I did a web search for a hard-to-find video, and Bay Downloads (baydownloads.com) came up. Clicking on their website, they claimed they had added the video 5 days before. I attempted to access it, but was told that I needed to be a member first. Since a trial 3-day membership is only $4.87, I went ahead and provided my credit card information. They charged my card, and sent me validation, which I used to sign on.
Suddenly, the video they'd claimed was added 5 days earlier was nowhere to be found. If I sign off, the search finds it again. What a catch-22! If you're not signed on, you are not allowed to download, and if you ARE signed on, they can't find the item you want.
In fact, their search is set up to return "we have it!" for EVERYTHING! That's how they convince you to part with 5 bucks. I can sign off and do a search on their site for "baydownloads is a complete scam," and I get the following results:
download speed
Baydownloads Is a Complete Scam ripped 01-9-2008
added to New Releases 7.7 days ago
1039 Kb/s
Baydownloads Is a Complete Scam working
added to New Releases 11.8 days ago
1384 Kb/s
Baydownloads Is a Complete Scam - RELOADED
added to New Releases 5.9 days ago
775 Kb/s
{ACCiDENT} Baydownloads Is a Complete Scam
added to New Releases 5.3 days ago
They not only claim to have four copies of "Baydownloads is a complete scam," but they tell you how fast it will download! Try it yourself. They have everything, even if you just made it up. Search for random keyboard garbage -- they have two copies of "djklerlskjelkjf"!
download speed
Djklerlskjelkjf
added to New Releases 17 hrs ago
381 Kb/s
Djklerlskjelkjf ripped 01-9-2008
added to New Releases 6 hrs ago
350 Kb/s
Unfortunately, I had already given them my credit card info, so I called the credit card company and told them I was being scammed, and asked them to reverse the charge. They said since the charge is only "pending," they can't do anything; once it posts, I can contest it. Even though it's only $4.87, that's exactly what I intend to do.
Since other ripoff sites say they'll continue to charge your card even though they advertise on the site that $4.87 is a lifetime membership, I also took the precaution of cancelling my credit card and asking for a new card with a new number. A site which is obviously set up to be a total scam site will not be above attempting to charge the card again.
I called their customer support number, and they "cancelled" my membership, but said I had to request a refund via email. The response to email is "trial membership fees are not refundable." So, even though they took my money under false pretenses (fraud), they won't give it back. What a surprise.
I don't expect it will be long before the site is shut down, or operating under some other name. The MOST I should lose is $4.87, and the time I've spent, and the inconvenience of having my credit card cancelled. If you happen to be more cautious than I was, and google the site before giving them money, I hope my experience will convince you to just walk away. They are a complete rip-off. I don't think they have, or plan to have, ANYTHING available for download.
They're just trying to skim a bunch of $5 charges and disappear. I hope they disappear sooner rather than later. Don't give them any of YOUR money.
They operate under other names -- Download Nova, Optimum Downloads -- but they are not honest. They'll promise the moon, and deliver nothing. This doesn't even rise to the level of bait-and-switch. It's bait-and-screw-you.
David
Granada Hills, California
U.S.A.