5 ms·

Ugh. This reminds me of the USPS address change scam. Just type "change address" into Google and see how many Ad results for this are thrown in top of your se

by axaxs 7y ago

Ugh. This reminds me of the USPS address change scam. Just type "change address" into Google and see how many Ad results for this are thrown in top of your search results. They are all semi official looking, and charge you. I'm ashamed to admit I fell victim to one of these after a very long day of moving and a few beers years back. The USPS offers this for $1(not free, thanks ebg13)! I blame myself, but do wonder why Google allows and even promotes these sites...

toomuchtodo 7y ago
Make sure to mash that "SERP Feedback" button when the result for your search isn't the appropriate/official result.
- echelon 7y ago
  Google doesn't do a damn thing about the feedback. Every time I search for my bank's routing number, the first result that pops up is a fishy looking 3rd party website. The numbers are accurate (for now?), but it's super sketchy. My bank's results are three or four slots down the list. I keep complaining and Google does nothing. It may just as well be an elevator "close door" button.
  - toomuchtodo 7y ago
    I recommend you only obtain routing numbers from within your bank's mobile app or website. Can't speak for all banks, but Chase, Fidelity, and Schwab all list your routing and account numbers prominently when logged in (and some financial institutions have different routing numbers depending on your use case, a wire vs a direct deposit for example). To your point about Google feedback, sadness, but unsurprising.
    - jcranmer 7y ago
      If you have physical checks, it's printed directly on the check on the bottom.
      - zaphar 7y ago
        That routing number isn't always the correct one for a wire transfer. So make sure you find out from your bank which number to use for the given use case.
ebg13 7y ago
> The USPS offers this for free $1 if done online.
- axaxs 7y ago
  Thanks, edited. I was wondering when I wrote that 'why would I have got my credit card out'...now it makes sense as I remember having used that service in the past.
deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
guywithahat 7y ago
To be quite frank I’m happy google doesn’t ban websites outright if it determines the service isn’t useful. There are already enough things google censors without merit, I could only imagine they’d abuse this too
mcguire 7y ago
"I blame myself, but do wonder why Google allows and even promotes these sites..." Because they pay Google and aren't actually illegal. A better question is why Google puts ads at the top of search results.
- hotgeart 7y ago
  > A better question is why Google puts ads at the top of search results. You know the answer...
- limomium 7y ago
  Because they pay Google and isn't illegal either.
- raverbashing 7y ago
  I wonder why it's not illegal to impersonate a public service or department
- outside1234 7y ago
  Because we click on them and it maximizes Google's revenue.
berdon 7y ago
Oh, it doesn't only cost you $1. It also costs you at minimum a years worth of free spam mail from various "You're moving! Here's a bunch of discount coupons for things you don't need" that USPS sells your new address to.
- SilasX 7y ago
  I thought you could opt out of that without cost when you change the address? I always remember that being an option.
  - criley2 7y ago
    I imagine there is some kind of confusing opt-out dark design, but as someone who instinctively always opts-out every time, and who is usually not tricked by UIs, I still found myself inundated with unwanted spam mail. Of course, the only honest tactic would be an opt-in, but that would destroy the revenue the feature makes...
    - sharkmerry 7y ago
      > Of course, the only honest tactic would be an opt-in, but that would destroy the revenue the feature makes... This would destroy a lot of companies..
      - chipperyman573 7y ago
        This does beg the question, if your company relies on dark patterns to get people to sign up for your service to survive, why should it be allowed to continue to operate? Seems to me like the market is speaking
      - catalogia 7y ago
        Killing those companies is the point. You may as well object that bug spray is bad because it kills cockroaches.
      - Animats 7y ago
cosmojg 7y ago
> The USPS offers this for $1(not free, thanks ebg13)! $0 if done in person.
- droithomme 7y ago
  That's very interesting. I had no idea they were now charging $1.05 to file a change of address on line. I suspect they implemented the fee since people as above are filing change of address forms from Address A to Address A just to get coupons mailed to them and the $1.05 covers the cost of mailing the coupons. It also, requiring a credit card, provides for a measure of identity verification and reduces fraud associated with fake address change filings. > We use your email address to send your transaction confirmation or send a one-time reminder email if you do not successfully complete your transaction. Ah, so it's not true, as was claimed above, that the USPS form gives your email to the companies so they can spam you.
deleted 7y ago
[deleted]

by axaxs 7y ago

toomuchtodo 7y ago

Make sure to mash that "SERP Feedback" button when the result for your search isn't the appropriate/official result.

echelon 7y ago
Google doesn't do a damn thing about the feedback. Every time I search for my bank's routing number, the first result that pops up is a fishy looking 3rd party website. The numbers are accurate (for now?), but it's super sketchy. My bank's results are three or four slots down the list. I keep complaining and Google does nothing. It may just as well be an elevator "close door" button.
- toomuchtodo 7y ago
  I recommend you only obtain routing numbers from within your bank's mobile app or website. Can't speak for all banks, but Chase, Fidelity, and Schwab all list your routing and account numbers prominently when logged in (and some financial institutions have different routing numbers depending on your use case, a wire vs a direct deposit for example). To your point about Google feedback, sadness, but unsurprising.
  - jcranmer 7y ago
    If you have physical checks, it's printed directly on the check on the bottom.
    - zaphar 7y ago
      That routing number isn't always the correct one for a wire transfer. So make sure you find out from your bank which number to use for the given use case.

ebg13 7y ago

> The USPS offers this for free $1 if done online.

axaxs 7y ago
Thanks, edited. I was wondering when I wrote that 'why would I have got my credit card out'...now it makes sense as I remember having used that service in the past.

deleted 7y ago

[deleted]

guywithahat 7y ago

To be quite frank I’m happy google doesn’t ban websites outright if it determines the service isn’t useful. There are already enough things google censors without merit, I could only imagine they’d abuse this too

mcguire 7y ago

"I blame myself, but do wonder why Google allows and even promotes these sites..." Because they pay Google and aren't actually illegal. A better question is why Google puts ads at the top of search results.

hotgeart 7y ago
> A better question is why Google puts ads at the top of search results. You know the answer...
limomium 7y ago
Because they pay Google and isn't illegal either.
raverbashing 7y ago
I wonder why it's not illegal to impersonate a public service or department
outside1234 7y ago
Because we click on them and it maximizes Google's revenue.

berdon 7y ago

Oh, it doesn't only cost you $1. It also costs you at minimum a years worth of free spam mail from various "You're moving! Here's a bunch of discount coupons for things you don't need" that USPS sells your new address to.

SilasX 7y ago
I thought you could opt out of that without cost when you change the address? I always remember that being an option.
- criley2 7y ago
  I imagine there is some kind of confusing opt-out dark design, but as someone who instinctively always opts-out every time, and who is usually not tricked by UIs, I still found myself inundated with unwanted spam mail. Of course, the only honest tactic would be an opt-in, but that would destroy the revenue the feature makes...
  - sharkmerry 7y ago
    > Of course, the only honest tactic would be an opt-in, but that would destroy the revenue the feature makes... This would destroy a lot of companies..
    - chipperyman573 7y ago
      This does beg the question, if your company relies on dark patterns to get people to sign up for your service to survive, why should it be allowed to continue to operate? Seems to me like the market is speaking
    - catalogia 7y ago
      Killing those companies is the point. You may as well object that bug spray is bad because it kills cockroaches.
    - Animats 7y ago

cosmojg 7y ago

> The USPS offers this for $1(not free, thanks ebg13)! $0 if done in person.

droithomme 7y ago
That's very interesting. I had no idea they were now charging $1.05 to file a change of address on line. I suspect they implemented the fee since people as above are filing change of address forms from Address A to Address A just to get coupons mailed to them and the $1.05 covers the cost of mailing the coupons. It also, requiring a credit card, provides for a measure of identity verification and reduces fraud associated with fake address change filings. > We use your email address to send your transaction confirmation or send a one-time reminder email if you do not successfully complete your transaction. Ah, so it's not true, as was claimed above, that the USPS form gives your email to the companies so they can spam you.

deleted 7y ago

[deleted]