Is this forreal of is this a fraud/scam/exort

[hihobi]

I recently got an email from a site I visited yesterday. I'll come right out and say it was an adult website, though, it is rather irrelevant to the situation.

This is the source of the problem:


I entered my e-mail and such, and Gained access to the mediocre website. This morning, I checked my email, and I got a message from a company called "United Payment Limited" Billing me for 69 Euros and it has to be payed within 7 days or some jargon like that. I am kinda freaking out at the moment, because I entered no credit information, but they have my e-mail and ip address. Am I really gonna have to pay this? I mean, I saw no charges or anything upon joining at all, and now they throw this at me.

Help me out?

-Thanks

[hihobi]

the website is vivis-homepage.com
please help me out

[dodobird]

Hello Hihobi,

Thank you for thinking of providing the web site name. I googled United Payment Limited and did find a bit on this scam, but mostly in French or German. I then visited the web page in question and actually had to look for the terms & conditions that you "agreed" to by submitting your email address.

Now, I'm not a lawyer, but sure would not worry about this "invoice". Firstly, the google search did show you're not the first to get caught with one of those sites and you can see for yourself by clicking here

Here are the points I would question;

1. There is no way for them to prove that the information you entered is correct
2. I finally got the terms and conditions by taking the chance to click where I THOUGHT they would show up, it's obvious that most people won't even see this information
3. They do not advertise any form of fee on this page
4. They have your IP; depending on where you are, chances are that your internet provider cannot divulge your identity because of confidentiality laws/rules

Finally, a quick search shows that this website went up on June 04, 2009 for one year only and is registered with an address in Germany. That would be quite a long way off, great costs and trouble for them to go and legally collect 69 Euros. A legitimate company would have asked for your credit card up front and shown you pricing in the same fashion.

Speaking of collecting, they have gone as far as to threaten legal action with others who were taken in just like you. They threatened this legal action in a UK court with a German company! They can't be serious!

Furthermore, allow me the pleasure of quoting this part of their terms and conditions, where they clearly state 59 Euros and not 69 Euros;

§ 5 Prices and Payment Terms

A one-time fee of fifty-nine (59 EUR) including value-added tax (VAT) applies for the use
of our services.

The invoice total must be credited to the account as stated on the invoice no later than by
the seventh day following receipt of invoice. In case of intentional or negligent delay of
payment, the Service Provider is authorised to demand compensation from the Customer
for damages caused by such delay.

Unless otherwise indicated, all prices shown on the invoice are final prices and include
the applicable statutory VAT.

Once again, I repeat that I'm not a lawyer, but have yet to find real "terms & conditions" that will not specify jurisdiction of a specific location for legal action.

It is my personal opinion and advice that you block the sender of this email so as not to receive further emails from them and then, just delete their "invoice".

Good luck!

hello from Germany...

of course the whole thing provides by United Payment Ltd. is a scam. Once you registered they only have your email and your (worthless) ip adress. Even inside germany the authorities won't get the owner of an ip. And outside germany... no chance. You will receive an invoice, a few threats and at last an email from a "so called" lawyer in germany. Thats it.

Look here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkrW7H9mjsY

Just laugh about this scam and never ever even think of paying!