Beware the Matt Bacak Retires Internet Scam - it’s not $1, it’s US$29.97 per month
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I often get e-mails from an Internet marketer by the name of Matt Bacak. 
Tonight I got an e-mail featuring a tale of woe where Matt has got ripped off by a student. For “revenge” Matt Bacak is selling his $5,500 series of seminars for $1. It looked like a good deal. It was only a dollar. I must admit I fell for it.
Nowhere in the e-mail does he mention that by buying the seminars for $1 you automatically sign up for the newsletter and get charged $29.97 per month.
Matt uses a very sophisticated technique played by confidence tricksters world-wide over thousands of years.
Get justice for the down-trodden and make a profit.
In addition he also states that the $1 you pay him for access will be donated to charity. This is mentioned in the initial e-mail, the sales letter and in the confirmation e-mail. If only the $29.97 per month had such exposure !
Matt Bacak uses the attraction of getting something valuable for little money as part as a revenge thing. This is a powerful magnet to lure in suckers like me.
The truth is Matt is sucking in those who buy his product for $1.
If you wade through the 13 page sales letter, if you look carefully you will notice part the way through page seven he says:
“And you get to try that out for free… if you don’t want to continue receiving it it’s simple and easy to cancel your $29.97 monthly subscription (you’re crazy if you cancel… but it’s easy to do, and up to you!).”
I only noticed the buried print when I carefully read his confirmation e-mail. If I was in a hurry, I would have more than probably missed it.
This is fraud. An absolute fraud. Matt should be convicted. In Australia he would be. In Australia we have opt-in laws, not opt out.
Matts’ scam is like buying an airline ticket and in the print that nobody reads it says:
This ticket entitles you to a seat on the aircraft. For forward movement through the air, a surcharge of $4 per pound per mile will be automatically billed to your credit card. If you don’t want this surcharge, please inform the check-in staff so they can make alternative arrangements.
Matt, this is dishonest and an utter scam. I suggest that you send an e-mail to your list explaining yourself.
For those of you who read this post, please foward it to: matt@powerfulpromoter.com
Thank you.
Matt, I have sent you an e-mail protesting this. If my credit card gets billed, I will forward this story to 1750 blogs world wide within 7 days. Trust me.
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UPDATE: It seems I’m not alone in my concerns about the ethics of this promotion. Check out this video:
Comment by Justin
I’m sick of these scum. So tell me about this curse you’ve ordered. What will it do?
Comment by Affordable Search Engine Optimization
I got the exact same email and almost fell for it to! When you get to the little yellow payment box at the bottom it does say next to it about the charge, but i do understand where your coming from. As a marketer it could be considered clever marketing, i mean how many adverts do you see on television with hidden costs that are shown in real small writing at the bottom of the screen? Lots if you live in England i can assure you. I think the charge isn’t outrageous for what he is offering, but he would make more sales if he was more open about it.
Comment by MacMydree
Man, your report was clear at the bottom of the Google page….glad I threaded my way through the list! I’ve been screwed so many times by being trusting and a believer in people. A motto I have heard at least a million times in my lifetime, “If it looks too good to be true, it probably is!”, came to the front of my mind right away. I’m so glad you wrote this, and told the truth. Another one thats needs watching out for is Justin Blake. I think he must be in cahoots with this scamster Matt. We need to start putting these guys behind bars! I am so sick of these low life loser thieves!
Comment by Nahyan
I did get the $1 deal after reading the subscription bit, as long as my cancellation goes fine i don’t care.
It does seem sleazy to stick that in secretly, but it’s not that big of a deal if all it takes is to make a phonecall and cancel subscription.
I know where you’re coming from, but it seems a bit harsh in my opinion. He’s not a “scum,” he just used a tricky tactic.
Comment by Matt Bacak
I couldn’t find you email address on this page.
Please contact me at mattbacakretires @ gmail.com and I will
make sure this gets taken care of quickly. Matt Bacak
Comment by Matt Bacak
Can you please make the email I just gave you non-hyperlinked. Thanks. Matt
Comment by Roger Over
Done. Matt, you can reach me by e-mail at roger.over @ dodgit . com
By getting taken of quickly, what do you mean? One of your outsourcers has already confirmed that my credit card will not be billed $29.97 per month.
The thing that I really object to is the fact that the ongoing opt-in charge doesn’t rate a mention in the initial e-mail. I suggest you rethink your strategy and put the costs upfront. I also suggest you send an e-mail to all your $1 purchasers making it crystal clear they have signed up for $29.97 per month.
Comment by WorkingFromHome
Hi
I don’t know why this has created such an uproar until now.
This is a tactic that has been used by many marketers for a long time.
The usual suspects are the FREE CD strategy.
You pay for shipping costs and then get the CD but you’re also subscribed to
a chargeable newsletter every month until you unsubscribed.
This has been done by Matt (Lead explosion Free CD), Russell Brunson (Dotcom secrets),
Nick Marks, if I am not wrong, Keith Wellman (million dollar march free DVD).
However, it has always been clear to me that I am signed up for something every month and
when I receive the newsletter, there is a post it that says you can email to unsubscribe.
In fact, this is not the first time Matt has a $1 offer.
Ironically, I guess the uproar this time is due to the fact
this time round, the promotion is more successful.
Comment by Matt Bacak
In my defense… It’s very clear…very clear.
It says it on the sales letter, it says it on the
order from. It says it on the thank you page, on
the landing page and on the thank you email.
And we stick a BIG fat yellow sticky note on
the first issue that they receive in the mail.
This is the site everyone is going to:
https://mattbacakretires.com/real_proof.php
If you need any help with your
order then just email us at:
mattbacakretires @ gmail.com
Someone will get back to you
as quickly as possible during
regular business hours. “EST”
Comment by Matt Bacak
Yes. Some will take care of it. But, not a outsourcer. Someone in my office. I run real businesses.
Comment by Skipper Meggs
Matt I think you miss the point. The $29.97 per month automatic billing wasn’t mentioned in the initial e-mail. I think this blogger has a valid complaint.
Maybe it’s a cultural thing? Maybe Americans are used to these sorts of deals and expect to have to read every word to see if there is a catch.
How hard would it be to send out a broadcast e-mail to those who have signed up to make it crystal clear what they have agreed to and inform them how to get out of it?
Comment by Matt Bacak
I just handed the check to Habitat for Humanity and I took the site down at 12:00 EST (Midnight on the East coast)
Comment by George Scott
Hey Matt (since you are monitoring this blog), would you put officezilla.com into your ATM Tools & Software section in your Retires admin. Thanks
Comment by Lorraine
Matt Bacak, The site you took down says it expired April 23 at midnight, EST. Today is April 23 and it is 3:00PM, EST as I write this. Just wondering? I was interested. Care to share how much you were able to help Habitat for Humanity?? Thanks
Comment by Thomas
He got me too.
I sent an email to the address on his website which is the same as above. I don’t hold out much hope and will probably have to report this to my bank. I also informed the Warrior forum amongst many other places. Joel Comm did a similar thing with his latest Adsense book but apparently after pressure from fellow Warriors he actually changed his sales letter and order page to give prospects the opportunity to purchasew with or without the forced continuity product.
Anyway…great site. Love it:)
Thomas
Comment by Matt Bacak
Just got back from new Orleans and made the date change also. Thanks for the look out by Lorraine
Matt P.S. I took down the site at midnight and looked at the date on my computer. Forgot about it being the next day. I’ll update you guys about the check in a bit.
Comment by Matt Bacak
I wanted to let you know that yesterday I flew to New Orleans to personally hand a check to
Habitat for Humanity. Over 14,897 people donated $1 to Habitat for humanity and if you were one of them… I wanted to personally thank YOU!
Go here and watch the whole thing:
–>> http://tinyurl.com/4z3hv7
You ROCK!
Matt Bacak
Comment by Matthew Keith
I also purchased MBR for $1, but am very pleased with what I got (other than a few dead links, which for the amount of stuff you’re getting isn’t much).
He tells you exactly what you’re gonna get for a dollar and then delivers.
The monthly fee is for his print newsletter, NOT a part of this promotion, and it is clearly stated from the point of his sales page onward. He’s giving you a free issue, and then if you don’t like it you can cancel.
Instead of putting the blame on him, don’t you think it would be better to put the blame on the people who don’t read what they’re buying? It’s not hidden in fine print like some are stating here. It’s right in the copy.
Comment by Justin
I signed up for this and just immediately asked to be opted out of the magazine. I don’t see why this is such a big deal. Obviously there is going to be some kind of catch.
Comment by Debra
I have canceled this before you sent it to me. And still I have gotten it. I had no ieda that there would be another charged. YOU SAID NOTHING ABOUT $29.97 I have already called my bank and now well go to BBB. This has to stop. You make your money by robbing people buy not telling the turth. How do you sleep at night. But it does take all kinds. What if I did this to your mother or any other family member. Remmber what goes around comes around.
Comment by Kurt
I signed up for this also,but it seems I have done it twice,as nothing happened the first time I tried again, then it went throughbut I just assumed it didnt work the first time,but i was oviously wrong
so my credit card statement tells me.done twice.can someone please help tell me how do I unsubscribe.
All these internet millionares want is are names and emails,so they can continue to build there list.
thats how they make there money.
Comment by Matt Bacak
If you need anything. Email us
at mattbacakretires @ gmail.com
I just got the mail and
this letter was in it.
http://www.promotingtips.com/habitat.htm
I felt you should read it
- it’s all because of the
people that participated
in the $1 deal.
I just shared it with my office
some cheered, some cried.
Warmest regards,
Matt Bacak
Comment by Hackers
I see that Frank Rumbauskas is getting in on the same sort of scam:
http://www.searchtempoblog.com/index.php/im-disappointed-with-frank-rumbauskas/
Comment by Judy
Hmm, no big fat yellow sticker on my copies. And nobody reading my emails to mattbacakretires@gmail.com. I’ve sent three and I really NEEDED the $30, only to find that, YES, once again, my money is in Matt Bacak’s pocket!
Now, it’s pretty sickening to see this slime trying to turn this thread into his own back-slapping session!
Well, if you’re such a “good guy” Matt, understand this,..I, like many people, am one of those folks who are killing ourselves trying to make ends meet, many of us are recipients from food banks, and Habitat for Humanity. So, MAYBE, you oughta think about giving it back. Using a charity in your promo, to get the “Awww Gee” factor is despicable when you’re just using it to get into my bank account and fill your own pockets.
Quit trying to use the Habitat angle to get out of this. Using a charity to set people up is pathetic,- trying to HIDE behind that charity is despicable.
Comment by MattBacak
Please call my office. Someone should have gotten to your email quickly. But, here is my assistants email address and phone number: tamara@powerfulpromoter.com and 770-271-1536 ext 119 the sticky should have been on the 1st issue.
Comment by Nicole
I check Matt Bacak’s email boxes and do customer support on the Dirt Newsletter. I have spoke with the team and we don’t find any emails from a Judy that are unread or answered. I do my best to make sure that all Matt’s customers get taken care of quickly. I do goof up occasionally - But I’m human. But, I religiously save every email that Matt gets so I can use it for future reference because Matt is always checking on me to make sure that customers are all ok. He cares about his customers more then anyone I have ever worked for. I’m very sorry that this happened.
Please contact me or Nesbit at 770-271-1536 ext. 124 and we’ll get you all taken care of quickly. Please call between 10-6 pm EST for someone live. If for some reason if you get a voice mail - please leave a message and give us all your contact info we will respond back with either an email or phone call.
Comment by Andy Spacia
Just searching around and found this blog post. There’s some very interesting comments here. I had a totally different experience. My first issue had a sticky yellow post it on it. I even got an email when I ordered it with instructions to get off this thing but I really bought the $1 deal to get his Internet Marketing Dirt because I met him at a seminar and mentioned it to me. A little off topic but I even called in the other day and ordered some back issues and had no problems getting though to someone. They arrived earlier today. I even think I called that same number above.
Comment by Andy Spacia
I can’t believe you wont post my post. Why are you not doing it. I
saved it just in case this happened. please post this ASAP! Plus I
noticed you took down some other posts. I think if you don’t put them
back up I’m going to tell every one my experience with you. This is
so rediculous.
I posted:
Just searching around and found this blog post. There’s some very interesting comments here. I had a totally different experience. My first issue had a sticky yellow post it on it. I even got an email when I ordered it with instructions to get off this thing but I really bought the $1 deal to get his Internet Marketing Dirt because I met him at a seminar and mentioned it to me. A little off topic but I even called in the other day and ordered some back issues and had no problems getting though to someone. They arrived earlier today. I even think I called that same number above.
Comment by Andy Spacia
Where did Niclose post go?
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RESPONSE
All posts to this blog are moderated. This takes time.
Comment by Mandy Spencer
Wow.
Many gurus have been following Matt’s lead on this whole continuity thing. I’ve been watching this all unfold since April. I get a lot of emails from the top Internet Marketing Gurus like Matt.
First, Matt Bacak, then Joel Comm, then Keith Wellman, then Mike Filsaime, and now Frank Kern. Seems like everyone is trying to beat Matt’s record of 15,000 customers in a week or something like that. I did buy Matt’s deal and Mike’s deal. I had no problem canceling at all. I just called them on the phone. I would have gotten Franks deal but it was sold out before I checked my emails that day.
To me it seems like Matt got all the heat because he was one of the first to use continuity in the Internet marketing community.
Mandy Spencer, Miami, FL
P.S. To Andy Spacia - sometimes when you post on blogs you have to wait a bit for the moderator to post it
Comment by Andy Spacia
Sorry. Just a little impatient.
Very nice point Nicole.
I was listening to a couple of gurus whispering about him outside of a seminar I just attend because he also holds the record of the most money made in the IM world on a telesemiar $550,000. It seems he is been quiet about it. Plus, 15,000 customer geez. He’s a real humble guy and a damn good marketer in my opinion.