I "stumbled" on HubPages in the late afternoon of March 25th, 2009. What a Gold Mine!! I had been following links that contained complaints about StoresOnline.com. Actually, over four hours reading the heartbreaking stories of well-intentioned potential entrepreneurs SCAMMED by a greedy company in Orem, Utah.

Recently I received a pair of tickets in the mail, and an invitation to attend a seminar in nearby Gastonia, North Carolina. I ignored... for several days but succumbed to curiosity and called less than 24 hours before the event. The invitation was attractive (no misspelled words, on quality paper). The location was a meeting room in a Marriott hotel. Lunch would be served and we would receive a free MP3 player as a gift. But the words that really prompted my decision to attend: "Free training and tested Internet marketing strategies--from running your own web site to making money using Yahoo, Google and MSN."

For many months I have been conscientiously trying to build a network marketing business on the Internet. After a period of time I was on everybody'slist!! People who said they were generating thousands of dollars a month from sales were offering to train me--FOR A FEE, of course. I actually bought into two of the programs but cancelled one because the monthly fees were "killing me." I spent hours listening to conference calls and dutifully writing down all the suggestions.

I'll be honest, I didn't read the "fine print." With 20-20 hindsight I see that StoresOnline name appears near the bottom of the page with a lot of "gobbledygook." I had recently been SCAMMED by Dotless Domain but never suspected that this, too, might be a platinum disguise for a con. (For over twenty years people did not suspect Bernie Madoff of a Ponzi scheme.)

The presenter was a beautiful, articulate young woman named Joanna Larsen. Everything was well orchestrated but we had to listen to the 90-minute presentation, and sign up for the program, before we received a croissant sandwich and a cookie. In other words, lunch was after 1:30 PM. The MP3 player "is a piece of junk" according to several people I talked to later. Frankly, I wouldn't know because I'm happy with an old-fashioned radio!!

That evening I was busy with e-mail, and other concerns, so didn't install the program. Out of curiosity, the morning after the event, I did a Google search for StoresOnline. To my chagrin, dismay, horror, shock...there were over 550 complaints on RipOffReport.com. Additional complaints on other sites. As I said in the first paragraph, over four hours reading the heartbreaking stories of well-intentioned potential entrepreneurs SCAMMED by StoresOnline. I have not taken the DVD, and paperwork, out of the large envelop. Complaints included problems experienced with computer operating systems--and I didn't want to invite a problem into my laptop.

I'd like to think that I am an intelligent woman but I must have "gullible" written in bold letters on my forehead or as a banner with my e-mail addresses. Just two months ago I was SCAMMED for $2,985. by Dotless Domain.The following is the message I posted at RipOffReport:

"[A previous complainant] caught my attention with his/her first paragraph: 'DotlessDomain is a scary company. Stay away. They have a very slick presentation, and a high pressure close. They are smooth. After further review I realized I made a terrible mistake and tried to cancel with them.'

Yes, they have a very slick presentation, and a high pressure close!! I was really overwhelmed by the seemingly miraculous benefits I would receive by subscribing to their $2,985. 'special' program (should have been $6,000). I should have suspected it was a scam when they said I had to pay by check--and FedEx would pick up the check, at Dotless Domain expense. I should have suspected... when 'Jason' could not install the program on my computer. My computer security system immediately blocked the program and said it was a 'Trojan Horse.'

My saleslady was 'Kelly.' She sounded like an older woman, and she was so personable. She called about 7 PM, Jan. 13, 2009; I seldom receive phone calls; I don't know how she got my number. She provided an 'awesome' demonstration!! (I underlined awesome in my notes, with an exclamation mark.) She demonstrated how the key words I chose would be picked up by Google and Yahoo search engines. It was remarkable how effortlessly Kelly revealed the benefits I would experience using Dotless Domain. I was seeing it--in real time--on my own computer!! When I agreed... she transferred me to 'Jason' and (as previously mentioned) he attempted to install software on my computer. Yes, over the Internet, Jason had control of my computer (as Kelly, moments earlier, had control of my computer).

As the days went by, I would Google search my key words but my web site did not come up. On Jan. 23rd, 'Alec' (a woman) called to walk me through final set up--although she said I had been 'up and running since Jan. 13th. I had not received the promised DVD in the mail, and neither she, nor 'Kurt' could take me to the Dashboard where I could monitor my 'hits.' I asked to talk to Alec's supervisor; she said she was the supervisor. I asked to talk to her supervisor and she said she would transfer. I waited, and waited, but I think she just put me on hold. During the conversation I asked for my money back and was told 'no refund.' She explained (as I understood it) that my customers would come from a sister-company called Web Menu.

I contacted a lawyer, and submitted my paperwork. To date, Dotless Domain has responded twice to my lawyer--and refused to refund my money. To date (3/24/09) I have had absolutely no benefits from the service they demonstrated to me. Alec told me of the hundreds of 'hits' to my site (according to their figures). My answer: 'Why haven't they shown up on my Stat Counter? Why haven't the potential customers signed into my web site?'

I have sent two e-mail complaints to the LasVegasBetter Business Bureau. I received this reply 'We are unable to process your complaint because it deals with issues outside of Bureau activity.' I was referred to Nevada State Consumer Affairs.

I'm almost 74 years old. I've attempted to build a home-based business to supplement my UIB and Social Security. I've been unemployed for a little over a year and desperately hoped to develop income via the Internet. Most assuredly I did not, and do not, have $3,000. to 'throw away.' I borrowed the money from my credit card, to write the check!! It may take a year to pay off that single transaction on the credit card!!

I repeat what [the previous complainant] said: 'After further review I realized I made a terrible mistake....'"

That was my complaint, my personal experience with Dotless Domain. There are dozens of similar experiences documented on the Internet. One extremely excellent description was written by Dan Oliver and I encourage you to read his experience at http://www.internationalbizreviews.com/Dotless_Domain.html.  Through  e-mail with Dan, I learned of Chuck Peterson. He is trying to organize those of us who were SCAMMED for a class action suit. Please contact Chuck at cpeterson888@txwinet.com

Regarding StoresOnline, I wrote in my 3/25/2009 "blog": "I was suckered for the second time in less than three months!! This expense was (thankfully) a modest $38.00. " By reading the numerous complaints on-line, I know what unsuspecting attendees with encounter when they attend the "workshop" in two weeks. They will experience a six-and-one-half-hour "workshop" with pressure to buy web sites costing thousands of dollars. I am extremely grateful that my expense was limited to a modest $38.00!!!!! Some of those people raised their hands (in our seminar) to say that they have no computer experience. I'm privileged that I am computer literate and can search the Internet, and find others who have been SCAMMED by StoresOnline (and Dotless Domain). Some poor souls will be forced to purchase overpriced merchandise and (as I understand from the complaints) limited customer service.

StoresOnline has an attractive web site and these words conspicuously at the top "Trusted Solutions for Entrepreneurs."  Another bold statement in the middle of the screen: "A Trusted Online Advisor to Help Manage Your Online Future."  Strangely, some of their links didn't work!

I wanted to add my voice with hundreds of others who have complained. I hope, and pray, that at least one individual will be spared because they took a few minutes to read this article.  I encourage the reader to do their homework.  Caveat emptor!!  Buyer beware!!