In the complex world of digital marketing, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) have become the foundation for increasing online visibility and driving organic traffic to websites. At the core of any effective SEO strategy is obtaining backlinks from websites with high Domain Authority (DA). However, a disturbing trend has emerged, primarily in India and Pakistan, involving unscrupulous SEO specialists who exploit publishers of high DA websites by ordering articles with do-follow links to their sites, but fail to pay for these services.
One such website is SS Marketing Solutionsordered SEO articles from our website herebut never paid for it.
This article was probably commissioned by a fictitious person. Radiya Brownsmith in brownsmithrediya@gmail.com.
A quick search revealed that the WhatsApp phone number on the website is: +923155228866 Despite having a UK phone number, it is located in Islamabad, Pakistan. +447845452638,address, 20 Ringerwood Lane, Edinburgh EH16 4WW, UKposted on the website ssMarketing[dot]solution and email ssmarketingsolution.co@gmail.comTheir Facebook profile is here.
The person we spoke to had a thick Pakistani accent and as the conversation continued over WhatsApp chat, he simply read our payment request and never responded – the incriminating behaviour of someone caught committing fraud online.
Publishers, take note.
Understanding the importance of SEO and high DA backlinks
SEO is the process of optimizing your website so that it ranks highly in search engine results pages (SERPs) for relevant keywords. One of the most important factors that influence a website's ranking is the quantity and quality of backlinks (links from other websites pointing to your target site). Search engines like Google consider backlinks as endorsements, so the more high-quality backlinks a site has, the more authority and trustworthy it becomes.
Developed by Moz, Domain Authority is a metric that predicts a website's ranking ability in SERPs. It ranges from 1 to 100, with higher scores indicating better ranking ability. Websites with high DA scores are considered valuable in SEO strategies, as backlinks from these sites significantly boost the DA and overall SEO performance of the sites they link to. To take advantage of this, businesses often try to improve their own site's SEO metrics by publishing articles with do-follow links on websites with high DA scores.
The misconduct of unscrupulous SEO experts
Unscrupulous SEO experts from India and Pakistan have been found to be the perpetrators of a growing trend of fraudulent practices against publishers of high DA websites. The modus operandi of these scammers is to contact publishers of high DA websites and order articles with do-follow links to their client's or their own websites. Once the articles are published and the links are established, these experts disappear without paying the invoice, leaving the publishers with unpaid invoices and eroded credibility.
Let's take a closer look at how these scams unfold.
- Initial contact and negotiations: Unscrupulous SEO experts approach high DA website publishers posing as legitimate businesses and SEO agencies. With a feigned sense of professionalism and urgency, they negotiate terms and prices for publishing articles with embedded do-follow links on their client’s websites.
- Submission and Publication: Once the terms are agreed upon, our SEO specialists submit articles. The articles are usually expertly crafted to meet the publisher's standards. After a thorough review, these articles are published on high DA websites with the agreed upon do-follow links.
- disappearanceAfter the article is published, SEO specialists often delay payments under various pretexts or simply stop responding to the publisher’s contacts. Eventually, they disappear and the publisher does not receive any compensation for their services.
Impact on Publishers and the SEO Industry
The impact of these fraudulent practices is significant for publishers and the SEO industry as a whole.
- Economic loss: Unpaid invoices result in direct financial losses for publishers. For many high DA websites, this loss can be substantial, considering the premium fees charged for publishing content with do-follow links.
- Loss of trust: It undermines trust between publishers and genuine SEO specialists. As fraud cases increase, publishers will become more cautious and skeptical, which may impact legitimate business deals and collaborations in the industry.
- Devaluation of content: Inserting unauthorized or gratuitous links can damage the content and credibility of high DA websites. If your site becomes known for hosting low-quality or spammy links, it can lower your DA score and reputation, damaging your SEO value.
Fighting against deceptive SEO scams
Addressing and mitigating this issue requires a joint effort from publishers, industry associations, and platforms. Here are some strategies to combat abusive SEO scams:
- Rigorous Verification Process: Publishers must undergo a rigorous verification process before signing on with a new client, which includes verifying the credibility of the business, checking references, and possibly requesting partial or full payment up front.
- Contracts and legal remediesPublishers can be protected by having clear contracts that outline payment terms, publishing guidelines, and legal action for non-payment. Legal action should be taken against fraudulent entities to deter future incidents.
- Industry Collaboration: Publishers and SEO professionals can benefit from working together to share information about fraudulent organizations. Industry associations and online forums can serve as platforms for reporting and tracking down fraudulent SEO professionals.
- Use of escrow services: Using an escrow service for your transaction ensures that payment is received before your article is published, which gives your publisher some protection in case payment isn’t made.
Conclusion
The rise in fraudulent activities by unscrupulous SEO professionals in India and Pakistan highlights a pressing issue in the digital marketing and SEO industry. While the goal of acquiring high DA backlinks remains important to SEO success, it is essential that publishers protect themselves from these nefarious practices. Through rigorous verification, legal protection, industry collaboration, and innovative payment solutions, publishers can protect their interests, maintain the integrity of their websites, and ensure the SEO environment is fair and effective for all involved.
