all the hallmarks of a scam site."
Keats says most "free gas" sites, like free iPod sites, are really just come-ons designed to make money from visitors. ExxonMobilGiftCard.com, for example, pitches you dozens of services, products, and free trials (including an "Ivory White Teeth Whitening free trial kit" that requires a credit card payment of $4.87 for delivery).
The site requires that you take what it calls a survey, which is basically a series of sales pitches for weight-loss pills, car loans, books, and the like. After you've declined all of them, you're told that to get the gift card you must accept at least two offers.
Keats says that many of the "free gas card" sites SiteAdvisor has reviewed earn commissions on the offers--and that if you share your e-mail address, phone number, and maybe even cell-phone number, you can expect a deluge of marketing e-mail messages. The value of the commissions and your personal information can easily exceed that of the free gift card.
And you may not ever see the card: Keats says less than 5 percent of people who sign up for every offer actually get the "free" gas card (or iPod).
Auto-Lock Gas Prices?
Another type of gas savings deal that has generated consumer complaints involves a promise to lock in gas prices at an attractive fixed rate. The Southern Arizona Better Business Bureau, for example, says it has received a number of complaints about this type of offer on sites operated by Free Zone Media, based in Richmond, Virginia.
Free Zone Media operates at least three identical-looking sites (RadioGasDeal.com, GasLockedIn.com, and GasPumpRebates.com) that promote an offer called America's Gasoline Relief Program, which promises to, in effect, lock in gas prices at $2.49 a gallon.
Just as on ExxonMobilGiftCard.com, you must sign up for commercial offers in order to get a gas card that will cover the difference between the actual cost of gas and $2.49 a gallon. The big catch is that one gas card covers only up to 15 gallons of gas purchased. You can find this out on the site--if you carefully read the terms of the program (click on the image above).
In the Southern Arizona BBB complaints, people say that after filling out surveys and joining various buyers' clubs, they never got the gas card. Free Zone Media did not return e-mail inquiries requesting an interview, and no one answered the phone number in the company's WHOIS listing.
MyGallons: Prepaid Cards for Gas
In early July the Florida BBB expressed concern over a similar offer from Miami-based MyGallons LLC for a prepaid gas credit card promising tomorrow's gas at today's prices. People paid membership fees of $30 or $40 to be eligible to buy the card, which MyGallons.com said they could use at participating stations to buy gas at the rate they paid online--even if the prices at the pump had gone up.
The company received national media attention, but after receiving several complaints, the Florida BBB determined that, contrary to its advertised claim, MyGallons had no deal in place with a vendor who would be able to process gas purchase transactions.
A spokesperson for the BBB told The Los Angeles Times that it didn't believe MyGallons.com was a scam, but that the BBB did have "serious concerns" about the company.
BBB and MyGallons officials subsequently met, and the bureau's site says MyGallons agreed to change its advertised claims, to stop collecting fees from new members, and to refund membership fees paid by 6000 people. MyGallons.com still accepts new signups, but informs them that the company is "in the process of transitioning to another payment network that can provide the proper level of service."
No Silver Bullets
Other sites promise fuel savings through the use of fuel additives (SimpleGasSolution.com) or magnets (MyEnergyCel.com) that, when attached to your fuel line, are supposed to increase fuel efficiency.
"If any
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