Here's a new LINK SCAM for link exchange and three-way linking, Has anyone seen this?

[drose]

In the email below that I received I am asked to participate in a three-way link exchange. The SCAM here is that the person is asking me to participate in a link exchange with two sites that are already under my site umbrella! I designed two of the three sites involved.

Are these people now going to sites with high rankings and finding site URLS and posing as the webmasters?

Read below, the jewelrycrossings.com and the hotdiamondsilver.com sites are sister sites that I designed. The third is the alleged scammer. I have deleted the name because I do not want to implicate anyone unduly, and maybe there is a reasonable explanation for this, though I cannot see one!

------email ------

Hi,
I came across your website http://www.hotdiamondsilver.com while searching for link exchange partners and would like to exchange link with your website.

My website's URL is http://www.??????.com

As you know, Three-way linking (also known as Triangular linking) plays a very important role in search engine ranking. If you are interested in link exchange and agree to add my link to your website, please use the information provided below.

My web site information is:

URL:
http://www.????????.com
Title:
Buying an Engagement Ring
Description:
Diamond engagement rings and wedding bands in your choice of platinum, white gold & yellow gold settings plus diamond pendants, earrings and bracelets.

I have already added your link to my website and you can confirm it by visiting the following

URL:
http://www.jewelrycrossings.com/links.html

Please add my link in this page:

http://www.hotdiamondsilver.com/HDresources.html

Please let me know if you would like to have any information changed regarding your website & where you have placed our link exactly.

Please do one more favor, send me exact location of my URL on your website.

Waiting for your quick and positive response...

------ end email ------

[FreeDesignQuote]

I haven’t gotten an exactly like that before but it does have that scam smell to it!

[mjtaylor]

Have you written them back and asked? This looks like those "form" link emails that are almost automatic; and it might be that they filled in your link page where they should have put their own ...

It could hardly be a very effective scam; I have to assume most webmasters check to see if the site is linking to them and would notice this ... I do, anyway. ;D

Cheers, MJ

[drose]

The site is linking to them, because I added the www.hotdiamondsilver to my site and visa-versa. They are telling me that the jewelrycrossings.com site is their site. It seems that they did not realize that the same person designed both sites. So they tried to tell me that they put the link on the JC site, when in actuality I put the link there! So they are just going to different sites, finding good links and then telling the possible link partners that the site where the link exists is their site. I never would have suspected if they hadn't used both of my sites!

[drose]

I did send them an email asking if they designed the site but have not gotten any response.

[mjtaylor]

Originally Posted by drose

The site is linking to them, because I added the www.hotdiamondsilver to my site and visa-versa. They are telling me that the jewelrycrossings.com site is their site. It seems that they did not realize that the same person designed both sites. So they tried to tell me that they put the link on the JC site, when in actuality I put the link there! So they are just going to different sites, finding good links and then telling the possible link partners that the site where the link exists is their site. I never would have suspected if they hadn't used both of my sites!

So, let me see how this works: I find a nice links page and I write to all the webmasters of the sites who are listed there and ask for a link back in exchange for the link they already had? You don't think most webmasters will know they had that link?
MJ

[drose]

They went to my site (jewelry Crossings) found the link to my other site on the JC site, then they sent a link to me at my second site and said that they ADDED a link on my first site to my second site. They really didn't do anything. They are saying that they added the link on www.jewelrycrossings.com to www.hotdiamondsilver.com, but in reality that is a lie. I know because I added those links. They are fruadulently misrepresenting that they are the webmaster at Jewelry Crossings. They said that they added the link on the JC site, but they really didn't! Am I making sense yet?

[drose]

It's a three way link. So the people they are soliciting don't know who put the original link.

[mjtaylor]

Originally Posted by drose

They went to my site (jewelry Crossings) found the link to my other site on the JC site, then they sent a link to me at my second site and said that they ADDED a link on my first site to my second site. They really didn't do anything. They are saying that they added the link on Sterling Silver Jewelry, Hot Diamonds, Jewelry Gifts Men Women Children, World Poker Tour Jewelry to Hot Diamonds, Hotdiamond Silver Jewelry, Men Women Children, but in reality that is a lie. I know because I added those links. They are fruadulently misrepresenting that they are the webmaster at Jewelry Crossings. They said that they added the link on the JC site, but they really didn't! Am I making sense yet?

I hear ya on that. Heard it before my last post. All I meant to say was that I don't think it's a very likely scam. Not saying they aren't trying one on ... but I know when I am seeing a new link to my site and when I've seen it before ... even when it's not my site. I'm just saying I don't think their dog will hunt. And it *could* be a mistake ...

MJ

[ctabuk]

The minute that you read this
'As you know, Three-way linking (also known as Triangular linking) plays a very important role in search engine ranking. If you are interested in link exchange and agree to add my link to your website, please use the information provided below.'

Then you should have realised that the guys know nothing about SEO and dropped it like the good ol' hot potato' - So if it is a 'scam' they are not doing themselves any favours.

[jtracking]

Originally Posted by ctabuk

The minute that you read this
'As you know, Three-way linking (also known as Triangular linking) plays a very important role in search engine ranking...

Then you should have realised that the guys know nothing about SEO and dropped it like the good ol' hot potato' - So if it is a 'scam' they are not doing themselves any favours.

I think he did realize it was a scam and wanted to inform people to look out for it. Not all website admins/web-devs know EVERYTHING about seo so...

[jtracking]

Originally Posted by mjtaylor

I hear ya on that. Heard it before my last post. All I meant to say was that I don't think it's a very likely scam...
MJ

Well I'm glad the point is being made that this type of scamming exists and in my opinion it's highly likely and a successful one.

It's very easy: I own mysite.com and someonesite.com happens to link to me. The scammersite.com owner emails me telling me that someonesite.com is owned by him and has linked to me in exchange for a link to his scammersite.com from mysite.com.

It makes a clear one way link to his site and the point of this post is for the most part there aren't a lot of people who maintain their own sites who will be able to see through this type of scam and place the link. It almost makes sense. You'd say thanks!

My 5 cents due to inflation.

[azoundria]

I'm guessing this scammer looked on Google to find sites that linked to yours. Fortunately, this means all you have to do to avoid future scams like this is do a similiar search.

Were a webmaster to just add your link to their site, it would not be indexed with the link yet. And thus would not appear. If it is indexed, you can be fairly sure that the webmaster is scamming you.

There is a small margin of error here, but if you just received the email chances are they just added the link as well. I have not known webmasters to email other websites much later than the link has been added - nor have I known Google to be particularily often in it's indexing of these types of pages.

And of course they wont reply to your 'did you design that' email. The fact you asked that means you are suspicious of them and anything they say will not help their situation.

[drose]

Correct. It is a clever ruse, and something to watch out for! But only webmasters of multiple sites will be able to figure it out. Single site owners and web managers will never suspect. I will watch my links more carefully from now on.

[drose]

my last message should have gone above the azoundria message!

[edhan]

Once a while I do received such emails. I would just delete them without second thought. Frankly I won't waste my time with them.

[saikatblogger]

One of the brilliant scamming idea I have ever come across.

[jtracking]

Originally Posted by saikatblogger

One of the brilliant scamming idea I have ever come across.

Ya it is rather interesting now isn't it but I don't like walking in bad neighbourhoods as much as i used to so I just stay away from the whole idear.

[saikatblogger]

Originally Posted by jtracking

Ya it is rather interesting now isn't it but I don't like walking in bad neighbourhoods as much as i used to so I just stay away from the whole idear.

I agree.

One question:
Can anyone refer me to any conversation that speaks about the risks/bad effects of 3 way link exchange? Or, how search engines track it?

[kauzy]

i get hundered's of 3-WAY LINK exchange from viagra/laptop/peni* enlargement site. God know how they get my email id. i block them and then other day, same email from new email address arrives.

[artemist]

Looks like a good way to get a link from this forum to me. I think te Mod should just delete this whole thread!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jtracking]

Originally Posted by kauzy

i get hundered's of 3-WAY LINK exchange from viagra/laptop/peni* enlargement site. God know how they get my email id. i block them and then other day, same email from new email address arrives.

If you're using a pc based email client i would say you've got kind of sniffer or something installed on your pc OR if it's web based then well...who knows who's got your addy...

i get the same with my work email id which uses thunderbird but nothing of the sorts with my lovely gmail account...