Swipebids are SCAM artists.
Swipebids is an auction company that you are supposed to be able to buy things at a reduced price for very little money. You are supposed to be able to buy bids for 10 cents each and when the bidding ends,( after a preset time) if you were the last bidder you win the product.
I thought I would purchase maybe a hundred bids and see if I could win something that I wanted.When I hit the "Purchase Bids" button, I found out they had preset what they call a "Large Bid Pack" of 300 bids for $150.00, which they almost immediately charged my Debit card. When I called them about it, they said the second order for bids would be 10 cents a bid, not the first. I asked them where that was stated on their website and he admitted it was not on there. These bids cost 50 cents instead of the 10 cents that was advertised on their website.
I asked for a refund and they refused.I checked their auction and it starts out at a preset time, but when it get down to where the bidding time is almost over, (usually about 12 seconds) about 10 seconds is added after each bid so the time will not run out.I also noticed some bidders will have the high bid but will bid again anyway to keep the time from expiring.The only reason I can see they would want to do this is because they are company employees whose job is to run the price up and not allow the time to expire until they get the money they want for the item. I noticed that some of the winners are these same people. Also if the bidding is slow, they will add as much as 2 minutes to the time for it to end.
I also noticed they are selling the same items over and over again. I don't know if they have a large inventory of these items or if they are the same ones.When you bid, the price increases by 1 cent. If the last bid is $35.00 which is what most of the higher priced items stop at, it means they have had 3500 bids on that item at 50 cents a bid or $1750.00 for a $600 item. You also have to pay the bid price plus shipping to get the item you won.This is the biggest rip-off scam I have encountered so far on the internet. I have filed a complaint with the FCC and BBB of Utah, but have heard nothing from them as yet. If you receive an Email from them asking you to join the auction, DELETE it immediately. You will lose your money and have nothing to show for it.
I thought I would purchase maybe a hundred bids and see if I could win something that I wanted.When I hit the "Purchase Bids" button, I found out they had preset what they call a "Large Bid Pack" of 300 bids for $150.00, which they almost immediately charged my Debit card. When I called them about it, they said the second order for bids would be 10 cents a bid, not the first. I asked them where that was stated on their website and he admitted it was not on there. These bids cost 50 cents instead of the 10 cents that was advertised on their website.
I asked for a refund and they refused.I checked their auction and it starts out at a preset time, but when it get down to where the bidding time is almost over, (usually about 12 seconds) about 10 seconds is added after each bid so the time will not run out.I also noticed some bidders will have the high bid but will bid again anyway to keep the time from expiring.The only reason I can see they would want to do this is because they are company employees whose job is to run the price up and not allow the time to expire until they get the money they want for the item. I noticed that some of the winners are these same people. Also if the bidding is slow, they will add as much as 2 minutes to the time for it to end.
I also noticed they are selling the same items over and over again. I don't know if they have a large inventory of these items or if they are the same ones.When you bid, the price increases by 1 cent. If the last bid is $35.00 which is what most of the higher priced items stop at, it means they have had 3500 bids on that item at 50 cents a bid or $1750.00 for a $600 item. You also have to pay the bid price plus shipping to get the item you won.This is the biggest rip-off scam I have encountered so far on the internet. I have filed a complaint with the FCC and BBB of Utah, but have heard nothing from them as yet. If you receive an Email from them asking you to join the auction, DELETE it immediately. You will lose your money and have nothing to show for it.
Tags: Auctions
Views: 2603
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Justin Asking on -
Without prejudice I offer the following advice:
Before joining any group claiming to be a class action suit, I urge you to examine the facts as presented and ask specific questions. Examine the pros and cons and make an informed decision. We all know now what an impulse decision can do our bank accounts and stress levels after dealings with swipebids.
1/ Ask what is the time frame or how long the law firm estimates it will take to complete this law suit. Do you really want to wait months or years to get your money back with only a gamblers chance to do so with your abilities to choose alternate methods limited by a possible written agreement? If this class action suit is unsuccessful does that diminish or eliminate your ability to try other methods?
2/ Will you be bound by agreement to not seek recovery of your money lost in any other ways such as government agency or consumer protection group?
3/ Are you bound to secrecy by a gag order that prevent you from making further public complaints as warnings to others?
4/ What is the stated purpose of this lawsuit? Is it simply to recover sums of money that some people have claimed as being stolen with some punitive damages or is the intent stated to bring any of the types of suspected criminal actions of the defendant to an end with injunctions and cease and desist order that would benefit yourselves and future victims of any alleged actives?
5/ Could the possible positive outcome of this civil action lead to the pursuit of a criminal complaint filed against this defendant?
You may well find that you can obtain a refund from swipebids much sooner on your own by pursuing complaints to consumer rights groups and government agencies. Such actions would make the alleged actions of swipebids more public and under scrutiny of a broader range of law enforcement officials. Please take note that there are many such agencies that could assist you and a failure to obtain your refund at one would not limit your ability to try other resources. If you have exhausted these other forms of obtaining your refund without success there is always the possibility to join any valid class action suit afterwards. I feel that there is no need to fall for that tired old “hurry, hurry, only four minutes left to register as a member” chant that we have seen used elsewhere.
I am not warning anyone against joining any such class action suit, just to examine the facts and make an informed decision based on information presented to you and not based on impulse rooted in the want for vengeance.
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Permalink Reply by Garry Staranchuk on -
My understanding of the law pertaining to this case is, it is contract law. If it is, I believe there is no provision for punitive damages. All you can ask for is the amount of money you are out. This law is intended to make you whole, not give you a bonanza. That may be something to ask the lawyer.
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Permalink Reply by Justin Asking on
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Thank-you Gary, I'm sure there are many questions to ask that I haven't mentioned above that may limit your abilities to seek further justice if you are bound to an agreement in any class action suit. All I am seeking is that people do ask and not just blindly join in.
Justin
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Permalink Reply by Garry Staranchuk on
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I couldn't agree with you more. I am not really sure a class action lawsuit is the thing to do unless it will help in getting Jesse Willms banned from setting up and operating or even having anything to do with internet businesses. This guy is just out to make money at the expense of the users of the internet. He has no scrouples or conscience. He is just a scam artist. However, if he can be hit hard monetarily that would ruin him forever, go for it.
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Permalink Reply by Justin Asking on
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Thank-you for your support of this cause in this manner Mr.Boccino! Re your resource links:
You are not alone:
Blogger Boon - SwipeBids Scam
Scam Raiders - Swipebids are SCAM artists
Scam.com SWIPEBIDS.COM scam
SiteJabber.com - SwipeBids Reviews
PissedOffConsumer.com - Sphere Media LLC - SwipeBids Scam
ComplaintsBoard.com - WWW.SWIPEBIDS.COM Complaints
Search results 32 matching "www.swipebids.com"
Thank-you for including links to these other scam reporting sites but found the Scam Raiders link to be defective. Here is the working link and additional listings for ComplaintsBoard.com
Scam Raiders - Swipebids are SCAM artists
http://www.scamraiders.com/forum/topics/swipebids-are-scam-artists
Scam Raiders - Swipebids are SCAM artists
ComplaintsBoard.com - ?search=swipebids&everything=Everything
http://www.complaintsboard.com/?search=swipebids&everything=Eve...
Search results 211 matching "swipebids"
ComplaintsBoard.com – ?search=+Just+Think+Media&everything=Everything
http://www.complaintsboard.com/?search=+Just+Think+Media&everyt...
Search results 320 matching "Just Think Media"
ComplaintsBoard.com – ?search=Jesse+Willms&everything=Everything
http://www.complaintsboard.com/?search=Jesse+Willms&everything=...
Search results 307 matching "Jesse Willms"
ComplaintsBoard.com – ?search=swipebids&everything=Everything
http://www.complaintsboard.com/?search=swipebids&everything=Eve...
Search results 211 matching "swipebids"
ComplaintsBoard.com – ?search=swipe+bids&everything=Everything
http://www.complaintsboard.com/?search=swipe+bids&everything=Ev...
Search results 15 matching "swipe bids"
In the interests of a unified movement to halt the practices of swipebids lets not forget the links to the PennyAuctionWatch.com who I believe were the first to link Jesse Willms – Just Think media with the Swipebids penny auction site:
PennyAuctionWatch.com
Have You Bid on SwipeBids?
http://www.pennyauctionwatch.com/2010/02/swipebids-penny-auction-re...
PennyAuctionWatch.com
Who is Behind SwipeBids.com?
http://www.pennyauctionwatch.com/2010/05/swipebids-jesse-willms/
PennyAuctionWatch.com
Does SwipeBids.com Really Have Government Auctions?
http://www.pennyauctionwatch.com/2010/04/swipebids/
PennyAuctionWatch.com
We Can’t Refund Your Money
http://www.pennyauctionwatch.com/2010/03/swipebids-refund/
PennyAuctionWatch.com
SwipeBids Auction for MacBook + iPad + 50,000 Bids Gone Wrong?
http://www.pennyauctionwatch.com/2010/07/swipebids-auction-for-macb...
PennyAuctionWatch.com
Friend of SwipeBids.com Winner Comments
http://www.pennyauctionwatch.com/2010/05/swipebids-reviewer/
PennyAuctionWatch.com
Comments on SwipeBids.com
http://www.pennyauctionwatch.com/2010/03/swipebids-experiences-penn...
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Permalink Reply by Justin Asking on
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I do think that the BBB has very limited powers but after six months of complaints filed with the FTC online service, how would you rate their performance to date PG? I still believe that complaints filed with the individual state’s Attorneys Generals may prove to be more effective as shown by this example from California.
http://www.naag.org/california.php
Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown, Jr. (D)
California Attorney General
Elected: 2006
1300 I St., Ste. 1740, Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 445-9555
http://ag.ca.gov/
08/31/10 - Brown Announces Arrests of Violent Gang Members Who Took Orders from Imprisoned Gang Leaders, and Calls for Action to End Cell Phone Communication from Prison
08/25/10 - Brown Files Charges Against Sham Electronic Waste Recyclers
08/25/10 - Attorney General Recovers $2 Million in Unpaid Wages for Workers Cheated by Bay Area Construction Company
08/25/10 - Movie Producer Arraigned on 89 Felony Counts in $9 Million Ponzi Scheme
08/24/10 - Brown Wins $1 Million in Restitution for Victims of Attorney-Backed Foreclosure Rescue Scam
08/23/10 - Brown Seeks $34 Million From TV's Tax Lady Roni Deutch For Victimizing Thousands Who Sought Her Aid in Dealing With the IRS
More News
August 23, 2010
For Immediate Release
Contact: (510) 622-4500
Print Version
Attachments
Brown Seeks $34 Million From TV's Tax Lady Roni Deutch For Victimizing Thousands Who Sought Her Aid in Dealing With the IRS
SACRAMENTO - Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today filed a $34 million lawsuit against television's "Tax Lady Roni Deutch" for orchestrating a "heartless scheme" that swindled thousands of people facing serious and expensive tax collection problems with the IRS.
"Tax Lady Roni Deutch is engaged in a heartless scheme that swindled people with tax problems," Brown said. "She promises to significantly reduce their IRS tax debts, but instead preys on their vulnerability, taking large up-front payments but providing little or no help in lowering their tax bills."
Deutch manufactures credibility by boasting that her tax resolution law firm, which has annual revenues of at least $25 million, is the largest of its kind in the nation. She spends $3 million a year on advertising, much of it on late-night cable TV, and frequently offers tax advice on NBC's Today Show, CNN, and CNBC.
Desperate debtors turn to Deutch based on her misleading ads that feature fictional testimonials claiming she secured large reductions in the featured clients' federal tax debts.
For example, her ad entitled "It's Your Turn" features three clients whom Deutch claims to have "saved" from having to pay thousands of dollars to the IRS. In fact, those clients still owe the IRS the full amount of their taxes, plus interest and penalties.
When potential clients call Deutch's boiler room, sales agents employ high-pressure sales tactics plus a series of misrepresentations and false promises to persuade them to retain her firm. The sales agents claim Deutch's success rate in dealing with the IRS is as high as 99 percent. But the percentage of clients whose tax bills Deutch actually reduces is a mere 10 percent.
Rather than cut clients' debts, Deutch often escalates them. She places clients in an endless loop of requests for duplicate documents that increases her fees and, due to further delays in payments to the IRS, increases clients' IRS fines and penalties.
One woman from Pico Rivera, who owed the IRS $13,000, turned to Deutch after seeing a TV ad. She paid Deutch a $1,900 retainer, but by the time the Deutch firm ended its representation, she owed the IRS hundreds of dollars more in interest and penalties, and the IRS had placed a levy against her Social Security benefits. Despite failing to take any effective action on her behalf, Deutch refused to refund the woman's retainer by falsely billing her for time the firm did not spend on her case. Deutch regularly uses false billing statements to deny her clients' refund requests.
Hundreds of clients have filed complaints with the Attorney General and other government agencies, describing Deutch's failure to reduce their IRS debts as she advertised and her refusal to refund retainers of as much as $4,700.
Brown's lawsuit says thousands of consumers in California and around the country have fallen victim to Deutch's unlawful scam, losing millions of dollars that could have been used to pay their IRS tax liabilities. The lawsuit charges that Deutch operates a deceptive tax resolution scheme that employs "a bevy of false promises and misrepresentations."
Brown's action seeks to permanently prevent Deutch from engaging in such unfair business practices and false advertising, and force her to pay victims restitution of at least $33.9 million plus civil penalties.
Brown's lawsuit follows the consumer alert he issued on March 30, 2010, warning consumers to be wary about tax debt scams. It is also one of a series of actions he has taken to protect consumers who suffered during the financial crisis and resulting economic downturn, including his 2008 lawsuit against Countrywide Home Loans that resulted in an $8.68 billion settlement, as well as recent enforcement actions against scams in the foreclosure consultant, loan modification, and property tax reassessment industries.
http://ag.ca.gov/newsalerts/index_archived.php?category=consumers&a...
Brown Wins $1 Million in Restitution for Victims of Attorney-Backed Foreclosure Rescue Scam August 24, 2010
Brown Seeks $34 Million From TV's Tax Lady Roni Deutch For Victimizing Thousands Who Sought Her Aid in Dealing With the IRS August 23, 2010
Company That Claimed Its Cookware Cured Diabetes and Heart Disease Agrees to Pay Penalty July 02, 2010
Brown Investigates Whether Tenants' Rights Are Violated in Foreclosures June 28, 2010
Brown Issues Warning about Rise of Short Sale Fraud June 17, 2010
Three More Suspects Nabbed in Million-Dollar Bait-and-Switch Home Refinance Scam June 09, 2010
Four Arrested, Five Wanted for Fleecing Hundreds of Homeowners Seeking Foreclosure Relief May 20, 2010
Brown Accuses Moody's of Refusing To Explain Its Role in Financial Crisis April 19, 2010
Brown Shuts Down Fraudulent Foreclosure Relief Companies and Recovers Cash for Scammed Homeowners March 22, 2010
Brown Stops LifeLock from Misleading Consumers about Identity Theft Protection Services March 09, 2010
Brown Forges Deal with Toyota to Help Consumers While Recalled Vehicles are Repaired February 26, 2010
Brown Subpoenas Health Plans over Claims Denials and Rate Hikes February 25, 2010
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Permalink Reply by Jay Mischel on
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Thanks for the advice, Michael.
They banned or 'blocked' me, too, when I started writing to my special 'carer for VIPs', "HARDIE SAUNDERS", querying what was going on and why they hadn't shipped the small item I bid on and 'won' last May despite the fact that they'd charged me around $10 for shipping.
This little exercise has cost me many hundreds of dollars, and, I am ashamed to admit, it's apparently the second time I've been scammed for large amounts by the same people - I'm another who applied for a free sample of Acai. My account was charged huge amounts month after month. A hard lesson to learn. Please keep me appraised of what legal actions are taken.
Jay
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Permalink Reply by Sandy Smaill on
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Good for you Michael, no snake here, wish I had fangs to bite them with!! I backed off because of the stress the whole thing caused me. I figured I tried what I could, R changed his cc's so they couldn't "take" money from them cause there seemed to be charges for bid packs he didn't win/buy on them, it's hard to prove when he thought the place legit at the time. We tried things without luck, I wanted it in the past and move on licking wounds.
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Permalink Reply by Michael on -
Olu Fasugbe - there is something about your request for contact information being sent to your email address that has a fox in the hen house feel to it. Sorry if I'm wrong but I too "DO NOT TRUST YOU". Everyone remember: "Just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you." I just joined this site today because Swipebids ripped me off for $150.00 and I won't rest until justice has been served. After I supplied my bank with all the research that I had done on Swipebids through the dispute process the bank gave me my money back. But they told me that they didn't get the money back from Swipebids. Instead they put my research in their database to be read by claim agents for future cases with Swipebids. The bank stated: Our research indicates that the transaction(s) was processed incorrectly or was not "authorized". And that is why they put the money back in my account. Swipebids won't be winning any more disputes with them.
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Permalink Reply by Garry Staranchuk on
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I was shocked when I was charged $159.00 to join. There was no notice before you complete the registration, no provision to confirm and agree to the charge and no way to reverse or cancel the charge. This is an illegal practice and needs to be acted on. I joined on August 9, 2010.
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Permalink Reply by Garry Staranchuk on
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Thanks Justin. Something just dawned on me. Take a close look at the name, SWIPE bids. The name says it all. Is this a real name or a made up name for this scamming business? It fits!
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Permalink Reply by Garry Staranchuk on
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Thanks Justin, I have already been there and done that. I have also contacted the troubleshooter @ Global Edmonton TV and asked if she could investigate swipebids and air it on tv. I have yet to get a call back. Maybe they will air it on Global National.
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