This is really a short post, if you are going to hide your identity on the web, remember Google Cache.
For example if you were going to run an extortion service let’s say which at best a stupid idea and at worse criminal then putting the address of your legitimate company would be stupid. However being a smart fellow you might choose to then change it to a holding address for your mail. Unfortunately Google Cache saves the original address and well your pretty much screwed at that point and look just a little silly.
Let’s take an example, who could we pick on…
Verified SEO
Lovely site, offering to sell you a verified SEO status at just $199 a month, no wait $99 they must be having a sale. Now let’s compare two versions of their footers the current one, and this one from Google Cache
The current footer
2885 Sanford Ave SW #13150 • Grandville, MIThe old one from cache
1514 Southport Ste. A • Austin, TXlook they moved…
I wonder who else is at the old address well according to Merchant Circle a Mr Charles Preston, wonder if he has a site… oh look so he does!
Charles Preston SEO
What a nice chap, apparently according to his site…
His record of success speaks for itself. In the early nineties he taught himself computer programming and website development. Using only books and a burning desire to change his fortune, he became a certified and sought after adept at several website and database development programming technologies.
He invented time travel as well, this man talents show no bounds! It is of cause quite possible Charles Preston has been a very unlucky chap who just happened to work in the same office as the person trying to hide their real details, and if he is well think of the links, oh wait you didn’t get one, doh!
Takeaway hints:
- Don’t upset someone enough to make them come look for you
- Don’t use your business address for your nefarious deeds
- Don’t think because you have whois-guard on mean people won’t find you
- don’t rip people off!
p.s anyone wanting to become a Verified SEO please click here for your shiny new badge!
22 comments
Thanks you I buy where from get verified? This is much good post that I enjoy and stalk your site for long time but first time posting!
Lol. Sorry couldnt resist. To be honest this guy sounds like a Jason Gambert Affair. It seems that people need to be brought down a few pegs if they start touting themselves as the guardians of the industry, and the next on my hitlist is Top SEOs.
to be honest I’m not that bothered if people are stupid enough to give over $99 and their client details over to an unknown entity let them. Was more the blatant stupidity of the attempt to cover the tracks.
Top SEOs I’m guessing I’m not on it :p
Fuck I just paid for this – are you guys saying I’m acually *not* a Verified SEO?
I can’t believe it…
Just left a comment on his “clearing the air” page – though I doubt he’ll let it get published.
Here’s what I said : “Look – this is a complete rip-off and your claims as to being as successful as you are at actual SEO through whte hat methods have all been debunked. Either shut down your business or be prepared to have the REAL SEO community put up so much content across so many sites that your own offering never shows up higher than the 10th page of Google. What say you?”
Guy just has no clue. Stepped in the wrong industry to suck money.
Just to remphasis I don’t care about his business model, this is an industry that can’t organise a piss up in a brewery and on the whole is made up with much worse scammers then this guy.
Someone mentioned the site in the SEO Dojo and quite rightly complained about lack of visibility of the person behind it this post is simply a warning to others that if your going to hide remember Google Cache.
Now peeps play nicely, keep the personal attacks down to a minimum he has enough egg on his face
to last a life time.
Check out this crap article from @CharlesPreston pushing his now defunct SEO Watchdog service http://bit.ly/bJfFci
He deserves to be wiping that egg off his face for a while. Any supposed veteran in this industry, even those the rest of us have never heard of, would have seen this coming…
The thing is, had it not been so blatant an attempt to make money from self-described SEOs who’d use such a badge to con consumers into believing a certification from “Verified SEO” actually meant something, none of this would have happened. A woefully bad decision all around. And he’s paying a price for that bad decision…
I completely agree Tim. It’s surprising that this has been such a big deal – I mean, these guys are in every industry and have certainly been around in the SEO industry before. He’s probably setting up a FarmVille Hints program now.
Farmville hints now there is an untapped niche
best I write an ebook on the subject
This just reminds me of the other business with the SEO trademark registration thingy.
Someone out there just trying to make some cheap money but focusing on people who don’t know better. Its just a very sad joke, especially the people who actually fall for it…
As for the guy behind this mastermind, well!!
I’m going to have to claim to have invented time travel at some point. Thank you for your pointers on how NOT to do that. I still have time to go forward and fix the problem after it occurs.
There is a very tiny chance he happened to work in CERN or for one of 3 or 4 major institutions in the early 90s but lets face it me thinks not
it was less the learning to do web development in the early 90s but learning from books (which of course until 93 would have been the only realistic way what with a lack of a decent browser!) books which of cause didn’t exist unless you had said time machine.
I completely disagree with you! If there is anything this industry can do it is to organize a piss up! In fact I’m organizing a piss up right now, so come on over.
Hey, I take exception to that… I can organise a piss up anywhere!
Apart from that, while the occasional elephant may forget, Google never does.
Is this an April Fool’s joke? Tried to register certifiedseo.com but it is taken.
It is better to use the money to pay Google for Google Certified Adwords Professional.
Its companies like this verified seo that really give the seo industry a black eye. I can’t tell you how often I hear a story about someone getting ripped off for web design and seo work. It really is a shame.