SEO fraud – Spam wave – Recognizing fraud and spam

A Data Center

This warning is a few years old, but we are leaving it in the system as similar cases continue to occur.


Once again, a spam email from a supposed SEO provider has washed up with us. Always the same scam, today they call you “Paul Schuster”, tomorrow they call you something else. One of our customers has asked us for such an unbeatable SEO offer. Therefore, here we will give you concrete tips on how to spot such SEO scams and spam.

SEO is time-consuming, long-term, and complex. The fact that a good search engine optimization can be just as cheap for a one-off EUR 190 as a genuine Swiss luxury watch in an Asian online store should be clear to even non-experts after a moment’s thought. If nothing happens after the order is placed and only the money paid is gone, you are still lucky! Just as a counterfeit pill can make you ill, improper SEO can cause great damage: If the alleged “expert” uses methods that Google does not allow, Google often penalizes this severely: You can even be banned from the Google directory altogether with your website and thus become “invisible” for searchers, so to speak. Such damage would be time-consuming, complex and expensive to repair. – If you then gave these people your access data for the website, it would be like giving a thief the keys to your house so that he could clean it up.

Tips: How to know fraudulent SEO offers?

Let’s take a closer look at the mail:

  • Try searching Google for “search engine marketing google“. Right! You can find all kinds of things, but not “search engine marketing-google.net”. These SEO optimizers are themselves already completely kicked out of the Google index. – All right?
  • Be a little suspicious if an offer seems to be unbeatable value and also there is only 1 day to decide. (Time pressure is a very popular ploy). SEO is also not a small, one-time magic trick, but a long-term, demanding activity.
  • Look with common sense a little more closely: The email of the German provider has no imprint, professionals do not happen something like that, because it is illegal and a reason for warning. The domain in the sender email address (opt-support.net) differs from the advertised domain of the provider (search-engine-marketing-google.net), this is not a sole criterion but at least unusual.
  • If you search for “Paul Schuster SEO” (or whatever the name is right now), or the company name for short on Google, only warnings and notices pop up.

Enclosed the original mail of the fraudsters in the wording

The messages and the websites of the online fraudsters are always structured according to the same pattern. The names, companies, and mailing addresses don’t really exist, of course:

Good afternoon.

Do you want your website to be in the top 10 search results on Google?

When analyzing the competitiveness of the keywords essential to your industry, we came to the conclusion that it is possible.
After entering keywords related to your industry, internet users should immediately come to your website among the first search results. Right now, that’s where they find your competition.

We would like to offer you the following:

We will carry out a complex optimization of your website, as a result of which your company will be on the first page of Google search results.

You only have to pay a one-time fee (no subscription and no hidden costs).

We guarantee clear and transparent rules.

We would be pleased if our offer appeals to you.

Unique opportunity!
Only now until 08.12.20XX we offer you an optimization package for your website for the price of 190,- EUR

We invite you to visit our website.

http://www. search-engine-marketing-google.net

Yours sincerely.
Paul Schuster
Web agency
http://www. search-engine-marketing-google.net

Unfortunately, website beetles fall for such a scam again and again.

If in doubt, please ask us briefly if such offers come to your table, we will be happy to help you.

DISCLAIMER: The TBA-Berlin is not a law firm. The content provided here is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. We recommend that you seek independent legal advice before taking or refraining from taking any action based on the content provided here.

TBA-Berlin makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability or completeness of the information referenced herein. Your use or reliance on any information contained herein is for your personal use and solely at your own risk.

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Carl D. Erling, Berlin, CTO
Carl D. Erling, CTO

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