I don't think we're in Kansas any more
There
was a lot of discussion not too long ago about using fake or non-human
profile pictures. Why people do it, what’s wrong with it, that kind of
discussion.But the picture used doesn’t really bother me very much, even though I follow the rules and deny the ones that are obviously not the member’s picture. There is, however, another form of misrepresentation that I see here every day which DOES bother me.
And that is misrepresenting or lying about your location. And I know it’s happening because in many cases it’s very obvious. Let’s face it, most people are very unlikely to misspell the name of the city they live in, aren’t they? And yet so many here do that? A coincidence? Doubtful. Also, so sorry but there is no city named Islamabad in New Jersey.
And let’s be realistic, if you are struggling with the very basics of English grammar then isn’t it unlikely that your name is Timothy Parker from Cleveland?
But does it really matter if you’re not where you say you are? To this I anser with a resounding YES! Your location defines what you have access to on the net in terms of income opportunities. In the GPT industry where I work entering false locations or otherwise concealing your true location is considered outright fraud and is cause for immediate account cancellation and banning by every responsible site and affiliate in the market. This is no small matter, this is primordial cheating and is dealt with severely. The same applies to using a proxy to conceal your location and gain access to offers for countries other than your own (usually US).
But why should I, or you, or anyone else care? I mean, you’re getting paid for the offers and that’s what matters, not whether you’re doing it legitimately, right? What we have to remember is that there are real people and real companies out there paying for these offers, as advertising for their sites and/or products. And they have decided not to pay people in Kuwait to look at advertising for Victoria Secret gift cards. And sooner or later they realize they have been frauded and offers begin to reverse. If you’re lucky (and I am unlucky) you have already been paid and taken your money and run. If not, then it reverses on you as well as on me.
What happens next is actually even worse. Advertisers start to back out, or offer values drop substantially to cover the losses due to fraud. Sites such as mine increase security measures and more and more countries need to be excluded. In the end, we ALL pay for misrepresented locations.
I know of one site owner who lives in what is one of the worst countries in terms of this type of fraud. I won’t say which country that is, because I don’t want to single out any nation and paint them all with the same brush as the cheaters, but he stated right out that if he wasn’t there himself he would ban his own country from his site.
So please, when you make your profiles, don’t lie about where you reside. When you connect to the internet, never ever connect using a proxy that masks your location. Because in the end you damage all of us,and weaken the entire online marketing industry.
56 people like it
Comments (19)
Internet Data
6
Web Researcher
In my profession the more information that is shared online the better, I pay for Facebook ads and need to have specific details on the customer I want to reach, so I am glad for sites like Facebook, Linkedin, Instagram, Google plus and Twitter. Sorry @Judy, many businesses make money off of that transparency.
Journalism News
6
Global Impact
Ha Ha, thats funny. Sleepy, hungry and thirsty ;)
faii acy
16
GPT Site Owner/Operator
LOL! Judy Ann, were your neighbours 3 bears, perhaps?
Journalism News
6
Global Impact
@Cindy exactly that is what I mean, I had a neighbor who told people she was going to be out of town, and people broke into her house and were squatters until she came back and saw food eaten out of her refrigerator and her bed slept in. They didn't steal anything they just used her place as a crash pad.
faii acy
16
GPT Site Owner/Operator
What always gets me is the number of people who never post pictures of themselves, yet their FB and other social network profiles are FILLED with pictures of their children. Does this seem right to anyone?
But again, cheating advertisers by using fake information hurts us ALL. So at the very least, state what country you are from. If you join my site I can find profitable offers for almost every country. But....not if you're an obvious cheat
Cindy Bolley
16
HHCTB?
@Judy Ann... I cringe when they post picture of themselves on vacation.... It also says... Hey Hey Hey... my house is vacant!// Yikes
Journalism News
6
Global Impact
Its not a good idea to state your exact location online or where you are from and that is one reason Facebook makes me nerveous because of all the personal information that people share so freely from where their kids go to school and where their spouses work for employment. It is really scary when people are sharing that they have just got engaged or are pregnant because advertisers are ready to target them with ads to get them to buy something on impulse that they may have not normally thought
Anon E.
12
Internet Ninja
Hooray for this article - It is so disturbing when you find picture profiles of people you know personally, sporting a different name. I can understand why some people may not give their exact location though - this could open the way for crime etc (seen it before). Also if you travel a lot what location do you, or should you, provide ?
faii acy
16
GPT Site Owner/Operator
City does not matter so much. Usually ads and offers are geo-targeted to the country involved so as long as you're honest about that (and I know you so I know you are) then it's fine
Iris B.
9
Networker, Marketeer
I purposely don't name the correct city, because i am a single woman and get very many strange and disgusting messages from people on this platform or on facebook. It is a self protection. But as soon as i chat with someone personally i tell them the truth.
Paula van Dun
16
Retired
I joined it, will probably advertise on it
visiting many sites burns my wifi allowance so won't do much clicking myself
faii acy
16
GPT Site Owner/Operator
LOL, I wasn't trying to recruit you Paula. I simply bridled somewhat at the pennies and cents remark. :) But as an advertiser yourself, don't you want your ads to be seen by those who might potentially BUY?
Paula van Dun
16
Retired
Send me a link in PM and I will take a look at it. My main interest is advertising at this point. We moved to a camping where I have limited wifi connection so I need to be careful to use my internet time for.
faii acy
16
GPT Site Owner/Operator
Well Paula, we're actually talking about much more than clicking for pennies here. The incent business involves real money. I pay some of my my top members up to $200-$300 every month. And the Netherlands does have more available offers than the majority of European countries for some reason. All that being said, it SHOULD bother you because it all comes down to advertising, whether in my business or in your TE niche. If advertisers cannot be certain that the ads and offers they are paying for a
Paula van Dun
16
Retired
Awesome article and I see your point. It is indeed a problem and faking info could well backfire on those who do that. I think the reason people do it is because they get to see more ads when they give an USA location. I.e. I live in the Netherlands and on global sites I get often to see only a hand full. Does not bother me much since I have better things to do than to click for pennies and cents.
Carmen Anca Rus
9
Social Media Marketer
good article!! I wonder my self why people give false inormations about themselves??
Juyee N.
7
Administration Professional – Education/ Print Med
Faii acy I read you regularly, you know that! You did it again....many likes for you!
Cindy Bolley
16
HHCTB?
It is open.. I voted... You are not able to vote for yourself..... that is why that shows like that for YOU
Cindy Bolley
16
HHCTB?
@faii... it was worth searching for .. thanks for the TIP!