ILSCorp.net - Internet Listing Service

Important Note: Please don't call flyte new media if you're complaining about ILSCorp! We're not ILSCorp and we can't help you with this. This post is just to EDUCATE you about ILSCorp. 

Now, on with our reguarly scheduled post....

Yesterday I got a piece of mail from ILSCorp.net - Internet Listing Service that blurs the line between bill and solicitation. To their credit, half way down the page it reads: THIS IS NOT A BILL. THIS IS A SOLICITATION.

The description of services is "ANNUAL WEBSITE SEARCH ENGINE LISTING" for $35. The subscription includes "DOMAIN NAME SUBMISSION TO 20 MAJOR SEARCH ENGINES." Hmmm...20 major search engines? I'd like to see them listed. When it comes to major search engines I think of Google, Yahoo, MSN and maybe, if I'm being generous, Ask, aka the artist formerly known as Ask Jeeves/Teoma.

So, I went to their Web site. I won't bother linking to them, but you can get their URL from the first line of this post.

These are search engine experts?

First of all, the page title is "Ilscorp." That's great, if you're searching for "Ilscorp." Not if you're searching for "search engine listings," "domain submission," or anything like that.

Secondly, the site is entirely in frames! Not that you can't succeed with frames, but most SEO experts will agree that it stacks the deck against you.

Third, their FAQ is either completely wrong or just hasn't been updated since 1997. On the FAQ on meta tags they spell it no less than 3 different ways. Plus, they say it's important to update your meta tags.

"The meta tag is used by search engines to allow them to more accurately list your site in their indexes," the page reads.

Ummm...no. That's not true. Most major search engines routinely ignore them, and they are certainly one of the least important pieces in the algorithm. Maybe such "major" search engines as "Info Tiger" and "EntireWeb" still read them. I don't know, as I've never heard of these major search engines.

What's often considered to be the most important? The title tag. You know, that thing that says "Ilscorp" at the top of their page.

According to another page:

Search engine submission does not just mean going to the top several web sites [I assume they mean search engines] and submitting your URL....You must submit and resubmit to search engines to ensure that you will get listed and maintain your listing.

Again, completely wrong. Most search engines don't even require submissions any more, although I recommend that with a new site you should submit your home page URL. Instead, they follow incoming links to your Web site. I've found that even after submitting sites to search engines that if there are no other incoming links the site will quickly fall off the radar.

In reading the rest of their copy, I feel like I'm caught in a time warp...the kind of information that was true before Y2K. (You remember Y2K, don't you?)

In short, there's nothing illegal and maybe not even immoral in what ILS is providing. However, it's just plain worthless.

In other words, Ignore it!

BTW, I'm not the first person to shine the light on ILSCorp:

• Suspicious Communication from ILScorp
• Domain Name Scams
• Interesting Little Scam...

There's seemingly hundreds more, but you get the idea. I really feel bad for the Interactive Learning Corporation, which is also known as ILS Corp. So, I'll give them a link or two to help 'em out.

Rich Brooks
Keeping It Real

Comments

[Tim]

Rich,

I think that is awfully kind of you to say their practices were "maybe not even immoral". I'm not sure I could have been so benevolent.

I met with a client last week who said to me:
"I received my domain name renewal notices in the mail last week and went ahead and paid them."

My heart sunk as I knew the domain name wasn't up for renewal for four more years... and that he said "renewal notices" when he had only one domain. Sure enough he showed me copies of the "invoices" and sure enough they were similar scams.

Tim Flight

[Rich Brooks]

Tim,

It's all part of the kinder, gentler Rich Brooks. I've been listening to Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People [ http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0671723650/ref=nosim/flytenewmedia-20/ ] and despite the constant references to people who have been dead for years and stories from WWI, I find that it's very helpful.

Rich Brooks

[Scy Caroselli]

Rich,
I read you comment and my letter from ilscorp.net was exactly the same.
My employer was about to "Pay the Bill" when she remembered she had paid for several years in advance. I took it from her and read everyline thinking it was a scam. Sure enough, It should read ilscam.net
I mailed letter to them asking to be taken off their mailing list and if we receive any other communication from them, we will consider it harassment and will forward info onto the Atty Gen. Office.
Wish there could be something done to get them to change their mailing. If it was anyone else other than the owner that opened the mail that day...They would have paid it. Thank you for your "News"
~Scy Caroselli

[aaron wall]

why would you link through to the ILSCorp site?

You do realize your link is helping their site rank #1 when people look to research what the bill looking thing is when they get it.

[Rich Brooks]

Aaron,

Actually, I didn't link to them, did I? I linked to another, innocent, company saddled with the same name.

Trust me, I know all about the power of incoming links (listen: http://www.flytecast.com/index.php?post_id=28687 )

However, I appreciate you keeping my honest, and on my toes.

Rich

[turnkey website business]

I read you comment and my letter from ilscorp.net was exactly the same.
My employer was about to "Pay the Bill" when she remembered she had paid for several years in advance. I took it from her and read everyline thinking it was a scam. Sure enough, It should read ilscam.net
I mailed letter to them asking to be taken off their mailing list and if we receive any other communication from them, we will consider it harassment and will forward info onto the Atty Gen. Office.

[Sheila Summers]

Rich,

I received the exact same letter in the mail today for the website search engine listing service. As a new small business owner, I am inundated with offers to "help" the small business person and I have a tough time determining which offers might be valuable and which are junk. Thank you for making it so easy to determine that ILS Corp. is pure crap.

[Ry]

I also fell to this billing scam, in a interesting twist-I recently e-mailed ILS asking for a refund. Someone named Steve responded saying a refund would be processed. He said I had only sent $35, which is un-true, I sent $60 (2 year listing) and that is what I asked to be refunded. I'll believe a refund when I see it. As for not being immoral--I think it is...a $60 lesson Ry

[emma howerton]

^Thank you so much for having your comments. I got the very same bill, wrote a check and was about to mail it. Thinking it was a "fishy" thing, I went on Google and found your site.

I'll take my husband to lunch with the money you saved me!!

[Bill Williams]

Bravo! You are all to be commended for sharing this. About 4 weeks ago, I received an 'invoice' from Domain Listing Service (DLSCORP.NET), aka Internet Listing Service Corp (ILSCORP.NET). I knew immediately it was a SCAM, but decided to do some snooping of my own. The address they use (27 N. Wacker Dr. Suite #650) in Chicago is a UPS Store (formerly Mail Boxes Etc.) That particular franchise location is run by Bob Yee (312) 372-2727 and despite my sharing details, they would not (could not) share details of the box holder other than to tell me it's a current box and they would relay a message for me. It sort of makes me wonder how many other scam businesses they are knowingly supporting or turning a blind eye to.

ALSO - Steve (and his side kick Zack) seem to run this operation. Who knows what their real names are. But, Steve was foolish enough to respond to multiple emails and then finally called me from (905) 305-8406 (a Google search tells me this is Unionville Ontario). I was surprised it wasn't a blocked call, so I'm already that much closer to exposing the identity of this loser and scammer.

[Nick]

outstanding Bill! we'll be waiting to find out what happens.

[ja]

I've received one from DLSCORP.NET for a domain name that I have paid for thru 2010. Isn't there anything to be done to prosecute these people who must be making a mint off of folks who don't take the time to read the entire letter?

[Samantha]

I just got the same bill... saying that I owed DLSCORP $65.00 for a service that I never signed up for, from a company I have never even heard of. It's amazing how easily people can scam other people...

[Jon & Shirley Eller]

We belong to vcom and ieasysite which just email us and stated our domain renewal was due January 2008. We just paid for our domain renewal Sept 2007 for $65.00. Guess what we got ripped off because it was DLSCORP.net. We are so careful with making sure we only pay what we know we owe but we screwed up. Is there anything we can due to get justice?

Jon & Shirley Eller
217-285-1759
jonsdove@adams.net

[Stephen Wood]

I just got the same "bill" this week from dlscorp.net saying I needed to send $65 dollars to register a domain name I already have registered. I figured it was a scam and found this place which just confirms my beliefs. I sent them an email, we will see if I get a response or not.

[Joyce]

I too was scammed.Twice by(internet listing service) ILSCORP.NET and paid $47.50 each time. Then they changed their corrupt name to DLSCORP (domain listing service) and raised their price to$65.00(inflation no doubt) which I did not pay.Way is this still going on??

[Catherine]

I am so happy I decided to check this scam out. I knew right away something was up when I recieved a "Billing Statement" from DLSCORP.NET. First I knew I had never contacted them directly, and secondly I knew that the only websites I have are already being linked into larger search engines. I am a licensed Broker and I only participate with companies I have done extensive research on and that have been recognized by our National and Local Associations. My "Billing Statement" indicated that I owed $75.00 for annual renewal. I will be letting my colleagues know of this scam. In fact I will be sending a copy to our National and Local Association so that they can let others know of this scam. I will also be forwarding a copy of this to our State's Attorney General. I sure hope something can be done to the masses that prey on small business owners.

[Vas]

Few days ago I received a similar solicitation from a company called "Internet Corporation Listing Service" a.k.a ICLS.NET. I'm glad I decided to check them out. They offered me a domain name submission to 14 major search engines for the price of $35.00 annually. The interesting thing is that they have listed their Had Office in Nassau, Bahamas. Obviously they are not getting anything from me. Hope nobody falls for that.

[Stacy]

I appreciate all the comments ahead of mine. We received the "same" invitation to have domain listing, but ours was a $75. fee for a year. We will not use this servie.

[Lewis]

Thanks to all before. They got me last year so mine was a "renewal notice." Has anyone alerted the Postal Service. Looks to me like fraud.

[VLK]

Below is email sent to dslcorp.net

Regarding a letter dated April 11, 2008 I received from your company and after careful scrutiny of the verbage, I now know what a SCAM your company is conducting. You are wanting me to renew my domain six months prior to it expiring for the reasonable price of $75. Your representation of your companies involvement with my domain registration is very deceptive.

You might try to do business the way most companies do - with honesty and integrity. I only hope the internet blogs regarding your unethical practices continue.

[John]

Thanks for saving us $75.00. I tried to go to both web sites, dlscorp and ilscorp and can't get onto either one. I just get sent back to Google. I did recieve their bill however and will file it in the trash can.

Thanks again

[Scam: Domain Listing Service Corp]

Your post was spot on! This company is a scam and the information on their website is riddled with incorrect and outdated information! This company needs to be continually reported to the authorities to help save folks their $75

[Dianne]

We're a nonprofit that recently set up a website. We'd noticed that googling didn't find us, so we thought that ICLS might help when we got the solicitation. Thanks for the heads up!