HeadsUP: New Scam Marketing to Churches

[Sysmom]

I've a few friends in more important tech circles than I will ever float in, and about 6 weeks ago, one of them warned me that there was something new that would be launching August 1st called iJango.

It was being started by someone allegedly wanted by several states' Attorney Generals, and they had to go to Chinese programmers to get anyone to touch what they wanted done. (Hence the infamy starting early in tech circles)

It's billed as an MLM affiliate marketing program where you give them $150 and somehow you get rich by people using your/their iJango portal for all their web browsing and shopping. With some super special little app on your computer (complements of the foreign programmers).

OK, I wasn't born yesterday, I didn't need that warning for myself...

But guess who we got a call from in the office yesterday? A lady who has no connection to our church, wanting to help us with a 'powerful fund-raising opportunity'. She explained to our receptionist that iJango had been around for 10 years, (Date on WHOIS: Created on: 27-Mar-09) was bigger than Google (give me a break!), and how we could raise money for church programs by just having people use the internet.

Ummmmhmmm, right. I'm very glad the receptionist was on the phone with her, and not me, because I might have had to repent. So they're cold-calling churches already.

It's going to have customizable launch pages by community, perhaps by organization or more. I'm not digging that far.

So here's my official WATCH THIS posting. Please alert your church staff and pastors, especially those who might be not quite so technically adept as you are.

In these days of people needing money desperately, organizations needing money desperately for programs and people ... a slick-talking sales person might take advantage of the often naive and trusting nature of churches.

deb

[Lucas]

Hmmmm, technically he's correct. His "portal" is merely a collection of websites that accept a client reference. He'll probably get a nominal cut from a sale etc on that website. But I doubt that you would see any money from him.

Looks a lot like Googles portal/ custom home page. (Which incidently is my suggestion if you want a "portal". www.google.com/a/