All website companies should beware. Another dishonest advertiser is on the loose and is trying to use your sites for advertising in order to install malware into unsuspecting user’s computers. Know who you are dealing with before striking a deal.
What Is Malware?
For those who don’t know, malware, also referred to as malicious software, is designed to infiltrate a computer system without the knowledge or the permission of the computer’s user. The most popular form of malware is spyware, which is used by the malware installers to gather data about the computer’s user in order to target their advertising based on the sites they can see that the computer user is surfing.
The Evils of Servedad.Net
Here at SpamLaws we have recently received reports from legitimate Internet sites that have been scammed by the company Servedad.Net. This particular company misled legitimate website owners by trying to buy advertising space for well known products on the Internet. Owners of the unsuspecting sites willing to sell advertising space negotiated with this company over the phone and through email. Throughout the entire process of negotiating for ad space Servedad.Net seemed sincere, professional, and legitimate. However, when the time came to send Servedad.Net a monthly invoice and to request payment for the advertising space sold, Servedad.Net was gone. Phone numbers and email addresses no longer existed and payment was never received. In fact, at the same time this scam was being uncovered by the legitimate websites, who were used as pawns throughout this whole ordeal, the websites also began receiving complaints from users that when they clicked on ads sponsored by Servedad.Net, they were redirected to non requested sites and were infected with spyware. This was very distressing for many of the users and may prevent these users from ever trusting those websites or any web ad again.
So, a warning to all website owners and providers. Be sure to thoroughly research companies before accepting and posting ads. Be sure to watch for signs like reluctance to pay up front for the ad space and take the time to visit the home site of the company requesting advertising space in order to look for suspicious activity. You will save both yourself and your users lots of unneeded stress and aggravation and you can help begin to put such corrupt companies out of service.
What To Watch Out For
Below are the names, address, phone numbers, and email addresses of the spreaders of malware through Servedad.Net. Be wary if you are approached by this person.
Martin Kelme
>> >>Business Development Manager
>> >>Servedad.Net
>> >>Email: martin@servedad.net
>> >>Phone: (919)809-6747
>> >>Fax: (919)809-6121
Servedad.Net, US advertising agency