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[bargainbloodhound]

Here's one of the best examples ever of a site count being inflated just prior to a sale in order to drive up the value and dupe some poor sucker. 

www.ShowBidz.com has over 341,000 listings and is not even showing up on the auction site count list?

http://www.powersellersunite.com/post-283998.html#283998

WHOIS shows the site changed hands 3 days ago on 11/11.  Mandy and I started watching the site a few days before the sale.

The current owner is in Hawaii but guess where the prior owner was located...you guessed it, Palm Bay, FL.

The WHOIS on 11/10 the day prior to the sale:

Registrant:
   Richard Austin
   599 Jewell S.T.  S.E.
   Palm Bay, Florida 32909
   United States

   Domain Name: SHOWBIDZ.COM
      Created on: 20-Oct-09

The reason we started watching this site was because on 11/10 (the day before the sale) the site was moved OFF of the probidhosting.org nameservers to nameservers at beenanza.com.  The site is now back at probidhosting.org

Did I mention the site only has 54 registered users?

But wait the fun doesn't stop there...

The new owner's PSU signature also contains a link to a site called swoopbug.com which is running the swoopo clone script telebidauctionscript (it doesn't take a friggin' rocket scientist to figure out which script it is when you see a listing titled "Sony PSP 3000 Now On Telebidauctionscript!" ).  The WHOIS hasn't been updated yet to reflect the new owner of swoopbug but guess who registered the domain on October 30, 2009...yep, "Richard"....and guess who owns the swoopohost.com nameserver domain (registered on 11/9/2009)...yep, boinktard boy Ray himself

Registrant:
   Binarywebs Developments
   3438 East Lake Road
   Suite 14 PMB 652
   Palm Harbor, Florida 34685
   United States

   Domain Name: SWOOPOHOST.COM
      Created on: 09-Nov-09

[Tags:]

Tags: showbidz swoopbug DropShipDesign penny auctions trademark infringement multi-level marketing shillbidding swoopopro mlm scams scottydo 

[sneakymagenta]

Follow this trail

a former dropshipdesign store owned by R.A.
http://www.traderickswholesale.com/

R.A. calls dropshipdesign ripoff artists in the comments here on 10/1:
http://www.ripoffreport.com/Miscellaneous-Companies/DropshipDesign-com-W/dropshipdesign-com-dropship-2bmbd.htm and here on 9/25 http://blog.allaffiliateprograms.com/318/dropshipdesigncom_beware_fraud_misrepresentation_extortion/

and yet one month later the R.A. owned chock full o' 341,000 dropshipdesign products showbidz.com is born....go figure.

~~~~~
rewriting history dep't: neither Christenson nor Austin  owned showbidz in July or September BECAUSE THE NAME WASN"T REGISTERED UNTIL LATE OCTOBER and yet there are blog articles from those 2 months raving about its great success.  Who's the boinktard who edited the posts and added the showbidz name?

http://my.allaffiliateprograms.com/bestbuysonline/blog/

edit:

you guessed it, Palm Bay, FL.

Why would anyone guess Palm BAY???  The fisherman is Palm HARBOR not BAY you boinktard bear.

edit 2:

The WHOIS on 11/10 the day prior to the sale:

The first name, address, and telephone number on the WHOIS are right but the last name...
http://www.google.com/search?q=%28321%29%20327-4018&sourceid=groowe&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

[maggie777]

The site has 341,000 items from one seller with 3 IDs and 0 items from the other 53 52 51 members.

Warning:  include(store_templates/store8/header.php) [function.include]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/showbidz/public_html/includes/class_template.php on line 47
 
 Warning:  include(store_templates/store8/header.php) [function.include]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/showbidz/public_html/includes/class_template.php on line 47
 
 Warning:  include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'store_templates/store8/header.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/showbidz/public_html/includes/class_template.php on line 47
 
 Warning:  include(store_templates/store8/footer.php) [function.include]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/showbidz/public_html/includes/class_template.php on line 47
 
 Warning:  include(store_templates/store8/footer.php) [function.include]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/showbidz/public_html/includes/class_template.php on line 47
 
 Warning:  include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'store_templates/store8/footer.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/showbidz/public_html/includes/class_template.php on line 47

They must be using Ray's mods.

[LittleOnlineStore]

What kind of tard is seriously going to think that a site legitimately has over 300000 items with only 50 some members? I mean seriously.

And good luck with google, since google does not like duplicate content... and dropshipped items.

_________________ Lynette, but my friends call me Ho.

Yes, she knows all about duplicates and dropshipped items.

[sneakymagenta]

The victim's (aka the new owner's) PSU signature also contains a link to a site called swoopbug.com which is running the swoopo clone script telebidauctionscript (it doesn't take a friggin' rocket scientist to figure out which script it is when you see a listing titled "Sony PSP 3000 Now On Telebidauctionscript!"

The items and images, including the PSP in a Wii box  , listed on swoopbug are the same ones listed on the script's demo site.
http://www.swoopbug.com/productdetails.php?aid=28
http://www.telebidauctionscriptdemo.com/productdetails.php?aid=30

Some of the bidders listed on swoopscam are even the same like bidder testtest on this Starbucks gift card auction
http://www.swoopbug.com/productdetails.php?aid=24
http://www.telebidauctionscriptdemo.com/productdetails.php?aid=32

A Sucker is Born Every Day...

The sucker is anyone who pays $1.00 to place a bid on the non-existent products listed on Swoopbarf

[mandy]

Christenson's handbagsswapmeet.com auction site which opened in July closed last week - no doubt so he could concentrate on the more lucrative penny auction business.

Some of the bidders listed on swoopscam are even the same like bidder testtest on this Starbucks gift card auction

testtest and johnjohn got into a bidding war with each other on both swoopbug and the demo site .
http://www.swoopbug.com/productdetails.php?aid=19
http://www.telebidauctionscriptdemo.com/productdetails.php?aid=19


Swoopbug, despite its fake items and fake bidders is being advertised on both PSU and Google Adwords
http://www.powersellersunite.com/post-283176.html
http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:HSLKDrIdZH8J:www.ask.com/questions-about/Free-Online-Lottery+swoopbug&cd=11&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

According to a blog article, startup Swoopbug has already received an endorsement from the fictitious "AAA ( American auctions association )". 
http://swoopbug.wordpress.com/2009/11/03/swoobug-com-rises-in-populatity/

the new owner's

I don't believe there was a sale YET - rather I think this is a case of a merger of two or three boinktards who believe they can bulls.hit their way to easy money by "duping some poor suckers" into buying bid packs or the auction sites.

[xwpopper]

http://www.powersellersunite.com/viewtopic.php?t=26035&postdays=0&postorder=asc&&start=0
It is a multi-level scam marketing site that was called "Profit Sharing Auction" until 11/6.
So those 54 members look even more encouraging now that it took him 9 months to get them. 

[bargainbloodhound]

http://www.powersellersunite.com/viewtopic.php?t=26035&postdays=0&postorder=asc&&start=0
It is a multi-level scam marketing site that was called "Profit Sharing Auction" until 11/6.
So those 54 members look even more encouraging now that it took him 9 months to get them. 

I should read PSU more often  ...OK, I now agree with Mandy's 3 boinktards/no sale yet theory.  The victim will be whoever buys the sites or registers on the sites. 

Besides fake bidders (i.e. shill bidding), and fake item listings, Swoopbug visitors are also being exposed to another risk: privacy violations...their IP addresses and other information is being shared with the world.  Click on the AddFree stats button at the bottom of any page or just follow this link http://www9.addfreestats.com/cgi-bin/showuni1.cgi?usr=00903453

Click on the more buttons on the stats page and the following information about every visitor is readily available:

Visitor Detail: 15  November  2009
 HostName :      74-61-162-98.hon.clearwire-dns.net
 IP :      74.61.162.98
 Last Visit :      New
 ISP:      CLEARWIRE US LLC
 Country:      UNITED STATES
 Region/State:      HAWAII
 City:      HONOLULU
 Domain:      US Network
 Language:      English US
 Browser:      MSIE [Win NT]
 Screen Res:      Unknow 4 Billion colors (32 bit)
 Javascript:      Enabled
 Page Views:      1
 Daily Visits:      1
 Visit Length:       0 minute(s) 0 second
 Entry Page:      || Welcome To Swoopbug.com ||
 Exit Page:      || Welcome To Swoopbug.com ||
 Referring URL:      http://www.showbidz.com/index.php
 
Navigation Report
 Time      Page
 10: 1      || Welcome To Swoopbug.com ||

I now know that boinktard #1 in Hawaii only visits his site once a day.  Hi Scot!     

boinktard owner #2 is more active. Hi Richard! 

Visitor Detail: 15  November  2009
 HostName :       229.116.101.97.cfl.res.rr.com
 IP :       97.101.116.229
 Last Visit :       New
 ISP:       ROAD RUNNER HOLDCO LLC
 Country:       UNITED STATES
 Region/State:       FLORIDA
 City:       ORLANDO
 Domain:       US Commercial
 Language:       English US
 Browser:       MSIE [Win NT]
 Screen Res:       Unknow 4 Billion colors (32 bit)
 Javascript:       Enabled
 Page Views:       7
 Daily Visits:       4
 Visit Length:        0 minute(s) 0 second
 Entry Page:       || Welcome To Swoopbug.com ||
 Exit Page:       || Welcome To Swoopbug.com ||
 Referring URL:       
 
Navigation Report
 Time       Page
  2:51       || Welcome To Swoopbug.com ||
  2:58       || Welcome To Swoopbug.com ||
  3: 6       || Welcome To Swoopbug.com ||
  3:21       || Welcome To Swoopbug.com ||
  8:51       || Welcome To Swoopbug.com ||
  8:52       || Welcome To Swoopbug.com ||
 10:23       || Welcome To Swoopbug.com ||

Geo-Location Information

      Country:    United States
      State/Region:    FL
      City:    Palm Bay
      Latitude:    27.9107
      Longitude:    -80.6351
      Area Code:    321

...and then there's boinktard #3, the web host and owner of the swoopohost name server domain. Hi Ray! 

Visitor Detail: 15  November  2009
 HostName :       cpe-173-168-8-83.tampabay.res.rr.com
 IP :       173.168.8.83
 Last Visit :       1 Day(s)
 ISP:       ROAD RUNNER HOLDCO LLC
 Country:       UNITED STATES
 Region/State:       VIRGINIA
 City:       HERNDON
 Domain:       US Commercial
 Language:       English US
 Browser:       MSIE [Win XP]
 Screen Res:       1024x768 4 Billion colors (32 bit)
 Javascript:       Enabled
 Page Views:       4
 Daily Visits:       3
 Visit Length:        0 minute(s) 13 second
 Entry Page:       || Welcome To Swoopbug.com ||
 Exit Page:       || Welcome To Swoopbug.com ||
 Referring URL:       
 
Navigation Report
 Time       Page
  8: 1       || Welcome To Swoopbug.com ||
  9:21       || Welcome To Swoopbug.com ||
  9:57       || Welcome To Swoopbug.com ||
  9:57       || Welcome To Swoopbug.com ||

Geo-Location Information

      Country:    United States
      State/Region:    FL
      City:    Palm Harbor
      Latitude:    28.0901
      Longitude:    -82.7251
      Area Code:    727

[regic]

And yest they are now just a popular as Ebay, once you have visited them you will find that to be true( not a start up but one of the fasted riseing sites on the net today�� again visit http://www.showbidz.com/�and start making money now.

http://blog.allaffiliateprograms.com/311/ebay_is_about_to_become_second_in_popularity_on_the_net/

If Showbidz is just as popular as eBay why did air traffic controller Scott Christenson list his 2006 Toyota Sienna van on craigslist yesterday instead of on Showbidz?
http://honolulu.craigslist.org/oah/cto/1465715244.html

It is a multi-level scam marketing site that was called "Profit Sharing Auction" until 11/6.

Here's the owner's description:

I just opened a new business, and applied an MLM or Amway type pay system, with downlines, to an auction.

Members earn sales commissions by recruiting other sellers and building their downlines. Then I take the selling fees your referrals would pay to ebay anyway, and split those up equally with your downline members.

FREE Co-op where the members are part owners in their own auction, and they split the profits. Earn sales commissions, retirement income, and Medical & Dental insurance. $50 credit to register, No Listing & No Selling fees, only Optional fees

http://forums.myspace.com/t/3922163.aspx?fuseaction=forums.viewthread

FYI, Christenson previously owned the defunct FotoAds.com
http://avcosa.ning.com/forum/topics/topic-of-the-week-making-the

Here's an old press release for FotoAds.  Christenson was based out of Spokane WA at the time:
http://www.spokanemicroblog.com/a87797-new-auction-site-challenges-ebay-by.cfm

edited to add:

They must be using Ray's mods.

As of 9/10 the site had paid binarywebs almost $1800 for buggy programming services.
http://www.profitsharingauction.com/community/showthread.php?p=41#post41

ISP:      CLEARWIRE US LLC

According to the site's profit and loss statement the site's sellers/"shareholders" are apparently footing the 36.63 monthly bill for Scott's Internet connection.

[bargainbloodhound]

the site's sellers/"shareholders"

Stockholder

FREE Co-op where the members are part owners

Ummm, the site is registered to an individual.  The business is unincorporated.  The business's legal business structure is 'sole proprietorship'.  Sole proprietorships can not (legally) issue stock or have shareholders or issue ownership interests to others...maybe I should clarify that statement, they can violate the law and issue stock but in doing so they run afoul of several state and federal securities laws.

[sneakymagenta]

According to the site's profit and loss statement the site's sellers/"shareholders" are apparently footing the 36.63 monthly bill for Scott's Internet connection.

According to the site's balance sheet the shareholders/stockholders/sellers/suckers owe dear Scott $7,341.38 for expenses incurred to date.  LossSharingAuction would have been a more appropriate name for this site.
http://www.profitsharingauction.com/community/showthread.php?t=39

TOTAL ASSETS 9.42
LIABILITIES & EQUITY
Liabilities
Long Term Liabilities
Stockholder Loan 7,341.38
Total Long Term Liabilities 7,341.38
Total Liabilities 7,341.38
Equity
Net Income -7,331.96
Total Equity -7,331.96
TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY                    9.42

[xwpopper]

This web-site does not permit minors (under16) to register. If any member fails to signup with their correct age the account will be terminated immediately.

Time to spend some of that profit on changing the stock Probid terms...

Buyers should pay for items using an escrow service, we recommend PayPal, along with a Credit Card.

When did Paypal begin offering an escrow service? Maybe we have another moron like Ray Romeo who knows nothing about selling online.
http://www.showbidz.com/terms,page,content_pages

they can violate the law and issue stock but in doing so they run afoul of several state and federal securities laws.

Maybe he forgot Hawaii is a US state?

According to the site's balance sheet the shareholders/stockholders/sellers/suckers owe dear Scott $7,341.38 for expenses incurred to date.  LossSharingAuction would have been a more appropriate name for this site.

And to think, his entire package he has on the site is worth about 20 bucks.
I think Amazon is planning to announce their earnings next month on their seller forum as well.

As of 9/10 the site had paid binarywebs almost $1800 for buggy programming services.

I swear, everybody here is a boinktard troll, spewing propagandistic libelous drivel. 

[jezebel]

Example we just opened www.ShowBidz.com and its a php my sql scipt which requires a minimum of 16GB of RAM , a quadcore processer, and a special harddrive. We kept having problems and after loading alot of ads, the site got sluggish. My host had NOT set up his server correctly, and so I switched to a server with alot more horsepower or go go power, now its loading pages fast.

 

Website test results

URL tested:   http://www.showbidz.com
Test performed from:   Seattle, WA
Test performed at:   2009-11-15 22:51:43 (GMT -05:00)
Resolved As:   209.62.2.233
Status:   OK
Response Time:   3.229 sec
DNS:   0.001 sec
Connect:   0.073 sec
Redirect:   0.000 sec
First byte:   2.860 sec
Last byte:   0.295 sec
Size:   71813 bytes

Website test results

URL tested:    http://www.showbidz.com
Test performed from:    Seattle, WA
Test performed at:    2009-11-15 23:03:35 (GMT -05:00)
Resolved As:    209.62.2.233
Status:    OK
Response Time:    11.781 sec
DNS:    0.001 sec
Connect:    0.073 sec
Redirect:    0.000 sec
First byte:    11.339 sec
Last byte:    0.368 sec
Size:    71814 bytes

Website test results

URL tested:    http://www.showbidz.com
Test performed from:    Seattle, WA
Test performed at:    2009-11-15 23:07:16 (GMT -05:00)
Resolved As:    209.62.2.233
Status:    OK
Response Time:    3.261 sec
DNS:    0.001 sec
Connect:    0.073 sec
Redirect:    0.000 sec
First byte:    2.886 sec
Last byte:    0.300 sec
Size:    71813 bytes

There were 15 users online at Showbidz when I tested.  If page loads are 3-11 seconds now I hate to think what they'll be if the site receives any traffic.

General Journal 11/24/2008 Matt St. Amant Stockholder ... 600.00 1,194.17
 General Journal 12/11/2008 Matt St. Amant Stockholder ... 350.00 1,544.17
 General Journal 4/29/2009 Matt St. Amant Stockholder ... 150.00 2,233.12
 General Journal 5/11/2009 Matt St. Amant Stockholder ... 150.00 2,383.12
 General Journal 8/25/2009 Matt St. Amant Stockholder ... 75.00 3,073.70

$1275 for 3 copies of Ultimate Auction. 

Total Gross Auction Selling Fees 10.15 10.15

The site has 341,000 listings and generated $10 in revenues this year?

 

[regic]

$1275 for 3 copies of Ultimate Auction.

1 of those sites already closed.

Cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in Ultimate Auction were reported to the vendor in October 2005 (and to Secunia in January 2006) and are still unpatched
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2006/Jan/522
http://secunia.com/advisories/18477

[mandy]

His old site FotoAds which he claimed in a press release was custom built used the boxed Ultimate Auction script on the auction side.
http://web.archive.org/web/20050331034008/www.fotoads.com/cgi-bin/main.pl

After being told it wasn't possible or affordable to build a site like this, I met my partner, David Tschope. David is a computer expert living in Spokane, Washington and helped me find a programmer that built FotoAds auction program. It was a long and expensive process, and after six years of struggling, we finally opened for business in May of 2003."