My SEO romance with an Indian Spammer
Dear Sir or Madam…
Spam Emails from SEO companies. We all hate them, we all delete them and curse them. But what if instead of deleting, cursing… someone (may be me?) decided to take them for a ride?
Well here we go…. my SEO romance (includes photos!) with a lovely team of SEO experts from India
The email was from someone called Mark Harison offering me SEO services.
Funny wise they sent it to my website SEOcourse.com.au (pretty stupid don’t you think), and after dealing with many customers trick by this type of “professionals” I decided to play the role of “newbie” looking for more info. In fact I was a “client willing to pay NOW”.
I wanted to know how legit was their service, their offer, their “expertise” ….
So the email gave me the contact info….
Mark Harison
Business Development Manager
E-mail ID: sales@seo-marketings.info
Skype ID: sdibsl_tech4
So I added him on Skype.
This is what happened after.
[2/14/2012 7:16:30 PM] Gabriel Machuret: Hi sdibsl_tech4! I’d like to add you on Skype. I got your email!
[2/14/2012 7:16:47 PM] Gaurav Raghav: Gaurav Raghav has shared contact details with Gabriel Machuret.
[2/14/2012 7:17:01 PM] Gabriel Machuret: hi!
[2/14/2012 7:17:09 PM] Gaurav Raghav: hello
[2/14/2012 7:17:32 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I got your email
[2/14/2012 7:17:37 PM] Gabriel Machuret: about ranking in Google, yes?
[2/14/2012 7:17:46 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I don’t really understand a lot about it
[2/14/2012 7:17:54 PM] Gabriel Machuret: but I’m keen to have someone to work on my site.
So at this stage: I wanted to see how far away they will go.
I NEVER EXPECTED THIS TO GO SO FREAKING FAR.
[2/14/2012 7:18:30 PM] Gaurav Raghav: so while doing the SEO we can also maintain the site
[2/14/2012 7:18:42 PM] Gabriel Machuret: brilliant
[2/14/2012 7:18:42 PM] Gaurav Raghav: and work on it
[2/14/2012 7:18:54 PM] Gabriel Machuret: so what does SEO means, what do you really do for my site?
[2/14/2012 7:19:01 PM] Gabriel Machuret: someone told me I need links
[2/14/2012 7:19:23 PM] Gabriel Machuret: you there?
[2/14/2012 7:19:25 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I’m busy
[2/14/2012 7:19:28 PM] Gabriel Machuret: so if you are not there
[2/14/2012 7:19:33 PM] Gabriel Machuret: let me know
[2/14/2012 7:19:46 PM] Gabriel Machuret: ok
[2/14/2012 7:19:47 PM] Gabriel Machuret: bye
So I though, hey, if this is not going to work, at least I should know fast enough. (I’m busy you know!)
[2/14/2012 7:19:56 PM] Gaurav Raghav: i’m here
[2/14/2012 7:20:10 PM] Gaurav Raghav: yes doing
[2/14/2012 7:20:32 PM] Gaurav Raghav: we will bring the keywords related to your site on first page of google
[2/14/2012 7:20:38 PM] Gabriel Machuret: brilliant
[2/14/2012 7:20:44 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I have a budget of $1000 per month
[2/14/2012 7:20:47 PM] Gabriel Machuret: is that enough?
[2/14/2012 7:21:07 PM] Gaurav Raghav: yes
[2/14/2012 7:21:17 PM] Gaurav Raghav: what’s your website
[2/14/2012 7:21:18 PM] Gabriel Machuret: you are a company?
[2/14/2012 7:21:25 PM] Gaurav Raghav: yes
[2/14/2012 7:21:33 PM] Gabriel Machuret: what is your URL?
[2/14/2012 7:24:25 PM] Gabriel Machuret: sorry
[2/14/2012 7:24:29 PM] Gaurav Raghav: what
[2/14/2012 7:24:33 PM] Gabriel Machuret: you are not answering my questions
[2/14/2012 7:24:36 PM] Gaurav Raghav: i shred my company url
[2/14/2012 7:24:47 PM] Gaurav Raghav: wht’s your question
[2/14/2012 7:24:53 PM] Gaurav Raghav: i replied all your queries
[2/14/2012 7:25:07 PM] Gabriel Machuret: what is the url?
[2/14/2012 7:25:08 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I can’t see it
[2/14/2012 7:25:33 PM] Gaurav Raghav: http://www.shahdeepinternational.com/
[2/14/2012 7:25:37 PM] Gaurav Raghav: its my company
[2/14/2012 7:25:50 PM] Gaurav Raghav: we are into SEO, website & mobile appliaction
[2/14/2012 7:25:57 PM] Gaurav Raghav: we are based in delhi, India
Great. So there is a real company doing all he SEO Spam. Nice!
[2/14/2012 7:26:16 PM] Gabriel Machuret: and you are a Google expert
[2/14/2012 7:26:19 PM] Gabriel Machuret: do you guys work WITH google?
[2/14/2012 7:26:22 PM] Gaurav Raghav: yes
[2/14/2012 7:26:51 PM] Gabriel Machuret: so $1000 is ok?
[2/14/2012 7:26:59 PM] Gabriel Machuret: can I pay today?
[2/14/2012 7:27:08 PM] Gaurav Raghav: for how many months?
[2/14/2012 7:27:31 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I don’t know
[2/14/2012 7:27:31 PM] Gaurav Raghav: yes you can pay today
[2/14/2012 7:27:36 PM] Gabriel Machuret: great.
[2/14/2012 7:27:39 PM] Gabriel Machuret: ok.
[2/14/2012 7:27:42 PM] Gaurav Raghav: you can pay by paypal
[2/14/2012 7:27:42 PM] Gabriel Machuret: so what do we do know?
[2/14/2012 7:27:51 PM] Gabriel Machuret: what do you need from me?
[2/14/2012 7:27:54 PM] Gaurav Raghav: send the payment
Ahhhhh… clearly: Send the payment before we even start! He hasn’t even ask me about keywords, market, competition, even about my website. But hey… he is an SEO expert, so let’s continue.
[2/14/2012 7:28:05 PM] Gabriel Machuret: sure
[2/14/2012 7:28:13 PM] Gabriel Machuret: but I need to know who I’m dealing with first
[2/14/2012 7:28:15 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I mean
[2/14/2012 7:28:20 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I can’t even see a face in skype
[2/14/2012 7:28:28 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I like to do business with people
[2/14/2012 7:28:45 PM] Gaurav Raghav: should i call you
[2/14/2012 7:28:52 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I prefer a photo please
[2/14/2012 7:29:02 PM] Gaurav Raghav: video call
[2/14/2012 7:29:04 PM] Gabriel Machuret: may be a photo of you and one photo of your team
[2/14/2012 7:29:28 PM] Gabriel Machuret: well, you can capture a photo with your webcam
[2/14/2012 7:29:29 PM] Gabriel Machuret: can’t u?
[2/14/2012 7:29:34 PM] Gaurav Raghav: i guess with a video call its much better
Mmm it was 11:00 pm in Australia, I wasn’t really keen in “video calling with this guy” so I decided to push for the photo.
[2/14/2012 7:29:40 PM] Gaurav Raghav: one min
[2/14/2012 7:29:47 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I can’t video call, sorry
[2/14/2012 7:29:52 PM] Gabriel Machuret: in the office so no way I can do that
[2/14/2012 7:29:57 PM] Gaurav Raghav: give me a min
[2/14/2012 7:30:00 PM] Gabriel Machuret: sure
[2/14/2012 7:30:06 PM] Gaurav Raghav: i’ll send a photo of mine
[2/14/2012 7:31:57 PM] Gaurav Raghav: i have placed my pic
[2/14/2012 7:32:03 PM] Gaurav Raghav: can you see it
Oh this was getting good. But come one! I need more than a Pic!
[2/14/2012 7:32:32 PM] Gabriel Machuret: but I can’t see u in a company
[2/14/2012 7:32:39 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I don’t know if you have a company behind you
[2/14/2012 7:32:42 PM] Gabriel Machuret: sorry
[2/14/2012 7:32:59 PM] Gaurav Raghav: for that pic you need to give a time
[2/14/2012 7:33:07 PM] Gaurav Raghav: as currently i’m out of office
[2/14/2012 7:33:12 PM] Gabriel Machuret: pity
Pity? You bet! I really wanted that photo!
[2/14/2012 7:33:20 PM] Gaurav Raghav: will be in office in couple of hours
[2/14/2012 7:33:41 PM] Gabriel Machuret: well, I will need a photo from you with your team
[2/14/2012 7:33:51 PM] Gabriel Machuret: may be if you can put a sign in the photo, I know it’s real and done for me
Nice idea!
[2/14/2012 7:33:57 PM] Gabriel Machuret: then I’m happy to pay
[2/14/2012 7:33:59 PM] Gaurav Raghav: my working hours are 4pm to 1am
[2/14/2012 7:34:07 PM] Gabriel Machuret: if that’s not ok, I understand
[2/14/2012 7:34:14 PM] Gabriel Machuret: but I can’t pay u guys
[2/14/2012 7:34:20 PM] Gaurav Raghav: okay
[2/14/2012 7:34:28 PM] Gaurav Raghav: I will do it as you say
[2/14/2012 7:34:32 PM] Gaurav Raghav: no problem
[2/14/2012 7:34:45 PM] Gabriel Machuret: can you send me a photo with your team with a sign that says. “We can help you with your SEO Gabriel”
[2/14/2012 7:34:50 PM] Gabriel Machuret: then I know you did it for me
[2/14/2012 7:34:55 PM] Gabriel Machuret: my email is [removed]@gmail.com
[2/14/2012 7:35:10 PM] Gaurav Raghav: okay will do it & send the image to your email-id
[2/14/2012 7:35:14 PM] Gaurav Raghav: no problem
[2/14/2012 7:35:42 PM] Gabriel Machuret: great
So at this level of the game, I’m thinking: there is NO WAY they will send me a photo. Right? Well… keep reading.
[2/14/2012 7:35:47 PM] Gabriel Machuret: so do you need anything else from me?
[2/14/2012 7:36:19 PM] Gaurav Raghav: the payment & your website URL with the FTP details & Cpanel details for your website
[2/14/2012 7:36:31 PM] Gaurav Raghav: we can get start work from tomorrow it self
[2/14/2012 7:37:10 PM] Gabriel Machuret: so you can get me in what position?
[2/14/2012 7:37:24 PM] Gaurav Raghav: we will do the SEO, maintain the site for US$1000 per month
[2/14/2012 7:37:45 PM] Gaurav Raghav: we can bring you for some keywords on first page of google
[2/14/2012 7:38:02 PM] Gabriel Machuret: how long it takes?
[2/14/2012 7:38:08 PM] Gabriel Machuret: u mean not all my keywords
[2/14/2012 7:38:15 PM] Gaurav Raghav: yes
[2/14/2012 7:38:17 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I though you are a Google expert?
[2/14/2012 7:38:35 PM] Gaurav Raghav: I can get for all keywords
[2/14/2012 7:38:41 PM] Gabriel Machuret: great
[2/14/2012 7:38:43 PM] Gabriel Machuret: in how long?
[2/14/2012 7:39:10 PM] Gaurav Raghav: generally it will take 4-10 months for it depends on the competitiveness of the keywords
[2/14/2012 7:39:26 PM] Gabriel Machuret: so in 10 months I will be 1st for all the keywords?
[2/14/2012 7:39:35 PM] Gabriel Machuret: so $10.000 yes?
[2/14/2012 7:39:39 PM] Gaurav Raghav: yes
[2/14/2012 7:39:44 PM] Gabriel Machuret: how many keywords?
[2/14/2012 7:40:07 PM] Gaurav Raghav: minimum 25
[2/14/2012 7:40:17 PM] Gabriel Machuret: so 25 keywords in 1st place in 10 months
[2/14/2012 7:40:19 PM] Gabriel Machuret: for $10.000
[2/14/2012 7:40:22 PM] Gaurav Raghav: yes
So far he hasn’t even ask for the keywords. You have to love it.
[2/14/2012 7:40:35 PM] Gabriel Machuret: great so http://www.shahdeepinternational.com is your site
[2/14/2012 7:40:38 PM] Gaurav Raghav: and even maintain the site
[2/14/2012 7:40:42 PM] Gaurav Raghav: yes
[2/14/2012 7:40:48 PM] Gabriel Machuret: you guys rank for how many keywords in 1st position?
Mmm let me guess ZERO?
[2/14/2012 7:41:16 PM] Gaurav Raghav: as we are currently re-designning the complete website
[2/14/2012 7:41:23 PM] Gaurav Raghav: so not ranking currently
[2/14/2012 7:41:35 PM] Gaurav Raghav: but can gurantee for you to rank
Sure. We don’t rank for sh*t, but we will RANK you in 1st . Ok… let’s keep going.
[2/14/2012 7:41:50 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I see
[2/14/2012 7:41:54 PM] Gabriel Machuret: what happens if you don’t?
[2/14/2012 7:42:48 PM] Gaurav Raghav: after 10 months if not rank than i will not charge for the another months until I bring the keywords on 1st page
[2/14/2012 7:43:00 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I’m confused
[2/14/2012 7:43:01 PM] Gabriel Machuret: 1st page
[2/14/2012 7:43:05 PM] Gabriel Machuret: or 1st position
[2/14/2012 7:43:08 PM] Gabriel Machuret: you mentioned 1st position
[2/14/2012 7:43:19 PM] Gaurav Raghav: no
[2/14/2012 7:43:31 PM] Gaurav Raghav: 1st page is the minimum commitment
[2/14/2012 7:43:34 PM] Gabriel Machuret: ah
[2/14/2012 7:43:35 PM] Gabriel Machuret: sorry
[2/14/2012 7:43:35 PM] Gaurav Raghav: it can be better
[2/14/2012 7:43:42 PM] Gabriel Machuret: you told me 1st position
[2/14/2012 7:44:05 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I don’t think we are the right match
[2/14/2012 7:44:12 PM] Gabriel Machuret: may be $1000 is not enough, sorry
[2/14/2012 7:44:15 PM] Gabriel Machuret: thanks anyway
[2/14/2012 7:44:21 PM] Gaurav Raghav: for 1st postion in 12 months
[2/14/2012 7:44:31 PM] Gaurav Raghav: no $1000 is enough
[2/14/2012 7:44:34 PM] Gaurav Raghav: only time
[2/14/2012 7:44:35 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I only have a budget of 10 months
[2/14/2012 7:44:38 PM] Gaurav Raghav: for 12 months
[2/14/2012 7:44:38 PM] Gabriel Machuret: sorry
[2/14/2012 7:44:44 PM] Gaurav Raghav: okay
[2/14/2012 7:44:45 PM] Gabriel Machuret: anyway. Thanks!
[2/14/2012 7:44:51 PM] Gabriel Machuret: best of luck Gaurav
He is walking out of the store… come one Gaurav do something.
[2/14/2012 7:44:51 PM] Gaurav Raghav: no problem
[2/14/2012 7:45:06 PM] Gaurav Raghav: I commit for 1st position in 10 months
[2/14/2012 7:45:11 PM] Gaurav Raghav: for 25 keywords
[2/14/2012 7:45:29 PM] Gabriel Machuret: ok. So please send me the photo and sign
[2/14/2012 7:45:35 PM] Gabriel Machuret: and the paypal ID in email
[2/14/2012 7:45:39 PM] Gaurav Raghav: okay
[2/14/2012 7:45:40 PM] Gabriel Machuret: thanks a lot!
[2/14/2012 7:45:44 PM] Gaurav Raghav: will do it
[2/14/2012 7:45:56 PM] Gaurav Raghav: thanks
[2/14/2012 7:46:08 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I only have funds in paypal for 24 hours
[2/14/2012 7:46:17 PM] Gabriel Machuret: so let’s get things rolling as fast as possible
[2/14/2012 7:46:19 PM] Gaurav Raghav: okay
[2/14/2012 7:46:19 PM] Gabriel Machuret: thanks
[2/14/2012 7:46:24 PM] Gaurav Raghav: okay
[2/14/2012 7:46:31 PM] Gaurav Raghav: will do it in 4 hours
[2/14/2012 10:28:29 PM] *** Gabriel Machuret blocked Gaurav Raghav ***
At this stage, I have to be 100% honest. I never expected any photo. but but but…. I’m always wrong (sometimes)
and my lovely SEO expert sends me the photos
But I wasn’t 100% happy.
Here are the photos of Mark Harison 
One photo
More
and holy cow… even more
[2/14/2012 10:45:30 PM] Gabriel Machuret: hi
[2/14/2012 10:45:35 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I got the photos
[2/14/2012 10:45:38 PM] Gabriel Machuret: but there is no sign
[2/14/2012 10:45:43 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I need you guys to hold the sign
[2/14/2012 10:45:45 PM] Gabriel Machuret: so I know is real
[2/14/2012 10:45:47 PM] Gabriel Machuret: sorry
[2/14/2012 10:45:54 PM] Gabriel Machuret: my wife want’s to see it’s real
[2/14/2012 10:46:21 PM] Gaurav Raghav: i have put the sign
Oh no dude! I want you to write it down! Make me feel special!
[2/14/2012 10:46:31 PM] Gabriel Machuret: that’s a print on a graphic
[2/14/2012 10:46:49 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I need you guys to hold a piece of paper
[2/14/2012 10:46:53 PM] Gabriel Machuret: with the sign
[2/14/2012 10:46:55 PM] Gabriel Machuret: sorry
[2/14/2012 10:47:01 PM] Gabriel Machuret: otherwise I can’t do business with you
[2/14/2012 10:47:08 PM] Gabriel Machuret: may be I shouldn’t hire you
[2/14/2012 10:47:15 PM] Gaurav Raghav: wait
[2/14/2012 10:47:22 PM] Gaurav Raghav: I will just share it
[2/14/2012 10:48:17 PM] Gaurav Raghav: you mean on a piece of paper I write “We can help you with your SEO Gabriel” & hold it in hand & then send you the pic
[2/14/2012 10:48:21 PM] Gaurav Raghav: right?
[2/14/2012 10:48:38 PM] Gabriel Machuret: yes
[2/14/2012 10:48:44 PM] Gabriel Machuret: so I know it’s really you
[2/14/2012 10:48:50 PM] Gaurav Raghav: okay give me 5 minutes
[2/14/2012 10:53:24 PM] Gabriel Machuret: speak to you later on
[2/14/2012 10:53:27 PM] Gabriel Machuret: have to go
[2/14/2012 10:53:38 PM] Gaurav Raghav: done
[2/14/2012 10:53:41 PM] Gaurav Raghav: email in 2 mins
[2/14/2012 10:54:37 PM] *** Gaurav Raghav sent photo.JPG ***
This is when my day became a GREAT DAY!
[2/14/2012 10:54:49 PM] Gaurav Raghav: is it OK
[2/14/2012 10:55:44 PM] Gabriel Machuret: great
[2/14/2012 10:55:49 PM] Gabriel Machuret: let me pay
[2/14/2012 10:56:00 PM] Gaurav Raghav: okay
$$$ Bingo! he is really going to pay!
[2/14/2012 10:56:18 PM] Gabriel Machuret: wait
[2/14/2012 10:56:19 PM] Gaurav Raghav: just let me know once you pay so I can confirm the same
[2/14/2012 10:56:21 PM] Gabriel Machuret: can I speak to
[2/14/2012 10:56:31 PM] Gabriel Machuret: Mark Harison – Business Development Manager
At the end of the day I got the SPAM from him…
[2/14/2012 10:56:32 PM] Gaurav Raghav: no problem sir
[2/14/2012 10:56:40 PM] Gabriel Machuret: where is Mark?
[2/14/2012 10:56:59 PM] Gaurav Raghav: he is right here
Lucky me! He is just right there!
[2/14/2012 10:57:10 PM] Gabriel Machuret: ah, great
[2/14/2012 10:57:16 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I haven’t receive any photo from him
[2/14/2012 10:57:24 PM] Gabriel Machuret: can you get him to take a photo with a sign that says
[2/14/2012 10:57:31 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I’m Mark Harison SEO expert Gabriel
[2/14/2012 10:57:39 PM] Gabriel Machuret: so I know that I can trust Mark
[2/14/2012 10:57:46 PM] Gabriel Machuret: let me know when it’s done
[2/14/2012 10:57:50 PM] Gabriel Machuret: so I can send the money
[2/14/2012 10:57:53 PM] Gabriel Machuret: thanks!
[2/14/2012 10:58:13 PM] Gabriel Machuret: need to go soon
Come one, you can’t be serious… I mean, there is no way I will get another photo. Well I was wrong!
[2/14/2012 10:58:13 PM] Gaurav Raghav: okay
[2/14/2012 10:58:17 PM] Gaurav Raghav: okay
[2/14/2012 11:02:28 PM] *** Gaurav Raghav sent photo (2).JPG ***
- Yes this is Mark Harison SEO Expert!
[2/14/2012 11:02:35 PM] Gaurav Raghav: mark pic
[2/14/2012 11:03:16 PM] Gaurav Raghav: there?
[2/14/2012 11:05:09 PM] Gabriel Machuret: great
[2/14/2012 11:05:12 PM] Gabriel Machuret: now
[2/14/2012 11:05:16 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I have some questions
[2/14/2012 11:05:21 PM] Gabriel Machuret: but I will be sending via email
[2/14/2012 11:05:24 PM] Gabriel Machuret: about my keywords
[2/14/2012 11:05:31 PM] Gabriel Machuret: u told me 1st for 25 keywords
[2/14/2012 11:05:35 PM] Gaurav Raghav: yes
[2/14/2012 11:05:46 PM] Gabriel Machuret: great
[2/14/2012 11:06:07 PM] Gabriel Machuret: my 3 main keywords is “mortgage” “loans” and “real estate”
[2/14/2012 11:06:10 PM] Gabriel Machuret: is that good?
[2/14/2012 11:06:15 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I have more
[2/14/2012 11:06:23 PM] Gaurav Raghav: no they are generic keywords
[2/14/2012 11:06:28 PM] Gabriel Machuret: ?
[2/14/2012 11:06:30 PM] Gabriel Machuret: what?
[2/14/2012 11:06:33 PM] Gabriel Machuret: oh no
[2/14/2012 11:06:43 PM] Gaurav Raghav: the keywords should be made up of 2 words
[2/14/2012 11:06:46 PM] Gabriel Machuret: what about “home loans”
[2/14/2012 11:06:50 PM] Gabriel Machuret: ” real estate”
[2/14/2012 11:06:52 PM] Gabriel Machuret: 2 keywords
[2/14/2012 11:07:19 PM] Gaurav Raghav: but the time slot is bit less for these keywords
[2/14/2012 11:07:27 PM] Gaurav Raghav: let me send you the keyword analysis report
[2/14/2012 11:07:28 PM] Gabriel Machuret: oh no
[2/14/2012 11:07:35 PM] Gabriel Machuret: very dissapointent
[2/14/2012 11:07:37 PM] Gabriel Machuret: we had a deal
Please note how the tone in my “typing” becomes “sad” and heart broken!
[2/14/2012 11:07:43 PM] Gaurav Raghav: from that you choose the 25 keywords
[2/14/2012 11:07:44 PM] Gabriel Machuret: now I’m confused
[2/14/2012 11:07:57 PM] Gaurav Raghav: do not worry sir
[2/14/2012 11:08:04 PM] Gaurav Raghav: I stand by my commitment
Yes. 1st position for home loans with no website yet! You go girlfriend!
[2/14/2012 11:08:05 PM] Gabriel Machuret: so that means, you can’t rank me 1st for my 25 keywords
[2/14/2012 11:08:14 PM] Gabriel Machuret: well, I don’t know now
[2/14/2012 11:08:14 PM] Gaurav Raghav: yes
[2/14/2012 11:08:25 PM] Gaurav Raghav: please provide your website
Ooops I don’t have a website to show him.
[2/14/2012 11:08:29 PM] Gabriel Machuret: you can put me in 1st position for “home loans” in 10 months?
[2/14/2012 11:08:33 PM] Gabriel Machuret: and “real estate”
[2/14/2012 11:08:34 PM] Gabriel Machuret: yes?
[2/14/2012 11:08:51 PM] Gabriel Machuret: may be I should leave
[2/14/2012 11:08:54 PM] Gabriel Machuret: contact someone else
Ooops , they are loooosing me. Time to get me back on track
[2/14/2012 11:08:55 PM] Gaurav Raghav: give me your website
[2/14/2012 11:08:59 PM] Gaurav Raghav: no
[2/14/2012 11:09:07 PM] Gaurav Raghav: I will give you ranking
[2/14/2012 11:09:15 PM] Gabriel Machuret: so is that a yes?
[2/14/2012 11:09:17 PM] Gaurav Raghav: but please give me ur website
[2/14/2012 11:09:26 PM] Gabriel Machuret: well, I’m still in process of launching
[2/14/2012 11:09:28 PM] Gabriel Machuret: launching soon
[2/14/2012 11:09:33 PM] Gabriel Machuret: u told me $10.000
[2/14/2012 11:09:38 PM] Gabriel Machuret: and that’s how much I have
[2/14/2012 11:09:44 PM] Gabriel Machuret: very confused
[2/14/2012 11:09:50 PM] Gabriel Machuret: may be my $10.000 are not good enough?
I bet my 10K are good enough for you Gaurav
[2/14/2012 11:10:07 PM] Gaurav Raghav: okay
[2/14/2012 11:10:15 PM] Gabriel Machuret: this will not work then
[2/14/2012 11:10:18 PM] Gaurav Raghav: i will give you the ranking
[2/14/2012 11:10:22 PM] Gabriel Machuret: really?
[2/14/2012 11:10:25 PM] Gabriel Machuret: god you are great
[2/14/2012 11:10:26 PM] Gaurav Raghav: yes
[2/14/2012 11:10:37 PM] Gabriel Machuret: you are real SEO expert Gaurav
Time to Dance! At this stage I really wanted him to tell me to f*ck *off… but it wasn’t happening yet.
[2/14/2012 11:10:46 PM] Gabriel Machuret: you guys really know the secret code to crack Google?
[2/14/2012 11:10:57 PM] Gaurav Raghav: thanks
[2/14/2012 11:11:08 PM] Gabriel Machuret: what’s the secret?
[2/14/2012 11:11:11 PM] Gabriel Machuret: before I send the payment
[2/14/2012 11:11:25 PM] Gabriel Machuret: (I need to leave soon, so I want to pay now)
[2/14/2012 11:11:27 PM] Gaurav Raghav: its the team dedication
[2/14/2012 11:11:35 PM] Gabriel Machuret: but what’s the secret?
[2/14/2012 11:11:38 PM] Gabriel Machuret: the REAL secret?
Yes. What’s the secret Mr SEO guy?
[2/14/2012 11:11:46 PM] Gabriel Machuret: how do you crack google secret code?
[2/14/2012 11:11:55 PM] Gaurav Raghav: its all the efforts on backlinks
[2/14/2012 11:11:56 PM] Gabriel Machuret: is it like the cocacola secret?
I started to laugh while typing this.
[2/14/2012 11:12:03 PM] Gaurav Raghav: no
[2/14/2012 11:12:04 PM] Gabriel Machuret: ahhhhh
[2/14/2012 11:12:13 PM] Gabriel Machuret: but only few people know the secret
[2/14/2012 11:12:18 PM] Gaurav Raghav: just the hard work & focus on target
[2/14/2012 11:12:18 PM] Gabriel Machuret: are you one of them Gaurav?
[2/14/2012 11:12:24 PM] Gaurav Raghav: may be
[2/14/2012 11:12:27 PM] Gabriel Machuret: may be?
[2/14/2012 11:12:32 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I’m paying 1K per month
[2/14/2012 11:12:36 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I can’t pay for may be
[2/14/2012 11:12:37 PM] Gaurav Raghav: yes
[2/14/2012 11:12:54 PM] Gaurav Raghav: ?
[2/14/2012 11:12:55 PM] Gabriel Machuret: ok
So time to send the payment. But let’s get them confused first.
[2/14/2012 11:13:01 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I will send the payment to Mark
[2/14/2012 11:13:05 PM] Gabriel Machuret: at: sales@seo-marketings.info
[2/14/2012 11:13:10 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I will send the payment there
[2/14/2012 11:13:17 PM] Gaurav Raghav: no
[2/14/2012 11:13:23 PM] Gaurav Raghav: our paypal-id is
[2/14/2012 11:13:36 PM] Gaurav Raghav: djain@djain.com
[2/14/2012 11:13:44 PM] Gaurav Raghav: pay on this-id
[2/14/2012 11:13:46 PM] Gabriel Machuret: but I’m confused
[2/14/2012 11:13:50 PM] Gabriel Machuret: Mark contact me
[2/14/2012 11:13:55 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I prefer to pay him directly
[2/14/2012 11:13:56 PM] Gabriel Machuret: thanks
[2/14/2012 11:14:08 PM] Gaurav Raghav: sir its the paypal-id
[2/14/2012 11:14:25 PM] Gabriel Machuret: ok
[2/14/2012 11:14:29 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I will send it there
[2/14/2012 11:14:30 PM] Gaurav Raghav: how to pay on some other email
[2/14/2012 11:14:34 PM] Gabriel Machuret: have to go now
[2/14/2012 11:14:36 PM] Gaurav Raghav: on
[2/14/2012 11:14:36 PM] Gaurav Raghav: djain@djain.com
[2/14/2012 11:14:43 PM] Gabriel Machuret: before I send the payment to your paypal id
[2/14/2012 11:14:52 PM] Gabriel Machuret: send me the 10 month plan please
[2/14/2012 11:14:59 PM] Gabriel Machuret: and tell me how many links and what type of links I get
[2/14/2012 11:15:03 PM] Gabriel Machuret: so I can pay in a few hours
[2/14/2012 11:15:14 PM] Gabriel Machuret: thanks Gaurav!
[2/14/2012 11:15:22 PM] Gabriel Machuret: tell Mark that the money will be send soon
[2/14/2012 11:15:25 PM] Gabriel Machuret: should I send 1K?
[2/14/2012 11:15:29 PM] Gabriel Machuret: or all the 10K?
[2/14/2012 11:15:32 PM] Gabriel Machuret: in one payment
[2/14/2012 11:15:36 PM] Gabriel Machuret: may be easier all the payment now?
[2/14/2012 11:15:52 PM] Gabriel Machuret: my funds are in paypal $9.850
[2/14/2012 11:15:57 PM] Gabriel Machuret: can u discount of $150?
[2/14/2012 11:15:59 PM] Gabriel Machuret: $150?
[2/14/2012 11:16:24 PM] Gaurav Raghav: sir I have already send you discoute price
Gosh. I can’t get a discount of $150. My bad luck
[2/14/2012 11:16:30 PM] Gabriel Machuret: ok
[2/14/2012 11:16:35 PM] Gabriel Machuret: so I will pay per month then
[2/14/2012 11:16:43 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I was planning to pay the 10 months
[2/14/2012 11:16:44 PM] Gaurav Raghav: you can pay 5000
[2/14/2012 11:16:50 PM] Gaurav Raghav: now
[2/14/2012 11:16:55 PM] Gaurav Raghav: it would be great
[2/14/2012 11:16:59 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I need the 10 month plan
[2/14/2012 11:17:05 PM] Gabriel Machuret: and happy to send $5000 US
[2/14/2012 11:17:09 PM] Gabriel Machuret: via paypal
[2/14/2012 11:17:11 PM] Gaurav Raghav: okay
[2/14/2012 11:17:18 PM] Gabriel Machuret: speak to you soon when I get it!
[2/14/2012 11:17:26 PM] Gaurav Raghav: one min
[2/14/2012 11:17:38 PM] *** Gaurav Raghav sent SEO Work Strategies.pdf ***
The SEO Work strategy is a list of 10 link building strategies. ONE PDF file, with 10 points. Funny.
[2/14/2012 11:17:47 PM] Gaurav Raghav: this is the strategy
[2/14/2012 11:19:39 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I’m confused. it doesn’t have the 10 month plan
[2/14/2012 11:19:47 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I want to know what do I get each month
[2/14/2012 11:19:48 PM] Gabriel Machuret: exactly
[2/14/2012 11:20:05 PM] Gabriel Machuret: speak to you when it’s ready!
[2/14/2012 11:20:12 PM] Gaurav Raghav: sir in this we will share monthly report with u
[2/14/2012 11:20:31 PM] Gaurav Raghav: the strategy will be revised each month
[2/14/2012 11:20:41 PM] Gabriel Machuret: so u want me to pay $5000
[2/14/2012 11:20:47 PM] Gabriel Machuret: without knowing what happens in the second month?
[2/14/2012 11:20:49 PM] Gaurav Raghav: because we have to achieve 1st position
[2/14/2012 11:21:02 PM] Gabriel Machuret: ok.
[2/14/2012 11:21:16 PM] Gabriel Machuret: can you send me a competiton analysis for “home loans”
[2/14/2012 11:21:26 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I want to know how we are going to get 1st position
[2/14/2012 11:21:34 PM] Gabriel Machuret: before sending the $5000
Mmm I used competition analysis.
For sure they will know I’m not a newbiew. But hey, they kept chatting.
(At this stage I was getting tired so I decided to push harder!)
[2/14/2012 11:21:41 PM] Gabriel Machuret: my wife needs to read something
[2/14/2012 11:22:26 PM] Gaurav Raghav: getting the analysis
[2/14/2012 11:22:31 PM] Gaurav Raghav: 5 mins
[2/14/2012 11:24:53 PM] Gaurav Raghav: with my experiece i would like that this keyword
[2/14/2012 11:25:08 PM] Gaurav Raghav: would be more relevant as “home loans australia”
[2/14/2012 11:25:14 PM] Gaurav Raghav: what you say?
[2/14/2012 11:25:31 PM] Gabriel Machuret: no
[2/14/2012 11:25:42 PM] Gaurav Raghav: no problem
[2/14/2012 11:25:46 PM] Gabriel Machuret: my site is for US market
Hey! Australia is just a small island, if you are going to get me rank, let’s do it in the USA !!
[2/14/2012 11:25:54 PM] Gaurav Raghav: okay
[2/14/2012 11:26:02 PM] Gabriel Machuret: leaving now
[2/14/2012 11:26:25 PM] Gaurav Raghav: so ur target search enginge would be?
[2/14/2012 11:26:41 PM] Gaurav Raghav: google.com
[2/14/2012 11:26:43 PM] Gaurav Raghav: ?
[2/14/2012 11:26:48 PM] Gabriel Machuret: yes
[2/14/2012 11:26:52 PM] Gaurav Raghav: okay
[2/14/2012 11:26:54 PM] Gabriel Machuret: Google is cool
[2/14/2012 11:27:09 PM] Gabriel Machuret: or should we target ask.com ?
I didn’t get a reply to this question. I really wanted them to tell me “Yes Sir, Ask.com is better”
[2/14/2012 11:27:11 PM] Gaurav Raghav: i thought it would be google.com.au
[2/14/2012 11:27:22 PM] Gabriel Machuret: no
[2/14/2012 11:27:27 PM] Gabriel Machuret: anyway
[2/14/2012 11:27:29 PM] Gabriel Machuret: leaving now
[2/14/2012 11:27:31 PM] Gabriel Machuret: thanks again
[2/14/2012 11:27:35 PM] Gabriel Machuret: send me the report
[2/14/2012 11:27:40 PM] Gabriel Machuret: and I will send the money
[2/14/2012 11:27:46 PM] Gaurav Raghav: okay
[2/14/2012 11:28:21 PM] Gabriel Machuret: ah!
[2/14/2012 11:28:23 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I forgot
[2/14/2012 11:28:29 PM] Gabriel Machuret: and some testimonials please
Here we go….
[2/14/2012 11:28:38 PM] Gabriel Machuret: so I can contact them to know you are legit company
[2/14/2012 11:28:45 PM] Gabriel Machuret: thanks again!
[2/14/2012 11:28:51 PM] Gabriel Machuret: very excited of working together
[2/14/2012 11:30:14 PM] *** Gaurav Raghav sent Client_Ranking_Keywords.zip ***
this file was a a collection of capture screens. No testimonials. No real customers.
[2/14/2012 11:30:22 PM] Gaurav Raghav: our past work
[2/14/2012 11:30:49 PM] Gabriel Machuret: groovie
[2/14/2012 11:30:52 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I will contact them
[2/14/2012 11:30:58 PM] Gabriel Machuret: and ask them about Mark
[2/14/2012 11:31:18 PM] Gaurav Raghav: nobody will know mark
Are you serious? I though Mark was THE MAN
[2/14/2012 11:31:23 PM] Gabriel Machuret: why?
[2/14/2012 11:31:29 PM] Gaurav Raghav: also all our clients are under NDA
[2/14/2012 11:31:41 PM] Gabriel Machuret: oh
[2/14/2012 11:31:44 PM] Gabriel Machuret: ok
[2/14/2012 11:31:47 PM | Edited 11:31:59 PM] Gaurav Raghav: its because of the privacy of clients
[2/14/2012 11:31:50 PM] Gabriel Machuret: so this will not work then
[2/14/2012 11:31:55 PM] Gabriel Machuret: pity!
[2/14/2012 11:32:05 PM] Gabriel Machuret: ok!
[2/14/2012 11:32:07 PM] Gabriel Machuret: thanks!
[2/14/2012 11:32:13 PM] Gaurav Raghav: we will also not share your information
[2/14/2012 11:32:30 PM] Gabriel Machuret: but I need to know some of your customers
[2/14/2012 11:32:35 PM] Gabriel Machuret: testimonials is a normal practice
[2/14/2012 11:32:38 PM] Gaurav Raghav: you need to understand that’s its very critical information
[2/14/2012 11:32:47 PM] Gabriel Machuret: $5000 is critical also
[2/14/2012 11:32:48 PM] Gaurav Raghav: i sent you the work
[2/14/2012 11:32:48 PM] Gabriel Machuret: anyway
[2/14/2012 11:32:51 PM] Gabriel Machuret: no need.
[2/14/2012 11:32:55 PM] Gabriel Machuret: don’t worry
[2/14/2012 11:33:01 PM] Gaurav Raghav: so send US$1000 per month
Sure, at least send us something TODAY
[2/14/2012 11:33:08 PM] Gaurav Raghav: no problem in that also
[2/14/2012 11:33:10 PM] Gabriel Machuret: without testimonials
[2/14/2012 11:33:13 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I can’t
[2/14/2012 11:33:20 PM] Gabriel Machuret: my wife is big and will beat me up
Disclosure: My wife is tiny and she doesn’t beat me up.
[2/14/2012 11:33:24 PM] Gaurav Raghav: this is what all the SEO clients ask us
[2/14/2012 11:33:34 PM] Gabriel Machuret: ok Gaurav
[2/14/2012 11:33:36 PM] Gabriel Machuret: thanks anyway
[2/14/2012 11:33:39 PM] Gaurav Raghav: for our past work
[2/14/2012 11:33:40 PM] Gabriel Machuret: be safe
[2/14/2012 11:33:56 PM] Gabriel Machuret: take care
[2/14/2012 11:33:59 PM] Gabriel Machuret: and thanks
[2/14/2012 11:34:21 PM] Gaurav Raghav: we have currently 40+ c;ients working & all ask us for our past work only
[2/14/2012 11:34:34 PM] Gaurav Raghav: this is a practice in SEO industry
[2/14/2012 11:34:43 PM] Gabriel Machuret: not a practice with my wife’s money
[2/14/2012 11:34:44 PM] Gabriel Machuret:
[2/14/2012 11:34:47 PM] Gabriel Machuret: anyway
[2/14/2012 11:34:49 PM] Gabriel Machuret: see ya
[2/14/2012 11:34:58 PM] Gaurav Raghav: I have done everything what you say
[2/14/2012 11:35:12 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I guess I will spend the 10K in a jetski
[2/14/2012 11:35:19 PM] Gabriel Machuret: you guys sell jetskis?
Please tell me to p*ss of… please tell me you already Google my name….
[2/14/2012 11:35:25 PM] Gaurav Raghav: and for the information which is beyond my company policy
[2/14/2012 11:35:38 PM | Edited 11:35:44 PM] Gaurav Raghav: sorry sir
[2/14/2012 11:35:44 PM] Gabriel Machuret: mmm no jetski then?
[2/14/2012 11:36:11 PM] Gaurav Raghav: you have to be serious in working sir
[2/14/2012 11:36:18 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I’m serious
[2/14/2012 11:36:27 PM] Gaurav Raghav: I have comitted you as per our discussion
[2/14/2012 11:36:32 PM] Gabriel Machuret: you are hurting my feelings
[2/14/2012 11:36:44 PM] Gabriel Machuret: this is very sad
[2/14/2012 11:36:54 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I wanted to do business with Mark Harison
At this stage I was getting sad. I liked Mark. But clearly things were not working for us.
[2/14/2012 11:36:54 PM] Gaurav Raghav: when I have committed you for ranking & i will give you that
[2/14/2012 11:37:10 PM] Gaurav Raghav: see mark is just the sales guy
[2/14/2012 11:37:15 PM] Gabriel Machuret: ahhh
[2/14/2012 11:37:18 PM] Gaurav Raghav: I’m the technical
[2/14/2012 11:37:21 PM] Gabriel Machuret: and you are the Internet Ninja?
I couldn’t resist using “internet Ninja” in that sentence.
[2/14/2012 11:37:29 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I need a Ninja
[2/14/2012 11:37:31 PM] Gabriel Machuret: really
[2/14/2012 11:38:00 PM] Gaurav Raghav: sir I would do anything i will not be able to do
[2/14/2012 11:38:13 PM] Gabriel Machuret: my wife think a jetski is a better idea
If you are reading this and wondering if you should invest your money on a Jetski or SEO
Choose Life: Choose a Jetski!
[2/14/2012 11:38:19 PM] Gabriel Machuret: but I think your SEO stuff is nice
[2/14/2012 11:38:20 PM] Gaurav Raghav: just to get another business I can not break my past customer trust
[2/14/2012 11:38:32 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I understand Gaurav
[2/14/2012 11:38:39 PM] Gabriel Machuret: but i need some testimonials
[2/14/2012 11:38:42 PM] Gabriel Machuret: some happy customers
[2/14/2012 11:38:45 PM] Gabriel Machuret: that I can contact
[2/14/2012 11:39:05 PM] Gabriel Machuret: otherwise my wife
[2/14/2012 11:39:12 PM] Gabriel Machuret: will hit me
Baby if you are reading this. I’m sorry
[2/14/2012 11:39:17 PM] Gaurav Raghav: you also have to understand that this is something beyond our comapny control
[2/14/2012 11:39:20 PM] Gabriel Machuret: she is a pretty big lady
lol
[2/14/2012 11:39:30 PM] Gabriel Machuret: oh well
[2/14/2012 11:39:34 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I guess we can’t do business
[2/14/2012 11:39:40 PM] Gaurav Raghav: when I’m committing this 10 months time
[2/14/2012 11:39:40 PM] Gabriel Machuret: thanks anyway
[2/14/2012 11:39:56 PM] Gaurav Raghav: otherwise no charge until I bring the ranking on 1st page
Dam! that’s a great deal. A bit to familiar in the SEO industry.
[2/14/2012 11:40:04 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I know
[2/14/2012 11:40:07 PM] Gabriel Machuret: a great deal
[2/14/2012 11:40:20 PM] Gabriel Machuret: specially for 1st place
[2/14/2012 11:40:23 PM] Gabriel Machuret: for home loans
[2/14/2012 11:40:25 PM] Gabriel Machuret: worldwide
[2/14/2012 11:40:27 PM] Gabriel Machuret: great!
[2/14/2012 11:40:35 PM] Gaurav Raghav: yes
[2/14/2012 11:40:41 PM] Gaurav Raghav: I can give you
[2/14/2012 11:40:51 PM] Gabriel Machuret: well, is time for me to leave you my dear SEO ninja
[2/14/2012 11:41:11 PM] Gaurav Raghav: no problem sir
[2/14/2012 11:41:42 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I just got an email from another SEO expert in India
[2/14/2012 11:41:42 PM] Gaurav Raghav: for a new website, 25 keywords, 1st position
[2/14/2012 11:41:45 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I’m lucky
[2/14/2012 11:41:53 PM] Gabriel Machuret: ok see ya
[2/14/2012 11:41:57 PM] Gabriel Machuret: I have them on Skype now!
[2/14/2012 11:42:17 PM] Gabriel Machuret: and they accept paypal!
[2/14/2012 11:42:23 PM] Gabriel Machuret: yeah! lucky day!
[2/14/2012 11:42:30 PM] Gabriel Machuret: bye mate
[2/14/2012 11:43:18 PM] Gaurav Raghav: no problem sir
[2/14/2012 11:44:05 PM] *** Gaurav Raghav sent Home Loan Keyword Research.xlsx ***
[2/14/2012 11:44:17 PM] Gaurav Raghav: keyword analysis report
[2/14/2012 11:44:25 PM] Gaurav Raghav: for home loan
[2/14/2012 11:47:50 PM] Gaurav Raghav: ??
[12:51:36 AM] Gaurav Raghav: okay you are itself an SEO consultant
[12:51:51 AM] Gaurav Raghav: and just want to have test us
[4:37:48 AM] *** Gabriel Machuret blocked Gaurav Raghav ***
I never managed to say bye to Gaurav and Mark. Bye guys. I will miss you big time.
Thanks for spamming my sites.
About the author
I'm an SEO professional living in the South Coast of NSW - Australia. SEO is what I do... I'm not a web guy, or a webmaster, or a designer... I just do SEO ;) Love it. Enjoy it and I still have fun doing it.
This made my day Gab, pure gold!
[Reply]
Gabriel Machuret Reply:
February 14th, 2012 at 5:34 pm
@Dan … My wife thinks I’m kind of evil. I think it’s some KARMIC SEO justice?
[Reply]
YOU can also report them to the CAN-SPAM authorities.
Send the original email in full as per their instructions.
They could be liable for up to $16,000 in fines PER INCIDENT.
Another thing is to send them on a honeypot trip
http://www.projecthoneypot.org/
Adding their code to your site will put the spammer’s harvesting robot in an endless loop of collecting useless email addresses. Enough that it will render their lists useless.
best,
Reg
nbs-seo.com
[Reply]
Gabriel Machuret Reply:
February 14th, 2012 at 5:45 pm
Fair point Reg, but I doubt they will ever pay any fine.
thanks for the link, pretty useful. Cheers
[Reply]
That’s a really good read, good to see someone fighting back against spam, I’d be willing to bet that both those pictures were taken in a public library or internet cafe, and “Mark” was just some unsuspecting randomer.
Conversation probably went something like:
“Excuse me sir, could I take a photo of you holding up this piece of paper”
“um….ok”
“Oh, and if anyone asks, your name is Mark, OK?”
“Eh?”
[Reply]
Gabriel Machuret Reply:
February 14th, 2012 at 5:44 pm
@Rob : haha, you made me laugh . Yes. I’m sure Mark is not Mark, and that kind of broke my heart.
[Reply]
“my wife is big and will hit me” …. hahahahahaha gold.
[Reply]
Gabriel Machuret Reply:
February 15th, 2012 at 5:11 am
She read it and she found it funny.
[Reply]
Haha gold! I get so many of these bloody emails every day!
Mark Harison looks very serious in that photo – I think he means business
[Reply]
Too funny! Thanks for the laugh
[Reply]
Hahaha, Gab you troll!
[Reply]
I could have fallen from my chair laughing while reading your chat with that Indian guy. It was way too hilarious and even though u knew it from the start that its a big fake, u still kept pulling his leg. I must say, spammers do exist in India but the genuine ones do provide excellent services. The place is known for outsourcing your work for free and if you really need some cheap good SEO service, India is the place to search for.
[Reply]
Hahahaha! This is precious!
[Reply]
HAha that’s so funny. I’m amazed how long they kept going, don’t they have anything better to do?
[Reply]
Gabriel Machuret Reply:
February 15th, 2012 at 7:47 pm
I think it says more about me than them: What the heck was I thinking…. wasting all that time!
lol . Cheers Danny
[Reply]
It really is very shocking looking at the way the guy was asking you for money and that too for complete 10 months in advance. Mostly it is done every month. If he wanted to cheat, he could have at least asked for a month’s advance and prepared a presentation file for it. I don’t understand how such people even end up surviving on the basis of spamming. Does anyone even fall for it? Even if they do, they might be spammers as well because only they are the ones who are not using their brains.
[Reply]
It was way too hilarious. You are talking about wasting your time. I don’t know what was I thinking wasting all my time reading your conversation with the spammer. But its fun sometimes to just read a relaxing post rather than reading knowledgeable articles all the time. It must have been a good experience or you to see what other people think and the way they do their business. Internet industry is the biggest spamming industry and you need to be really very careful whenever you are asking for any kind of service.
[Reply]
That was very entertaining, Gabriel! Brilliant! I really laughed out loud at “or should we target ask.com?”. I mean, holy cow! Also, their whole website looks really dodgy. And I can’t imagine they are actually able provide any kind of services out of this small room. I would actually like to know how many Australian business actually do business with companies like that? It’s a pity how desperate this guy must have been to cash in on you. Cheers, Christian
[Reply]
Gabriel Machuret Reply:
February 19th, 2012 at 2:56 pm
Hi Mate, I believe many small businesses may fall in the trap. I think that’s the way this industry works. No rules. 100% jungle out there. At least there are monkeys like me that love to have fun with them
[Reply]
Haha ! great post
Shame ,IM from same country ! ,Cant argue much here ,but there are non Shitty SEO in India
[Reply]
Man I think I should contact one of my Spammers too.
But anyways you are really funny man
[Reply]
Getting them to hold up customized signs, well done. Unfortunately a large SEO project cannot be shoehorned into a 10 point bulleted list.
[Reply]
I have had such experience myself but I got hit by a work from home scam by an Indian company. They asked me to pay some deposit for the e=book typing project through which I could make good money every month. But after working hard for the first month, they canceled my registration saying I had too many spelling mistakes in my files and I did not get a penny paid for it. Its really difficult these days to trust people on the internet.
[Reply]
I love the story! You surely makes me laugh about your wife. I have a SEO expert that works for me but he never fine $1000 us dollars for only one month as my SEO said to me ” spamming is not the only way to rank in google but doing some quality backlinking” I do believe him. Spamming is not a good idea to build backlinks on the internet.
[Reply]
Man, you were really patient with that guy.
Saw your interview on Mixergy. Loved it! Thanks!
[Reply]
Oh I do feel a bit sorry for that poor Indian guy. He’s on Skype to a big fish. He thinks he has you hooked. He would have told his friends. He will be so disappointed.
They do drive me a bit nutty too. On one hand I think they don’t have much choice in the work that they choose to do so I feel sorry for them. On the other hand I would never personally choose to be an SEO ‘salesman’. Awful to spam people with unwanted junk.
Really enjoyed your Mixergy interview. Well done. Although I think Andrew talked a bit too much. Would have liked to have heard more of your story.
[Reply]
Gabriel Machuret Reply:
February 24th, 2012 at 6:09 am
Hi Webgirl, Andrew is a lovely guy and he knows a lot and I think the way he interviews people is great. Thank you for watching the interview.
[Reply]
This is pity. I apologize on behalf of my fellow countryman.
There is this lack of basic understanding of the stuff which will take atleast 10 more years I guess before things get ok. Meanwhile, money hungry, get rich quick by simply starting a software firm and then find work from anywhere, by any means results into this.
The worst thing is they change their name! “Mark Harison” as if the other person don’t know anything
.
[Reply]
Gabriel Machuret Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 12:08 am
Gosh. Mr Templatic in the house.
R. Mate.I’m a huge fan of your work, in fact I’m a paid member of Templatic.com so thanks for posting.
you are right. It has nothing to do with the country and my intentions are not to focus on India, it’s just that we seem to be getting Mark Harisons from India more offen
Love your work mate!
[Reply]
Gabriel, thanks for revealing jokers paradise, these people are really pissing off other honest SEO in India, would like to see more from you in future.
Regards,
Arshad
[Reply]
hhhhhhh, great post
, i can’t hold my self to laugh 
, u r so creative gabriel, i think i must try ur crazy idea 
, it’s so interesting 
, thanks for the inspiration, lol 
[Reply]
Gabriel Machuret Reply:
February 24th, 2012 at 6:08 am
I see you are from India. So THANK YOU for not being offended. (I got some nasty emails from fellow Indian SEO guys )
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I really loved reading your conversation. It was pretty shocking to see the guy upload his picture with his name on that piece of paper and even in the next picture, when the boss was sitting with his name. Seems like they got no self respect and just wanted to steal off your money. No one else would even care if the client is not ready to trust them. It was a hilarious post and I am sure you don’t really need an SEO consultant.
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Te pasaste cuate (you got it, Gab)
I have come back after 2 weeks and i have found this “terrific” post. Your wife is wrong when she thinks you are a kind of evil because you are the devil himself. But anyway, you did the right thing, because this kind of guys discredits the software industry and the seo work. Un abrazo desde sudamerica (Greetings from south america).
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Gabriel Machuret Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 4:20 pm
Hola Hermano!
thanks a lot for stopping bye… please come back at some stage. Cheers , glad to have Mexican friends reading my tiny blog.
Thanks mate…. for the kind words
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Hi Gabriel!!!
When a person is covered by insatiable desire, he’ll do everything by any means. And by providence arrangement, one may reap the karmic reaction in this life or sometimes in the next life.
Poor guy, I think he really doesn’t know what is doing.
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This is how we do it in Asia….. yo \m/.
In the start of my career, like 3 years back I was hired by local SEO Agency, I was just a little more than a noob in SOE at that time but when I saw their discussions with clients I thought who the hell on this damn earth will agree to work on them but I was so wrong some plenty of fools were out their who were willing to work with them. Agree or not, the reason behind most of spam coming from the asian countries are the foreign clients which hire these local agencies. I tried to clean the mess in the SEO industry but they kicked me out with my SEO blog and now I am a PHP developer :/
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Too Funny Gab, love it! I get SEO spam emails all the time at least 1 – 2 times a day, what gets me the most is that most of their emails say the same thing “You are not ranking for your keywords you don’ have enough traffic” blah, blah blah….Google my site before you spam, I am on the 1st page for 6 Keywords, Thanks to you of course Gab
…Great post by the way, great read to funny!!
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Gabriel Machuret Reply:
March 10th, 2012 at 4:02 pm
hi Ed, I get the same emails…. your site InternetNinja doesn’t rank.
Yep. I bet it doesn’t.
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Followed your interview from Mixergy and thought I would check out your blog. I’m not Indian. I’m Irish.
I cringed when I read this. I personally feel that this post reflects just as bad on you as it does on the indian.
Spam is annoying. But it’s easier in my opinion more professional to click the spam button.
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Gabriel Machuret Reply:
April 7th, 2012 at 5:27 pm
Fair point Dave. Thanks for your feedback anyway. I used to live in Dublin for 2 years… (unrelated topic by the way).
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Hey Gabriel, had a good laugh while reading this blog. Nice work in taking action back at the spammers!
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Gabriel Machuret Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 6:11 am
Thanks mate…. love to see you around. Cheers!
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Hi
yeah I found your site by looking up the subject , currently am getting 1-3 spam a day from india seo companies and they all started at the same time, I have never had the same domain email me twice, so I think its just 1 individual hitting me with spam agressively under different aliases. For me this started about a month ago.
Whats interesting is tho is the wording lately changed on all the spam, they realised I actually sell SEO services so now are asking me to partner with them instead of hire them.
Sometimes they send from gmail as well and other times I seen a 3rd party domain used but sent by gmail. This is different to normal spam as they sending using legitmate mail servers not getting caught by spam filters, its now probable I will be reconfiguring my mail servers to block certian phrases which may of course affect legitmate indian based seo companies since I administer over 10k domains and the filtering would apply to all of them by default.
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LOL you make my day. Is that Mark Horison? I though he is Sharukh Khan
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No way! Man, that must have took some serious patience Gabriel! I don’t think that would have lasted quite that long although I’m sure it was entertaining. I think that more people should actually go to these lengths and hopefully discourage some of these guys but who knows that might just give them some encouragement, Lol. Anyways thanks for posting this Gabriel!
Matt
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hey mate, I remember reading similar stories awhile ago, about people messing about with email scammers.
I think the term they call it is ‘scambaiting’ = “So what is scambaiting? Well, put simply, you enter into a dialogue with scammers, simply to waste their time and resources. Whilst you are doing this, you will be helping to keep the scammers away from real potential victims and screwing around with the minds of deserving thieves.”
There are some websites dedicated to it, and some very funny stories.
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I really admire you for your patience. You could be very good at fishing, if you are not already one. But the fact remains that too many Western SEO companies have outsourced to countries like India which has resulted in growth of such people. But from the tone of his last sentences it doesn’t appear that he got the joke.
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I only like the photos LOLLLLLLLL
Also “Yes Sir”
“Wife will hit” LOL
Thanks for the movie Rolling on the floor
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Hi am from India and I read your article completely ….kudos to you for bringing such things to our notice…here in India there are many agencies which are there only to cheat people….but it happens everywhere and in all countries…there are good people as well…positive aspect is what I like to see everywhere…love XOXO
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Loved it Gabriel. They need to learn some lessons. Being an Indian, I want them to rott because of them all Indians will be seen like spammers.
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I enjoying reading conversation especially love the photo. hahha. You wife must be scary. lol.
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Man, this post was awesome,, “I need a ninja” and “should we target ask.com” made my day
“My wife will beat me up” xD LOLLLL
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Too funny! LOL
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Hey Gabriel,
Thanks for posting this. Like R. Bhavesh (Templatic) I also want to apologize on behalf of my country man.
As you also admit that not all Indian’s are spammers, Can you just put the same as Disclaimer before/after post. We don’t want that due to some/few person our country should get blame. Even Me and R. Bhavesh are also fighting for the same.
I hope you can understand.
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Gabriel Machuret Reply:
October 9th, 2012 at 5:01 pm
Nah Jaydid, no need to apologize mte, thanks for posting…
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Haha.. cool.. .wife part was the most hilarious one!
I just hope she didn’t beat you
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Ooo. great!! Its a real LOL!!
your SEO ninja Really brings a BIG smile in my face
Thanks Mr.SEO Ninja
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I too have contacted a couple of these outfits, however not to the extent you did. I howled when I saw the photos you asked for, these guys are hilarious holding up their ‘signs’. There is no shame in ‘following up’ on these types of tricksters… they deserve everything they get. Offering the moon while sullying the reputation of quality SEO’s makes them ultimate lowlifes in my book, and the more they get jerked around the better.
Thanks for the laughs Gabriel
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Fun to read it! but the truth is that 50-60% SEO business goes to such individuals / companies as most of client are not willing to pay right money for right jobs. Otherwise everyone would hire a local company and stop looking for freelancers who work at same hourly rate as cleaning staff at supermarket works.
Cheers to all freelancers! (from any country)
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Nice reading your post… I will appreciate if you can update link to “strategy” word in the post from not found to something worth reading.
I am reading your content from some days. I found your video content quite impressive.
Regarding text and other rich media use I find the likes of Niel Patel are doing better… Am saying that not to offend you but to put my personal thoughts here.
Thanks!
P.S: It will be better to read and delete this post of mine since it won’t do any good if published.
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Spammers deserves this kind of playing, Good Job Gabriel
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Gabriel Machuret Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 10:48 pm
Cheers Talha
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