“Locksmith” uses bogus job ad as new marketing strategy

It’s always bothered me when legitimate locksmiths use several bogus names and websites to draw people to their service. I use the online name A-Florida-Locksmith.com on our website but say it right on the top of my site that it’s our online name. I list the legal name of our business as well (Martin Security Group, Inc.), however, I haven’t created additional websites with bogus names and had them point to my website. I haven’t used bogus marketing techniques to push my site up to page one of a Google search.

Locksmithmiami, however, has a new marketing strategy – to post the same message of a bogus job on hundreds of forum, blog and guest book websites. I’ve tracked the same message on forums for gambling, adoption, young entrepreneurs, Buddhist, anarchist, gaming, appliance repair, writers, tech forums for both MAC’s and PC’s, British, website design and even job forums.

He’s also posted his bogus ad on Korean, French, Spanish and Vietnamese websites – in English, of course. It’s even on The Ethical Hacker forum. Not that I noticed that one before, but if you are going to post a bogus ad at least don’t post it on a site with the word “ethical” in the name. On every profile he lists himself as male and in the USA, except a soul sisters website, then he’s changed his gender - I guess to fit in.

Almost all forums were created within the last few days and most said that he was “offline,” except for one site that said he was online. I was tempted to jump in and ask him a question, but the forum title had such a perverse name I didn’t even want to click on it for fear I’d start getting Google ads flashed on every site that I go on including my homepage. It is possible to read the Google search listing summaries without clicking into the link to see where he’s been.

The forums administrators are beginning to catch on to his trick. I saw where he was banned from some forums including the pornography and sex addict support group - banned permanently, mind you. (so says the Google listing –didn’t go in). Boy, now he’s really in trouble.

Yuck! Who would want to answer a job ad from this guy? Would you want this guy coming to your home rekeying your locks? Not me.

Well, it looks like it’s almost over. He’s been reported several times to Stop Forum Spam with his one user name, his IP address (that’s his computer info) and his multiple email addresses. To see that, here’s the link:

http://www.stopforumspam.com/search?q=locksmithmiami

I did track down his actual website and called both the Miami phone and fax numbers listed and did not get an answer. Now his 866 number is forwarded to another Ft. Lauderdale, FL cell phone that’s not answered.