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