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Ads Are Impersonating Government Websites in Google Results, Despite Ban

The Markup: “…Last year, the Federal Trade Commission sued On Point Global, a company that allegedly advertised websites via Google search where you could renew your driver’s license, buy a fishing license, or determine if you were eligible for public benefits like Section 8 housing.  But in fact, when people signed up for any of those services, usually for more than $20 each, On Point would send them a PDF “guide” containing publicly available information on how to complete the task through the standard government site This was lucrative. Selling PDF guides earned the company $63.2 million in less than two years, according to court documents. Other services, like providing “assistance” in filing change of address forms, earned $17.1 million…”

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