My brain is screaming 'SCAM!' (Freepay.com)

Member Name: razielle

Product:	Freepay.com
Date:	23/03/09 (70 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Not found any

Disadvantages: Too many to mention

I hadn't actually heard of Freepay.com until I saw it listed in the Dooyoo products list, so I thought I'd check it out, and let you know how I fared!

So, I've just opened the www.freepay.com web site, which says 'We believe giving away free products should be simple - select a site and find out how easy it really is', below this is a box with a list of product links as follows:

* Free iPods
* Free iPod Nanos
* Free Gaming Systems
* Free Nintendo Wii
* Free Nintendo DS
* Free Flatscreens
* Free Laptops
* Free Apple® Stuff
* Free Gift Cards
* Free Gifts

I must admit that my first impression of this site is that I should run away now! It looks dodgy as anything, and if it looks dodgy it invariably is dodgy in my experience! I mean, how likely is it, really, that they are giving stuff like this away, free, with no catch and no strings, (born yesterday, I was not).

At the bottom of the page are a few testimonials, but I am always fairly dubious about these too (okay, so call me skeptical!)

So, I'm clicking on a link from the list, and really hoping that my anti-virus software is as good as it claims! I'm going for 'Free Gifts'.

Now I'm on a page saying 'Exclusive to UK Residents! - Limited time offer! - Receive a complimentary gift of your choice', then there are some images of stuff we ALL wish we could own, obviously.

GHD Bags of Style for Her! - Level 1 gift
iPhone - Level 3 gift
Flip Mino - Level 1 gitf
Apple MacBook - Level 5 gift
iPod Touch 32GB - Level 3 gift
Nintendo Wii - Level 2 gift

Yeah, right, free...hmmm.

Below this little lot it says 'Enter Your Email Address and Create A Password Below:' and then there are the relevant boxes for you to input this.

I scroll past this, down to the 'small print' at the bottom of the page, and am interested to read:

'Available offers will vary and some sponsor offers may require purchases to qualify.

Members have 120 days to complete all necessary requirements to be eligible for a gift.'

Okay then, so I now take a look at the Terms and Conditions page, which they are asking me to agree to. Oh look! This bit is near the top of the T & C page, interesting:

'Gratis Internet's websites operated under the FreePay brand are contingent upon the Customer completing an offer, and referring a certain number of friends who must each also complete an offer. For FreePay websites, we reserve the right to change the approval requirements necessary to receive a free item, including but not limited to increasing the number of friends required to get approved. We may also add or remove any product listed as an incentive at any time.'

Further down the page it goes on to say that there may be other associated costs, and also explains how this thing works. Basically they want you to 'unlock' gift levels, the more friends you refer the greater the gift level, as follows:

* Level 1 gift: 5 Referrals
* Level 2 gift: 8 Referrals
* Level 3 gift: 10 Referrals
* Level 4 gift: 15 Referrals
* Level 5 gift: 20 Referrals

It goes on to say: 'A user who signs up with our website must successfully complete the requirements to obtain a free item within 120* days, starting from the day the user signed up. These requirements are: 1) Complete one advertising offer and 2) have up to 20 unique people, depending on Level as stated in III. (a) ii. , sign up as referrals via the user's unique referral URL and complete an advertising offer.'

Enough already. If you want to know more, the full text of the T & C is here:

http://gifts.freepay.com/Terms.aspx

Maybe this could work out well for someone with a lot of friends who are equally keen. I don't know. If you are interested in this sort of thing, be my guest, but I'm afraid that's about as far as I go folks!

Summary: If it's so good, why does my brain say 'scam!'