder if they realise that these sorts of misleading practices actually do far more harm to their potential profit margins then playing fair would.
December 7, 2007 at 10:46 pm |
Call ‘em out, Frump!!!
December 8, 2007 at 12:21 am |
Grrrr. Go Freelance ads drive me up a wall! They’re everywhere, and always disguised. They’re almost as bad as all of the “jobs” for Associated Content on job search sites. I actually found a site who’s entire writing section was populated by Associated Content. It wasn’t even a freelance job site! I notified the site of the *ahem* inappropriate ads, and the next time I checked they were gone.
December 8, 2007 at 5:38 am |
GoFreelance.com a.k.a. Freelance Work Exchange is major trouble. I have posted about them quite a bit on my own blog. Many users have reported being unable to cancel that trial membership or contact customer service, and meanwhile their card or PayPal account keeps getting charged!
Here’s one of my more recent posts about them:
http://www.katharineswan.com/2007/08/gofreelancecom-fails-again-to-keep-rob.html
And here was my very first post, which discusses in detail the problems with that “trial membership” (read: steal your billing info):
http://www.katharineswan.com/2006/05/is-freelance-work-exchange-scam.html
In other words, working with affiliates who use underhanded means is only the beginning of how low this company will stoop…
December 11, 2007 at 5:10 pm |
I applied for the same “job” in Detroit. I got that weird email asking for more info. It looked suspect. Thank you for your post. I’m telling everyone I know to avoid these dirty scammers.
December 12, 2007 at 5:54 am |
Writing Frump and PRGirl:
Does this look like your ad?
http://kansascity.craigslist.org/wri/506000637.html
This ad doesn’t sound to me like a genuine job opportunity. I’m thinking GigCrib is probably posting in multiple cities.
December 12, 2007 at 1:47 pm |
That’s the one! Yes, avoid this one. It’s definitely not as advertised. I would suggest flagging it as a scam so others aren’t also wasting time applying.
December 12, 2007 at 10:17 pm |
Just flagged it. All of them, actually, as they’d posted several times on the KC board.
December 18, 2007 at 10:47 pm |
Yep, I got the same frabbajabba when I inquired about the craigslist “job” writing press releases! I immediately did an engine search on GigCrib, which led me to this page. Thankfully, I didn’t give them my real name and any subsequent emails will go directly into my trash where they belong.
Thanks for the heads up!
January 4, 2008 at 4:16 pm |
They’re still at it. They just hit Chicago. This time the scam says they want writers for an entertainment blog. The email is set up with an autoresponse email telling me to log on to gigcrib (which was not working at the time of this writing) – I did a google search and found this page which confirmed my suspicions. I flagged the post. As if finding legitimate work wasn’t hard enough already!
January 15, 2008 at 3:31 am |
Well, duh. I wish I’d have stumbled on this site before I, too, wasted my time fashioning a crafy letter and samples to a dead-end crapgig page. The press release scheme is now in the Duluth/Superior area. It’s frustrating trying to find work that is real. I’d like to turn the scammers into a cloud of charged particles, and then shine a black light on them and watch them sparkle….
January 18, 2008 at 8:37 pm |
There has got to be a way for Craigslist to block these BS ads. And, where the hell can you find legit freelance opprotunities?
It’s counter productive to use this techniue to get traffic; they get no conversion from pissed off freelancers. What’s the point of attracting traffic if the traffic leaves- it’s a broken technique and the perpetrators need to filtered out.
January 25, 2008 at 9:39 pm |
I was on Craigslist looking for a job (naturally, part-time as I am still only a student) and I find something on writing game reviews. SOUNDS good–but it was total lie. After I punched in my e-mail, I paused realizing my error. I lost to The Man.
January 31, 2008 at 7:25 pm |
Similar experience on this end. First I see this ad for writing press releases. As the daily emails began to roll in I was smelling a rat- and I knew that the press release job was just a come-on. Basically I just grew to ignore the emails
Oddly enough, just recently the emails stopped for a bit. Last nite my girlfriend told me about this Craigslist ad she saw about writing for some “entertainment blog”. I began to smell a rat again….
Then I discover a new email from Gigcrib. I opened it and gave it a good look. It was titled “Type an Audio File” but this one is about how you can earn money from a website merely by having visitors to it- the visitors don’t even have to click on anything! That’s right- you can ear money by doing nothing!
Uh-huh…. I decided to google Gigcrib. and that is how I got here.
February 1, 2008 at 10:07 pm |
Just found one of their craigslist posts in the DC area – luckily I smelled something fishy and found your site before I entered my info. If anybody has the time head over there and mark it as spam. It’s in the “gigs” section.
February 2, 2008 at 9:31 am |
Just now did the same. Got an “auto reply” and immediately was thankful I’m smart enough to use a “throwaway” address.
I crafted a nice, succinct email, too. But I’m glad I didn’t waste time with samples. I figured if this were legit, they’d understand an initial communication where the person was seeking website and style information.
GigCrib… they must realize most real freelancers wouldn’t pay this (unless they’re the gambling sort). They must make their money off young, new and naive-to-the-internet writers.
Good luck out there, everybody. Thanks for the blog!
February 2, 2008 at 9:35 am |
Oh, I forgot to mention, these people also advertise in SoCal, where I’m from. If you visit certain freelancing sites, you’ll notice droves of people hiring “craigslist advertisers” with strict requirements to being able to get around filters, flagging, staff bans, “ghosting” (where ads don’t show up), and auto blocks.
When that “spam service” starts to ruin their own flag threshold by getting flagged easily or banned, the hiring company ditches them and hires another.
Whoever is running this site knows full well the rules he’s breaking and is paying good money to do it.
February 22, 2008 at 1:49 am |
I just found these scammers on Craigs List in Orlando. I flagged all of their recent entries after I found this info. What a shame.
May 19, 2008 at 6:33 pm |
Gigcrib is at it again. I saw an ad for a job managing an AdWords campaign in Miami craigslist. It sounded WAY to easy for the money they claimed to be offering, but what the heck, I sent in a email anyway. I got an email back telling me to go to gigcrib & the /apply page. It sounded wrong, so I Googled gigcrib and found this article.
Thanks for saving me the trouble of even clicking on the link.
May 19, 2008 at 10:14 pm |
[...] Turning The Hounds on You The blogosphere is a marvelous tool for spreading the word. In this case, Frumpie here spread some news back in December about a company that had no business putting up an ad for help. Refresh your memory here. [...]
May 21, 2008 at 4:39 pm |
Thanks for the heads up. I got one of their reply emails to a “job” I had applied for. Looked suspicous so I did a Google Search for “Gigcrib” and found this and all sorts of other websites.
Really sad that people sink so low!
Best,
Christine Bean
May 26, 2008 at 4:25 pm |
Writers are the most scammed, under appreciated workers in the world these days. Sooooo tired of reading a job description, only to find out at the end that “it is a great opportunity to expand your portfolio” or”get credit on our masthead.”
And Craigslist is the absolute worst site EVER for writers looking for real gigs. It’s a spam fest now and rarely is there a post worth looking at.
May 30, 2008 at 8:21 am |
I had exactly the same experience in St. Louis. Exact same ad. I too sent writing samples, etc. I flagged the listing as Spam/Overpost. Hopefully it will be removed.
May 30, 2008 at 1:16 pm |
Saw this site on Google. I have been searching for a part time work at home job. I have health problems and that perfect for me.
It is good I don’t buy into these things easily. I was burned a few times before. Google EZ Income, I a scam, they said pay 1.95 for cd, which I never got, then took $39.90 for a membership, that I never saw on the website. The phone number showing in my account for the EZ Income was bogus. This month they did it again. I have waited 2 weeks for refund. I will turn over to BBB of bad business practice.
I have made it a point to look up these jobs with the BBB.org, also a valueable website, Frump, is Ripoff Reports.com, and Fraudwatchers.org.
Frump, thanks for this website.
May 30, 2008 at 1:21 pm |
Hello, me again. There are legit job sites that outsource work, mostly on a temp basis. Most are Medical Transcription, or Legal Transcription, but they do have others. You’ll these jobs because the don’t pay well, but they don’t advertise on Craigslist. I think I still have a list.
June 2, 2008 at 9:30 pm |
Just wanted to let more people in on the GigCrib scam because it happened to me, too.
June 3, 2008 at 7:39 pm |
[...] astounds me how many of you are still writing to me about the GigCrib ads. Since posting about the pseudo-job ad back in December, Frumpie here has heard from over 20 souls who have seen the ad or have wasted [...]
July 21, 2008 at 9:15 am |
I am sooooo glad that I ALWAYS do research BEFORE I sign up at any site. That gigcrib s**t is all over craigslist. Because I had responded to an ad for a call for “poetry writers” and it turned out to be gigcrib. I am flagging the ads. They have them posted in more than one section. I hate these stupid f*ing scammers. They all need to get a life instead of sitting on their fat a**es all day, scamming people for a buck.
July 21, 2008 at 1:02 pm |
Dear, you really need to come out of your shell and tell us what you really think …
Thank you for posting, Chicago Below. I’m very happy we were able to help you. And thank you for flagging the ads. Every little bit helps!
November 3, 2008 at 1:22 am |
I replied to a (legitimate-sounding) Craigslist Cleveland OH ad for home transcribing, just asking for more information. I got a reply back less than minute later (on a Sunday morning, so naturally I was suspicious) directing me to a gigcrib link, which automatically directed me to http://www.homebusinessmatchingexperts.com. So I looked up gigcribs and landed here.
Oh, yeah, they were advertising themselves as Vanguard Placements.
November 10, 2008 at 1:53 am |
BEWARE!! CROOKS ARE EVERYWHERE!! READ FURTHER HOW THIS GUY MAKES HIS MONEY BY WORKING AT HOME!
I just got the shame from an ad stating “Small business is searching for people to enter data.” A copy of the ad is at the very end of this message.
So I replied and received a response for me to reply to: “http://www.gigcrib.com/recruiting/”. So I clicked on the link, it asked me to provide my name, address, phone number and paste my resume. Frankly I was a little bit suspicious but I proceeded after all I was seeking employment. Upon completing the form and submitting it, the site redirected me to another site “www.beyond.com.” It redirected me to a page asking whether I wanted to pay $24.95 for a pre-employment credit check report. It implies that one will be placed ahead of other applicants who are applying for the same position because you have a copy of an “Employment Credit Check” report. THAT’S THE SCAM!!! First, it doesn’t cost an employer $24.95 rather anywhere from $6.95 and up. Secondly, you’ll have to provide the site your SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. GUESS WHAT MAY HAPPEN TO YOU NEXT??? Here’s the link that took me to that page: http://www.beyond.com/JS/CareerResources/CareerCertify/BGCheck.asp. Just be aware; this site is out of Prussia, PA and New York, NY. Check the respective’s state’s BBB before providing over the net your social security number and once you’re satisfied don’t ever provide your SS# over the net unless it is with a secured server, e.g. “https”.
After being SCAMMED to provide my resume which is now on this guy’s web, which he’ll probably market in someway, I became rather p*ssed off! So I did a little investigating and found the following.
The person’s name who is the registrant of the http://www.gibcrib.com is:
Shane Luther
6917 Brookglen Ln
Fort Worth, Texas 76179
United States
Domain Name: GIGCRIB.COM
Created on: 01-Oct-07
Expires on: 01-Oct-09
Last Updated on: 02-Oct-08
Administrative Contact:
Luther, Shane
6917 Brookglen Ln
Fort Worth, Texas 76179
United States
(817) 773-1610
Technical Contact:
Luther, Shane
6917 Brookglen Ln
Fort Worth, Texas 76179
United States
(817) 773-1610
Domain servers in listed order:
NS163.HOSTGATOR.COM
NS164.HOSTGATOR.COM
Here’s the email address: links@lcubehost.net
This guy has 147 other domains.
So let’s scam him. I’m going to contact our state Attorney General’s office tomorrow, Federal Trade Commission, and the Texas State’s Attorney’s office.
this posting to a friend oklahoma city craigslist > admin/office jobs
please flag with care:
miscategorized
prohibited
spam/overpost
best of craigslist
Avoid scams and fraud by dealing locally! Beware any deal involving Western Union, Moneygram, wire transfer, cashier check, money order, shipping, escrow, or any promise of transaction protection/certification/guarantee. More info
Bank in Oklahoma city is needing workers to enter data to work from house (Oklahoma city)
Reply to: see below
Date: 2008-11-05, 10:04AM CST
Small business is searching for people to enter data.
Work will be performed remotely.
There are slots for full time or part time employees
Micosoft Word and computer proficiency is required.
Pay range : $10 – $15/hr based on experience
Please request more information by sending an email to: superiorplacements@gmail.com
* Location: Oklahoma city
* Compensation: $15
* Telecommuting is ok.
* This is a part-time job.
* Principals only. Recruiters, please don’t contact this job poster.
* Please, no phone calls about this job!
* Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.
PostingID: 906655423
No contact info? if the poster didn’t include a phone number, email, or
other contact info, craigslist can notify them via email.
Copyright © 2008 craigslist, inc. terms of use privacy policy feedback forum
FRUMPS, THANKS FOR YOUR WEBSITE.
November 18, 2008 at 12:49 am |
I sent a copy of this page as my reply to their job advertisement here in PORTLAND OR l am curiously awaiting a reply.
November 18, 2008 at 1:11 pm |
Dear de, I am tickled to have been able to help you, dear! Please do let us know what has transpired. I would be happy to post your entire correspondence here (keeping your identity safe, of course) should you get a response…..
November 25, 2008 at 2:22 am |
I saw a bunch of variously-titled ads for data entry in Indianapolis… I did enquire, but the speed of reply at 9 at night, and the generic feel of the email set me off, as did the link, requesting I go through an online employment risk assessment/background check.
I caught the GigCrib name, which itself doesn’t sound legit, googled it, and got here. Good thing I did.
I replied back to one of the emails, asking them to verify that they were NOT just fowarding me to “free” freelance job sites (very politely, of course).
I have yet to hear back.