The Green Millionaire : Buyer Beware!

* Update - 4/16/12 - FTC orders Green Millionaire founder has to pay 2 million in damages!
I recently had a friend and reader suggest I check out this great new free book he found called The Green Millionaire. He said I could get a free copy at the website (I'm not even going to link to their site because it's too close to a scam for my taste). When I went there, I saw something that looked very "scammish". Anything promising "free" anything immediately sets off my alarm signals. So I did a little digging (a.k.a. google) and found this article from Fibomercials and Scams.

Basically, you sign up for the "free" book and they need your credit card for the $1 "shipping and handling" charge. But the devil is in the details! The fine print says:

*Start your free trial today and we will also send you a free 14 day subscription to The Green Millionaire eMagazine. Just pay a $1.00 processing fee. You will have 14 days to try The Green Millionaire eMagazine and discover how to become wealthier while saving the planet. If you like the simple, powerful solutions presented in the program, do nothing. At the end of your free trial period you will be charged the discounted price of $29.95, and every 60 days thereafter.

And then gives you the number to call to cancel your subscription. I wonder how hard it is to get through to a live person?

After doing my research I asked my friend to check his credit card bill and guess what? Here was his reply:

Argghh!!! Looks like I’m in the scam wheel. I didn’t even know it was from an infomercial (which I never watch). I think I found the link through another referral.

Well I got the book, and it’s OK. Nothing earth shattering, but some good ideas. I’ll give you my copy if you want it… I’m too pissed to hold on to it. They did charge me $29.95. I will dispute with my CC company, and maybe cancel my card.

So, if you need some green tips then go ahead and get your "Green Millionaire" book, pay $29.95 every 60 days or take the trouble to cancel your "subscription". Or you can read this blog and the other great resources that are out there that cost you nothing. I won't say it's free though because I do "force" you to glance at ads. Hey, a guy has to eat (I just bough some nice grass-fed steaks) doesn't he?

Like what you read? Subscribe to Mapawatt Blog and get new blog posts in an email or in your favorite reader!

Tags:

freegreenwealth.com

freegreenwealth.com scam

Green millionaire book

green millionaire scam

green money book

green money book scam

my free green scam

ripoff report

Category:

Education

Comments

Anonymous (not verified) Sat, 08/14/2010 - 04:14

If you are not a scam then how is it I have been on the phone for over a hour trying to cancel this scam. I did not give you the authoriity to charge my credit card 89.95 and I want my money back. In good faith you should not hastiate to do so, if you are legimate business. The book is worthless, my grandchildren can use as show and tell but that is all. I was fell for scam and shame on me, I was trying to help reduce the amount of waste for our mother earth but you have allowed me to double it by sending a paper trail and countless microwaves into the atmosphere while I sit on the phone waiting for someone that will never come on the line. How is that for being a green millinaire. Please cancel my subscribtion a.s.a.p as I dont have the money to waste like this. I will send this scam to the better business bureau and the attorney's general office as well.

Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 05/14/2010 - 08:31

AVOID, AVOID, AVOID. This is a huge scam. Nowhere do they tell you that you'll be charged $29.95 every other month for anything. Yeah, the book is free, only pay shipping and handling, but you only have 14 days to turn down the offer...problem is, the charge doesn't show up on your statement for over a month, so it's too late to decline the 'offer'.

Anonymous (not verified) Sun, 06/27/2010 - 18:01

I was leery of it as well, so I do what I always do and go on Amazon or Barnes and Nobles FIRST to see if anyone is selling the book used. Got the book for a few dollars and never had to sign up for anything. The book has good ideas, BUT doesn't really give you links to find out any more information, so if you want to get the "products" you have to start searching for what he is talking about (and some of it is very vague) on the internet. And one thing he NEVER mentioned is Wind turbines as a source of going green and "OFF THE GRID." Only Solar. It was good but disappointing at the same time. If you see a book advertised on TV and it is too good to be true, but you still want to have the book, check out the used book sites BEFORE you call the number in the infomercial. Chances are someone has put it up to sell.

Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 04/12/2010 - 23:46

And our government does nothing to stop these people. everyone that I have seen on the informercials and found them to be only out to help them selfs out with your money. INFORMERCIALS ARE ONLY IN THE BUSINESS TO GET YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY... BEWARE OF ALL OF THEM

Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 05/11/2010 - 20:35

why would the government stop them, that's how they earn money.

Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 08/11/2010 - 15:59

ALWAYS USE A PREPAID CARD AND U WILL NEVER HAVE THIS HAPPEN AGAIN.

Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 06/14/2010 - 21:40

DO NOT SIGN UP FOR GREEN MILLIONAIE. I CALLED ON THE PHONE AND SIGNED UP $1.95 AND IN 14 DAYS THEY HIT MY BANK ACCOUNT FOR 89.95. I CALLED AND THREATEN TO CALL THE TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL TO THRN THEM IN TO GET MY MONEY BACK. THEY WERE NOT GOING TO DO THAT UNTIL I SAID I WAS GOING TO DO THAT. I LET YOU KNOW IF THEY FOLLOW THRU.

Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 06/10/2010 - 17:09

I fell for this! I failed to read the fine print! They not only charged me the $29.93 Fee they also charged me $89.95 for the emailed newsletter they send out. This is crap. all it is links to other websites where you can purchase green goods. I can find that on my own! Beware this is a scam! Green Millionaire is a scam! oh and its not a 30 day trial, its only 14 days! So by the time you remember you signed up its too late! Green Millionaire is a scam!

Anonymous (not verified) Sat, 07/10/2010 - 05:49

This was such an obvious scam. How many suckers went for this?? BTW I'm selling a reference guide on how to grow your own money tree for only $19.99! Call now 888-GET-RICH.

Anonymous (not verified) Sun, 06/27/2010 - 02:44

Don't get me wrong, it's a terrible thing to do to people, and it's great this site is here to inform people that it is & is greatly appreciated. However, you cant tell me if you thought of it first and seen how much money comes in, u'd be bitching about it and would say it's legit! You'd say to the pervious people who got caught up in it, "Not my fault your dumb!"

blog