Is getgiftsforfree.com a scam?

[magicmastermind]

Right now I wish I had stumbled across this website before making my purchase :eek: at www.getgiftsforfree.com. This site is in your list and has been up for about 3 months.
I have made quite a bit of research on this website and to be honest, I do not think it is a scam. I am even thinking about running a matrix STYLE website, note that it will not quite be a matrix website. It will be more of a shop, where people will actually buy worthwhile stuff and sometimes be available to get a free gift.
But for now I would like to know if getgiftsforfree.com is a scam or not. Maybe someone has experience with these people.
I had been hoping to make a lot of money from this site, but now I am not so sure. Looking at this site, I really shouldn't. And I know you'll be quick to tell me that I shouldn't. But you can make a lot of money if you are clever and get to the top of the list. Could I be one of the lucky ones?
Can anyone back me up here? I'm sure most of you can't. But any reply to this would be very appreciated.
Thanks to all for reading,
Gareth

[mercinary]

A few things:

#1: That website is 100% a matrix site. If you ask anyone here, we will tell you it is a scam.

#2: If you are thinking of starting a website with anything close to a matrix-related paradigm, consult an attorney first. Anything having to do with getting in line to get a gift is potentially illegal.

#3: As for if you will get you gift, that requires a little more info. Where are you on the list(s) you signed up for? There are simple mathematics involved. If you tell me how many people are waiting, where you are on the list, and how many people are required to cycle, I can tell you how many signups are needed for you to get anything.

This happens all of the time. Newbies get roped into believing that they have a chance of getting the free gift. In reality, only the top 1-2 people in the list ever get anything (if anyone gets anything at all!). If I were you I would start requesting a refund ASAP, and if that doesn't work, file a complaint against this website.

You will get burned.

-Merc

[concerned]

I have made quite a bit of research on this website and to be honest, I do not think it is a scam. I am even thinking about running a matrix STYLE website, note that it will not quite be a matrix website.

Really? You don't think pyramid schemes are scams? What do you think they are? You better get some real legal advice before you start up your site, because I can guarantee you that if you run anything similar where you require a purchase, you will be breaking a law somewhere.

[sisco50]

Seems you buy 2 signal boosters for $40.00 and get put in a matrix line for a free item. The next person to cycle for the Sony Laptop only needs 51 more people to buy their boosters. What I don't understand is why when you click on the Sony Laptop does it take you to Amazon.com where the laptops all seem to have prices attached to them. Does this mean that when and if you cycle, you get to buy a Sony from Amazon.com? I thought the Sony was free for buying the boosters for $40.00?? I am confused. :(

[jokach]

Hopefully you will see that starting your own matrix type website does not pay off in the long run. The ultimate end is always the same (take a look at GotMatrix, one of the biggest). I suggest that if you plan on starting your own business, even with "It will be more of a shop, where people will actually buy worthwhile stuff and sometimes be available to get a free gift.", keep the free gift out. If your prices and reputation are good enough, you'll sell plenty of merchandise and not have to balance on the lines of legality.

As for getgiftsforfree.com, the name itself should tell you to stay away. Nothing, I mean nothing in this world is free, hopefully you realize that this is the exact mis-conception that matrix site owners want you to believe and buy into, its part of the so-called business model. It is a 100% pure matrix site, as for the links to Amazon, it appears that this 'honest' owner can't even take enough time to use his own descriptions to describe what he is planning to scam you out of, he has to point you to Amazon. In addition, do you realize that there are well over 500 people on the waiting list for the Sony VAIO? Unless you plan to refer people (good luck), you'd be better off giving your money to a bum on the street.

[MatrixWatch]

I am even thinking about running a matrix STYLE website, note that it will not quite be a matrix website. It will be more of a shop, where people will actually buy worthwhile stuff and sometimes be available to get a free gift.

Gareth,
I know exactly where you are at in the thinking process. I've been there before and I think that it is a valuable experience because you will actually know how these sites work. First, the issue that you will need to deal with is how to take care of the people at the bottom of the lists. They are never going to cycle when things slow down, and they WILL do something about that.

But second, there is an issue that you may not be aware of. I'd definitely recommend that you read through the EzExpo lawsuit, because your matrix STYLE site still has this same problem. The problem is offering a chance-based incentive program (matrix) in exchange for the purchase of a product.

Many matrix owners think that in selling a more valuable product they are somehow exempt from prosecution and lawsuits. But they have no idea of why the lawsuits were filed. It was on this major issue called an "illegal lottery" that in some states carries are more severe penalty than for pyramid scams. See our FAQ link in the top bar for more details on this.

[magicmastermind]

Thanks for all the replies, guys.
I had already worked out that I will have to wait for 40000 to opt for the laptop before I get it (!) but there are people who may have to wait for 100000 (!) which is really disappointing for those at the bottom. the 100000th person in the list has to wait for 8 million to sign in :( this site is VERY popular in google searches.

Go to google and type in site:getgiftsforfree.com and you will see about 700 (maybe more) inbond links advertising the site.

There is a man called Mirka from the site who has had 3 free gifts. If I could contact him, maybe he has had the best from the site, like many dozens more. But the site has about 20000 members, of which all the new ones are FORCED to advertise to get their gift. Well only if they want their fre
BUT, I don't mind doing a little research here. They apparently add new gifts every so often. If they do, I might see what it is like if I am at the top of the list. And if I don't get anything, maybe I could try and close this site down.
The offer seems way too good to be true. I just recieved an email from them

We have just finished process of upgrading of our web servers to be able to
serve our customers even better for the years to come. This took a lot of effort
and time and caused that we're behind with answering the support emails. We're
processing them 15 hours a day in the order as they came in. Please be patient,
we will answer your email within few days.

Paypal upgraded their system few days ago (21st of November) and introduced a
"bug" to their system. This "bug" causes that they very often do not let the
vendor's website know about the transaction. Due to this we're processing lot of
transactions manually and our website sometimes shows "internal error" after you
finish Paypal payment. This error now appears all over the world, not just on
our website. We hope they'll solve it very soon as we have to process all
transactions manually which takes a lot of time and leaves us less time for
emails.

If you sent a payment and don't see your name in list, you don't need to worry.
Names are being displayed exactly 48 hours after your transaction is processed.
If you didn't finish the transaction properly and didn't receive the automated
Invoice email, we'll process your transaction manually.

Thanks very much for your patience in the next few days until we answer all
emails. After it's done, we'll be again responding within few hours like before.

tell me what you think of this.
Thanks for all your time and thought,
Gareth

[ycchen]

What do we think? If you want to try your luck by fighting yourself to the top of the pyramid on NEW list, then nobody is going to stop you.

Our advice, which you know very well already, is NOT to participate in any pyramid scam, because the money that used to pay for your free gifts comes from latecomers who are NOT that fortune (either they are misled or they are just unlucky).
The way the pyramid function is to ROB the latecomers to pay for the OWNER and the early birds, you know that very well.

If you want to ask if it WORKS or not, I would say, YES, it definitely works VERY well for the owner. It "MIGHT" work for a few early birds but NO garantee. A lot of time, the list might stagnant IMMEDIATELY after you sign-up, OR, the owner decide to CLOSE it down just after you sign-up. There is no garantee that it won't happen when you sign-up in the new list.

There are tremendous risk involved in joining the pyramid scam, and if you still want to try you luck in participating in this unfair and unjust scam, just go ahead and keep us posted when you get your free gift. :)

In the meantime, we will double check with paypal if they have changed their policy against straight-line matrix.

[jokach]

ycchen-

Looks like nothing has changed in Paypal's AUP:

http://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/gen/ua/use/index_frame-outside&ed=rich_quick


To protect our user base and to maintain a safe environment, pyramid schemes, multi-level marketing, or "get rich quick" plans are prohibited from using PayPal for payments. Any structure in which the value of the transaction is significantly greater than value of the goods or services traded is prohibited.


It doesn't necessarily speak about matrixes, but we know that matrixes are a form of a pyramid/ponzi scheme, so looks like its still forbidden.

[thingsforjason]

Did getgifts get shut down?

[ycchen]

No, I can still access the getgiftsforfree scam.

[mercinary]

I cannot access the site. Clear your browser cache Ycchen, and tell me if you still see it.

-Merc

[jokach]

I cleared my cache and I can still see it as well, at least for now. I also went through a ton of their links that I hadn't been on before, and everything is working.

[mercinary]

Yup....I see it from work now.

-Merc

[june]

Get $300 gifts for $5. There are free iPods, free digital camera, free palm pilot, $290 for only $5. Gifts are shipped worldwide. All you have to do is pay $5 and refer new people. You can get a gift there in less than 30 days.

This is the site to join this year.

They have testimonial page if you have doubts.

If anyone is interested check it out

Please do not link referral links -Arzel

[Arzel]

June,

You have been warned about spaming your referral links to matrix sites. Please do not do it again.