Porn sites charged with billing for free pics - GoFuckYourself.com

VeriSexy · 08-23-2005, 11:06 AM

Dozens of porn sites have been hit with a lawsuit claiming they have been billing punters for eyeing images that were offered for free.

The sites named in the suit include Playgirl.com and Highsociety.com. The Federal Trade Commission and the New York attorney general filed the lawsuit yesterday. FTC director Steven Baker rated it as one of the 'biggest Internet scams I've ever seen.'

The customers have been getting billed because they give up their credit card details to take a free tour around the X-rated sites. Like many porn sites and e-commerce sites, Playgirl.com and Highsociety.com require credit card details as proof visitors are over 18. You have to enter your card details even if you're just after a free thrill.

The complaint states people have been charged between $20 and $90 a month in membership fees after visiting the sites. In some cases they have had to cancel cards just to stop the payments. The suit also claims that the company behind the sites, Crescent Publishing Group, rarely gives out phone numbers so punters found it difficult to call and challenge the charges.

Reuters reports that the suit states the 'free tour' Web sites took $141 million in revenue during the first 10

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2000/08..._with_billing/

Fletch XXX · 08-23-2005, 11:07 AM

aol has 1 chargeback a year

SmokeyTheBear · 08-23-2005, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fletch XXX

aol has 1 chargeback a year

I was just thinking the same thing..

Mainstream companies are using the same methods , and often sneakier..

AOL should have been sued out of its shoes when it started for not telling people about long distance charges..

Most rural users signed up for the aol free trial and ended up with hundreds of dollars in phone bills.

ElvisManson · 08-23-2005, 11:13 AM

Insert timeline pic.

VeriSexy · 08-23-2005, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElvisManson

Insert timeline pic.

Please go away!!!

mrkris · 08-23-2005, 11:15 AM

Technically you could charge for the service, not the pictures. eg; "you pay us $35 a month and we give you a login/pass to all our areas containing these services, pictures, etc"

that is how you make money off of opensource software. you sell the service, not the product.

ElvisManson · 08-23-2005, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VeriSexy

Please go away!!!

did you just figure out how to use an RSS feed reader or something?

How many old news posts are you going to make?

KRL · 08-23-2005, 11:17 AM

That story is old last year news.

VirtuMike · 08-23-2005, 12:00 PM

That was dated August 24, 2000. And it was old news back then too.

Phoenix · 08-23-2005, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VirtuMike

That was dated August 24, 2000. And it was old news back then too.

haha...didnt they already put some italian dude in jail for this?

detoxed · 08-23-2005, 12:03 PM

Lol Sooooo Damn Old

cherrylula · 08-23-2005, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phoenix

haha...didnt they already put some italian dude in jail for this?

yeah, posting 5 year old news is now a felony.

Phoenix · 08-23-2005, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherrylula

yeah, posting 5 year old news is now a felony.

it should be

The Ghost · 08-23-2005, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherrylula

yeah, posting 5 year old news is now a felony.

Scootermuze · 08-23-2005, 12:26 PM

Anyone that gives cc info for something free is taking a chance....

triumph · 08-23-2005, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KRL

That story is old last year news.

The Article is from 2000.

Wow, we need a major timeline pic here.

08-23-2005, 11:06 AM	#1
VeriSexy Join The Royal Family Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 25,463	Porn sites charged with billing for free pics Dozens of porn sites have been hit with a lawsuit claiming they have been billing punters for eyeing images that were offered for free. The sites named in the suit include Playgirl.com and Highsociety.com. The Federal Trade Commission and the New York attorney general filed the lawsuit yesterday. FTC director Steven Baker rated it as one of the 'biggest Internet scams I've ever seen.' The customers have been getting billed because they give up their credit card details to take a free tour around the X-rated sites. Like many porn sites and e-commerce sites, Playgirl.com and Highsociety.com require credit card details as proof visitors are over 18. You have to enter your card details even if you're just after a free thrill. The complaint states people have been charged between $20 and $90 a month in membership fees after visiting the sites. In some cases they have had to cancel cards just to stop the payments. The suit also claims that the company behind the sites, Crescent Publishing Group, rarely gives out phone numbers so punters found it difficult to call and challenge the charges. Reuters reports that the suit states the 'free tour' Web sites took $141 million in revenue during the first 10 http://www.theregister.co.uk/2000/08..._with_billing/ __________________ Looking for a KICK ASS TEEN SPONSOR? Check out ROYAL CASH - THE KING OF TEEN! Incredible webmaster tools FHGs, Morphing Blog and RSS Feeds, Embedded FLV & WMV Videos. With TOP RATIO Sites like TeenStarsOnly.com - Earn $$ with our New Site & Bonus Payouts!! ATMovs.com \| iTeenVideo.com \| TeenSexMovs.com \| TeenSexMania.com

08-23-2005, 11:07 AM	#2
Fletch XXX GFY HALL OF FAME DAMMIT!!! Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: that 504 Posts: 60,840	aol has 1 chargeback a year __________________ Want an Android App for your tube, membership, or free site? Need banners or promo material? Hit us up (ICQ Fletch: 148841377) or email me fletchxxx at gmail.com - recent work - About me

08-23-2005, 11:15 AM	#6
mrkris Confirmed User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 2,737	Technically you could charge for the service, not the pictures. eg; "you pay us $35 a month and we give you a login/pass to all our areas containing these services, pictures, etc" that is how you make money off of opensource software. you sell the service, not the product. __________________ PHP-MySQL-Rails \| ICQ: 342500546

08-23-2005, 11:17 AM	#8
KRL Entrepreneur Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: USA Posts: 31,429	That story is old last year news. __________________ If you would like to develop your domains, you can lease inexpensive foreign labor from the leaders in the field at iWebmasters.com TO LOWER YOUR COSTS AND INCREASE YOUR PRODUCTION! * * * * * * * * * * * * Domains Adult News KRL's Newsletter Biz Tips Just Listed Domains

08-23-2005, 12:00 PM	#9
VirtuMike Confirmed User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Seat 1A Posts: 2,483	That was dated August 24, 2000. And it was old news back then too. __________________ Host it in AMSTERDAM at EUROTIVITY! - We also offer BACKUP SERVICES! XYZZY4L

08-23-2005, 11:13 AM	#4
ElvisManson Looking California Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 5,476	Insert timeline pic.

08-23-2005, 12:03 PM	#11
detoxed vip member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 17,798	Lol Sooooo Damn Old

08-23-2005, 12:26 PM	#15
Scootermuze Confirmed User Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 4,513	Anyone that gives cc info for something free is taking a chance....