| P2P file sharing programs are free. Period. But there | | | | programs is confusing. We know that MP3 files |
| are P2P scam sites out there that want you to pay | | | | themselves are not illegal. For example, it's legal to |
| them instead. P2P scam sites are rogue companies | | | | possess MP3s, to rip your CDs to your hard drive, and |
| that have set up shop to fleece unsuspecting music | | | | to burn CDs for your personal use. |
| downloaders looking for file sharing programs by | | | | But, by sharing and/or downloading these files, you are |
| charging a fee for an otherwise free service. No P2P | | | | breaking copyright laws. To my knowledge, P2P scam |
| file sharing software costs money. Exceptions would | | | | sites are not actually breaking any laws. But why pay |
| be a site asking members to make a monetary | | | | for something you don't have to? One of the most |
| donation to help pay for bandwidth, hosting costs, and | | | | common techniques these scam artists use is to set |
| other administrative costs. Some P2P file sharing | | | | up sites that are misspellings or derivations of popular |
| programs offer "pro" versions of their free software. | | | | P2P file sharing programs. KaZaA is probably the |
| But again, their basic service is free to the public. I want | | | | most hijacked name being used these days. Other |
| you to fully understand this, because paying a P2P | | | | sites may not actually charge you anything at all, but |
| scam site money can not only make your wallet a bit | | | | they'll "give you the software for free" if you give them |
| lighter, it can also make your computer vulnerable to | | | | your email address. This too is a scam. Because once |
| dangerous spyware. That's right. These scam sites | | | | again, they're just sending you along to a proper P2P |
| are only interested in making money off you. | | | | program, but after collecting your email address, |
| As well as actually taking your money by fooling you | | | | they're selling it to third parties. Don't give these |
| into paying them, they'll make money off you by | | | | scammers any of your personal information! If you're |
| installing spyware on your PC, so that they can get | | | | on a website you trust, even this website, you may |
| paid by sharing your online habits and personal | | | | see ads by these scam artists, preaching their lies |
| information with others. For music download beginners, | | | | about 100% blah, blah, blah. For your own security, don't |
| all of this can be very confusing. Why? Because these | | | | click on the links. |
| scam sites advertise all over the Internet. Search | | | | They're still scams. (Many independent websites rely |
| engines return results chockful of these scams | | | | on ads to pay the bills. We don't always have full |
| alongside the real P2P file sharing programs; their | | | | control over what advertisements appear on our sites. |
| banner ads riddle the Internet landscape; sites are | | | | Keep in mind that most online advertisements are |
| promoting these scams to get their piece of your | | | | arranged and distributed by third-party companies who |
| money. Most real P2P programs don't advertise much | | | | pair up advertisements with appropriate keywords. So |
| on the Internet. The reason is that they're not money | | | | a page that discusses "music downloads" is likely to |
| makers. It takes money to advertise, and who has | | | | have an ad from a scam site singing their own false |
| more money-- the free P2P file sharing programs or | | | | praises.) On this note, there are sites all over the |
| the scam artists? You guessed it. P2P relies on word | | | | Internet that actually promote P2P scam sites. Why? I |
| of mouth. The scam sites rely primarily on advertising. | | | | have my opinions. First, these scam sites are paying |
| How Can I Tell a P2P Scam Site? | | | | large sums of money to affiliates who promote their |
| This is the easy part, if you know what you're looking | | | | sites. For example, a scam site may be charging you |
| for. P2P scam sites often use phrases like 100% Legal, | | | | $29.95 for their non-service. Well, they're paying |
| which is absolutely untrue. This is a trick they use to | | | | affiliates over half (I've seen the pay-out as high as |
| prey on people interested in P2P file sharing programs, | | | | 75%) of that just for getting you, the visitor, to their |
| but who are worried (rightly) about Recording Industry | | | | scam sites. |
| Association of America (RIAA) lawsuits. Keep in mind | | | | I Think I've Used One of these Scam Sites. What Do I |
| that sharing and downloading of copyrighted files is, at | | | | Do Now? |
| this moment, an illegal activity. Another tactic is to use | | | | Stop! Right now, stop using that service. If you've got |
| fake endorsements and recommendations from | | | | some type of monthly payment with them, stop paying |
| legitimate companies. Other cons are to use phrases | | | | them. Cancel your "membership," contact your bank or |
| like Direct Downloads!, Get Access Now!, Download | | | | credit card company, and stop paying them |
| Unlimited Free Music!, and other phrases that are | | | | immediately! Secondly, your computer has probably |
| promising you things they absolutely CANNOT deliver. | | | | have been infected by spyware, and you need to |
| How Does It Work & How are They Doing It? | | | | remove it right away. I recommend purchasing |
| To be honest, I do not know the ins and outs of P2P | | | | spyware-removal software like Pest Patrol because |
| scam sites. But I know this: all P2P file sharing | | | | they do the best job at clearing out spyware parasites. |
| programs are free. Think about it a moment. It is | | | | If you've been pulled into a scam site, just rack it up to |
| because music files are being shared free of charge | | | | experience. Their ad copy is very convincing, and you |
| (without artists receiving royalties) that organizations | | | | just wanted to "be legal" while downloading. Take |
| like the RIAA are mad and suing. These P2P scam | | | | heart in knowing that you're not alone. But you're better |
| sites are merely taking your money, downloading a little | | | | off now, with this information at your disposal. In my |
| spyware to your PC, then connecting you to one of | | | | opinion, this is another reason to consider not using |
| the real P2P file sharing programs. This is all | | | | P2P file sharing programs as a means to get your |
| convoluted by the nature of P2P, which is a series of | | | | online music. I think that these P2P scam sites will |
| servers networking files to one another. Unless you're | | | | increase in number, and will use more clever tactics to |
| buying your music MP3 downloads from a legitimate | | | | get your money and your information. Until the |
| company, either per song/album or through a monthly | | | | peer-to-peer communities are regulated in some way, I |
| subscription, you cannot be sure where your music is | | | | fear that these types of activities will get worse |
| coming from. The legal status of P2P file sharing | | | | before they improve. |