Hey, you! “Angela Penbrook!” We’re calling you out. You are deliberately misleading people desperate for legitimate work so you can sell your “rebate processing program.” We’re gonna expose you.
When we said we were going to review the “rebate processing jobs” that have become popular over the last year, one of the first commenters asked if we were going to look at Angela Penbrook’s system at myrebateprocessor.com or processfromhome.com. Or is it “Angel Stevens?” It doesn’t really matter because both “women” and their claims are equally misleading.
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[Update March 10, 2009: ABC News’s 20/20 program featured this scam on March 6. Click here to watch the segment.]
We didn’t sign up for her program because it was $197, while other sites are offering the exact same “opportunity” for as little as $29.95. And because we didn’t sign up, this is not a full review. It’s merely my opinion based on experience and based on the claims on “Angela’s” own website.
Read All About “Rebate Processing Jobs”
If you’re new to I’ve Tried That, you’ll want to click over to our full review of rebate processor jobs. We signed up for one of them and tell you all about what they’re really offering.
After you’ve read that original review, this one will make a lot more sense. It’s the same pig, just with different lipstick.
It’s Not a Job. They’re Barely Rebates
What Penbrook is offering you is not a job. You’re not going to get batches of work from Home Depot of Blockbuster or Netflix. It is internet marketing. And to call what you would be doing “rebate processing” is deliberately misleading. Here’s how the program is supposed to work:
- The forms you fill out are used to create Internet advertisements for companies selling products through Clickbank, a large Internet marketing clearing house.
- After you create an ad, you have to get lots of people to see it. You do this by spreading your ads all over the ‘Net. (Psst! That’s called “spam” and is frowned upon in polite societies.)
- When lots of people see it, some will click on it.
- When lots of people click on it, some will purchase whatever your ad is selling.
- Then, and only then, will you get paid.
- The “rebate” is you sending part of your commission back to the buyer.
Lots of Hype, Little Substance
Here’s a clue you can use to spot misleading “job” advertisements every time: look for the sales tactics. Why are sales tactics a clue that you’re about to be taken to the cleaners? Because the scammer led you to believe that you’re learning about a job. But if you read the whole page, do you have a good idea of what you will be doing?
Imagine going to a job interview and your potential boss tells you a sob story about how broke he was, how he finally “made it” and how you can make thousands of dollars a day. Wouldn’t you be suspicious he didn’t tell you what work you would be doing? The same principle applies to Internet “job” advertisements.
Here are the sales tactics Angela Penbrook uses at myrebateprocessor.com. See the looooong page that starts out with emotional hype? See the clock ticking down until your chance to buy expires? Those are designed to sell you something, not to get you to do legitimate work. Do you really think the positions are almost full and that “today might be the last day?” It’s a sales tactic. See the testimonials? See the pictures of riches and happy people? All are designed to push your emotional buttons to get you to click and buy.
The Full Truth About Some of Her Lies
$15 per rebate? If you make a sale from your Internet ads AND the commission is more than $15 AND you decide to send all but $15 back to the purchaser as a “rebate,” then yes, you made $15. I don’t know about you, but that’s a lot of “if.”
Three easy steps? Yes, you can sign up at Clickbank, create ads, and see who has made purchases that are eligible for refunds. I guess those are three steps. But they are NOT easy steps. They’re categories of steps, each one requiring countless hours and clicks. You’ll spend many hours just to get started, let alone the complex steps involved in getting people to see and click on your ads.
The reasons processing rebates is profitable. These reasons are about halfway down her page, after the table showing how much money you can make. They are deliberately written to make you think companies are dieing to “hire” you to work from home processing their rebates. I hope it’s clear by now that nothing could be further from the truth.
If You Don’t Believe Me, How About the Better Business Bureau?
The BBB report has this to say about myrebateprocessor.com:
Complainants allege false advertising, misrepresentation, inability to obtain refunds, and failure to honor their money back guarantee. Some customers complain that instead of receiving an employment opportunity, they received only instructions on internet sales tactics. Other complainants report they are unable to speak with anyone at the company or that company personnel is rude or fails to resolve their concerns. Most complainants allege the company fails to provide any information or instructions on obtaining refunds. All complaints are pending at this time.
And this:
We believe this company’s advertising is deceptive and misleading. They are not directly offering employment. They sell information, not viable work opportunities. In our experience, the only one collecting any money will be this company collecting your $197.00. We know of no work at home offer that has ever generated the amount of income implied or advertised in the offer.
Scrubbing the Ick Off
I could go on, but I’ve spent enough time with Angela Penbrook. I need to go take a shower now. I’m so thoroughly disgusted with her deception, I can’t even tell you. Here at I’ve Tried That, we hear from lots of people who are just trying to make a little extra working from home, and they get taken in by lying pages like this one. They usually spend money they don’t have to sign up for programs they don’t understand. Angela Penbrook knows this and plays your fears to make herself rich.
We’ve written a book that tells you how to find real jobs online and how to spot deceptive advertising like rebate processing sites use.
[Update: April 5, 2008]
This is very revealing. Connie in the comments called “Angela’s” 1-800 number to demand a refund. The rep on the other end of the line took her name and information, put her on hold, and then came back and said her refund was being processed. But Connie never signed up to begin with! “Angela Penbrook’s” operation is probably being run from a kitchen table somewhere with a pencil and paper.
AHA! Watch Out! It gets worse. Angela takes it one step further – beware! I was contacted yesterday and “interviewed” for a “position” on their team! Angel, AKA Angela promised a 6-week training program with the first 30 day profit exceeding $3,000 and doubling every 30 days. For only $3,840.00!!!!!
THANK YOU for this info. I had received the Angela Penbrook “spam” email, was deleting my “bulk” junk email when I saw the subject line of: “Get paid to fill out forms from home ($300/day or more)”. I clicked on the link and read the ENTIRE webpage, had actually taken my credit card OUT of my wallet and was going to try it out. A little voice told me to GOOGLE and, PRAISE THE LORD that I listened to that little voice.
Had I not googled it, I have no doubt I would be one of the many, many people who lost $197 (or more, since on the site she’s threatening to increase the cost to $500 OR charge a monthly fee of $29.99).
Anyway.. THANKS to “I’ve Tried That” and “Google” !!!
HAS ANYONE RECIEVED THEIR REFUND YET? I WAS REFUNDED LAST WEEK. JUST CURIOUS MAYBE I CAN HELP OUT A LITTLE IF EVERYOE DOESN’T HAVE ALL THE NUMBERS CAUSE THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT NUMBERS THAT THEY HAVE
I wish now I had found this site before I was stupid and tried to order this so called great deal. I got my credit card statment yesterday and saw the charge. I tried to call the company acouple of times and got nowhere. I’ve called my credit card card company to get a refund on my card.. I hope it does turn out to be long ordeal to get my refund.. I should’ve known better…
Just wanted to say, People don’t be stupid! When it’s too good to be true then it is! I don’t care what you are being offered, nothing is easy and nothing is free for sure! But yet we always get tricked and fooled by wanting to believing in to something that is so juicy and unbelievably wonderful! Save your money! AND MANY THX TO THIS AUTHOR.
Hi Michael and everyone else. I’m excited to hear about saving you all some money! We should book a cruise with all the cash we’re saving. Steve, make it so.
Seriously, though, BS scams like this one thrive only in darkness and ignorance. We (all of us) can put her out of business by lifting up the rock she lives under and letting in the light of day. There’s no better way to dry out slime.
Dana, that’s really intriguing. I don’t know of anyone who has done it, but I’ll be very interested in what you find out. I suspect, however, that the “business” is based in another country. That’s often what makes it hard to prosecute internet scams.
Has anyone thought of contacting the Attorney General in Washington, DC?? I will be going to the offices on monday with everything in hand. All we need is an attorney who is willing to file a class action law suit against this “skank” Angela.
Thank GOD for you Joe!! I was ready to spen $197.00 I don’t have to process rebates from home. I totally came across your site by accident, but I had some reservations about sending my money. One being my email was returned because the name didn’t exist. I also noticed she used two different last names. She also added little tid bits of info she had forgotten to tell me in each of her emails-BIG RED flag! The words ” high pressure sells tactics” kept popping in to my head-you and the replies have confirmed it! I hope this snake is totally exposed and humiliated!!
Michael
still waiting for my refund, it’s been 5 business days on friday, so i’m giving them till tuesday, if i don’t see my refund by then, it’s on.
My advice to anyone who gets e-mails for work at home income Contact the BBB. Also read webs with the person”Boss” of the company.Or look up the company name, there will always be tons of testimonies of “victims” who fell for these “get rich quick, easy and fun” jobs. Some of them use a business name, so look up that if needed, you’ll find the “business” doesn’t exist at all, or been busted. Unfortunately folks, unless you too want to stoop so low as the thousand of subhuman who don’t give a crap about descent human beings, it would be easy to fabricate this cruel, hurtful, selfish lifestyle. reality,But for those of us who care about fellow human beings, good old fashion hard work and struggling at times is the right thing to do( and with no conscious and paranoia following you around) Pass this around to help others to know the truth!!
I am ashamed I fell for this BS also. I am very suspicious of anything and normally would never ever do one of these dumb work at home things. What got me was that darn website saying they investigated all the scams and then listed off the ones that WERE NOT scams, yea sure. Process at home with Angel Stevens was the number one NOT A SCAM that was listed. I am a stay at home mom of 3 small children with an amazing husband who works 2 jobs to keep me home. I was really missing making my own money and in a weak moment googled work at home jobs. Anyway that was March 14th. By the next morning my BS indicator decided to kick in and I ran right to the computer and emailed them that I wanted a refund. I had to have an email battle back and forth with them for a week. They kept insisting I should give it a try. Each email was obviously written from a script and by someone who doesn’t speak english very well. In the end I got the okay you’ll get a refund but you must send us your invoice. Uh okay but send it where?? I think they were hoping I didn’t have it. I went on to mapquest looking up their L.A address and it does not exist! I also discovered the identical website Processfromhome with Angela Penbrook. Suddenly she was a brunette and 20 yrs younger and from L.A instead of the Bronx. After a couple days they informed me I needed to send my invoice as an attachment to receive a refund. I sat there typing in things untill I found that damn invoice, figured out how to save it to my computer and at the same time discovered I could copy and paste the url address so I could put that in my email for them to click on! plus attached it! Well my refund went through last night and I am relieved. I sure hope everyone else gets theirs. I did all this through email. I never did call them. I wanted to type my story on here but was afraid they may see it before the refund went through. This is my experience. I would love to see this idiot on Dateline!!
Well just so you all know I DID NOT fall for this scam…BUT I have been a victim of scams in the past. Last year I probably lost $1k investing in a scam so when I saw this one I googled it first. Which is my suggestion to ANYONE WHO THINKS A COMPANY IS A SCAM — GOOGLE IT FIRST ! I also called them acting as if I had purchased it and said I wanted a refund (even though I didn’t) just to see what they would say. You know they even gave me a refund confirmation #…..and Im sitting there thinking ? where are they getting this info from so they might just be taking notes of people calling in case you call back…who knows but I got the same guy the three times I called when he hung up I was trying to speak to a supervisor or manager and they wouldn’t let me. AND I could have sworn I heard a TV in the background !!..but dont quote me on that one !! I hope you all get your money back but your best bet is to just dispute it through your bank or credit card ASAP !
**************AGAIN FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO VIEW WHAT THIS BROAD IS SELLING TO YOU FOR FREE PLEASE READ************
For those of you who would like to physically see EXACTLY what Angela Penbrook/Stevens is selling for $197 simply go to this website: wealthdci.com/ register a bogus username and password and it will take you directly to the ebook. You dont even have to pay a DIME for the info…..just something I figured out on my own hope this enlightens you to what they are REALLY selling you………or you can go DIRECTLY TO THE Ebook by going to this website: rebateprocessortools.com/ebook/
THIS MESSAGE IS FOR KEISHA;
I DID THE SAME THING- I ALSO TOOK DOWN ALL OF THE 1-800 NUMBERS SHE IS ASSOCIATING WITH HER SITE AND I AM CALLING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM AND LETTING THEM KNOW THAT SHE IS PROBABLY POSTING THEM ILLEGALLY!!!! GOOD LUCK… I AM IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING A REFUND OR SO THEY SAY. I HAVE TO WAIT 5-7 DAYS, AND IT’S ONLY BEEN 5 TODAY. SO LETS SEE IN 3 MORE DAYS AND I WILL LET YOU KNOW IF THEY DID THE REFUND. THEY ALSO SENT ME A REFUND CONFIRMATION E-MAIL WITH ALL MY INFO ON IT. HAVE YOU TRIED E-MAIL TO HER OR ALL OF HER 1-800 NUMBERS? I HAD PRETTY GOOD LUCK WITH THE NUMBERS- WHEN THE MESSAGE CAME ON OF HER ANNOYING VOICE I KEPT PRESSING “0” AND THEN I WOULD AUTOMATICALLY GET CONNECTED TO SOMEONE. ALL 4 TIMES I DID THIS I GOT SOMEONE- SO GOOD LUCK!
Today March 28, 2008
I am the latest person to be scammed by Angela Penbrook Lying ass I am utterly upset and saddened. I had my hopes up high and I dont just have 200 lying around to give to this woman. I hate that I was scammed by her and I think there is something that should be done about her and her lying and cheating good hard working honest folks like us out of our money. She should be ashamed of herself.
KaTina
I just wanted to say to you all GREAT site!!! Now about miss Penbrook or whom ever she is….my ex called me up all excited about this email she received from Ms.penbrook.I had her forward it to me(due to she knows i can smell bs),and of course this email was full of BS!!!
I did my research(starting with the BBB)and googled her…you all are the top review site on a google search for her.
I told my ex to remeber there are alot of ways to make money on the net with little or no money needed.I have a clickbank account,and i make a little money from it.The most important thing to remember is YOU HAVE TO PUT IN EFFORT TO SOMETHING TO MAKE MONEY!!! Your not going to get rich quick from anything unless your the scammer folks. I am 38 and a business man,the best i have ever done was 50,000 in 4 months with little effort,and guess what,it wasnt a business i did online.
There is good money to be made everywhere but you must do your research on the business your wanting to do.
If you want to process rebates i am sure there is a legite way to do it without having to pay for the pleasure of making good money.I may research this futher for my ex and if i find an avenue for this i will let you all know here on Joes site(or let them tell you all).
Anyway,Joe good job guys,way to lookout for your fellow humans.Your site is now in my favorites.
For those of you who would like to physically see EXACTLY what Angela Penbrook/Stevens is selling for $197 simply go to this website: wealthdci.com/ register a bogus username and password and it will take you directly to the ebook. You dont even have to pay a DIME for the info…..just something I figured out on my own hope this enlightens you to what they are REALLY selling you………or you can go DIRECTLY TO THE Ebook by going to this website: rebateprocessortools.com/ebook/
I too was ripped off $197.00 and have not been able to get a refund. I have tried every phone number I can find for Angela Penbrook company and myrebateprocessor.com and only get put on hold or cut off.
I have filed a complaint with this website that helps internet fraud. Everyone should file a complaint with them. The website is https://complaint.ic3.gov
I’m excited to hear that, Teresa! Take someone you love out to dinner with the money you saved.
Wow! Thanks to everyone, but especially Joe, for this website and candidness. You saved me!
Thank you for the information on Angela Penbrook’s scam. I was looking into the program and am glad I did some more research and found that this really is a scam. I hope every person searching for financial opportunities will do as much research and not allow themselves to be taken by companies such as this one.
Like Patricia,I called the 866 # for my refund,spoke with a foreigner who spoke broken English,and said my refund should be posted in 4to7 days.Unlike Patricia,I was not given a confirmation number,but my CC company knows about this,and will dispute the charge if no refund is issued within that timeframe.
Thank you I almost made another bad decision. I have MS and have been looking for something to do at home. You really have to watch your money. Are you disabled was my first clue Angela was a scammer. Thank God for honest sites that want to help people. Alon
I am so glad and feel very fortunate that I investigated a bit and read the information on this website prior to even thinking about sending this fraudulent individual any money or even acknowledging her presense with even an email.
It is time honest people begin to take care of ourselves and our kind. The scam people in the world need to realize they are not powerful.
TO JOE;
I NEED YOU TO E-MAIL ME SO I CAN FORWARD THE LETTER TO YOU. I CANNOT SUBMI THE LETTER ON THIS WEBSITE. E-MAIL ME AT MY ADDRESS WITH YOUR ADDRESS AND I WILL FORWARD TO YOU.
THX
Stephanie, I don’t know if CareerBuilder knows. But you should bring it to their attention. Chipping away at her advertisers and affiliates is one way to bring “Angela Penbrook” down.
April, the URL you listed above is no good (rip-off.com). Do you mean ripoffreport.com? Please forward the link and letter to me at joe[at]ivetriedthat[dot]com.
Thank you, thank you! I think that I was skeptical from the start or I wouldn’t have done more research before sending in my $197. You confirmed my suspicions and saved me from spending the money! I was never sent emails from these companies, I saw the ads on CareerBuilder.com. Unfortunately, the placement of the ads at that site lend legitimacy to the scam, does CareerBuilder know anything about it?
Thank you, again!
BY THE WAY MY E-MAIL ADDRESS IS:
ANGELICAANGELICAANGELICABBY@YAHOO.COM
HEY EVERYONE THAT HAS BEEN SCAMMED FOR THIS BI^%$!!! PLEASE SEND ME A E-MAIL AND I CAN FORWARD A LINK TO EVERYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN HAVING HER EXPOSED- POSSIBLY ON TELEVISION. I SENT A LETTER TO RIP-OFF.COM AND THEY REPSONDED BACK ASAP. IF WE CAN GET ENOUGH COMPLAINTS IN WE CAN TAKE THIS TO THE NEXT LEVEL. THEY TELL ME THAT THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU DOESNT REALLY DO ANYTHING ABOUT THESE SCAMMERS, BUT ITS BETTER TO EXPOSE THEM SO WE CAN HAVE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS SO THEY CAN LOOK INTO IT.
THANKS- DONT FORGET TO SEND ME A E-MAIL WITH YOUR E-MAIL BACK SO I CAN FORWARD THE LINK AND LETTER.
Thanks for the refund info, Patricia and David. But 5-7 days? Did it take 5-7 days for them to take the money from your account when you signed up?
I called the same number that Patricia did(866-885-8126)and spoke to a live representative who said that I should receive my refund within 5 to 7 days,and to check my account then to make sure it went through.I notified my credit card company also.They said if they don’t make good on the refund,call back and they will activate a dispute on the charge.So,like Patricia,we’ll wait and see.I’ll let you what happens next.
wow Angela Penbrook makes it sound all so good that you can make alot of money working from home . THANK GOD i didnt fall for it ,but almost did , i got my son to read her email i got and he checked out google and found out alot about her scams . thanks for the warning
Hi everyone, it’s Patricia from March 19th, i got an email today from noreply@makemyincomeathome.com stating that my refund has been succesfully processed and i should see it in my account in 5-7 bussiness day. Hope i’ll get this money soon, i work too hard for it. bye now. I’ll let you know what happen.
Yes, I also got taken in by ANGELA PENBROOK for $197.00.
I registered on FEB 20TH as instructed. As of this date I have NOT received any information, instructions, etc. I have written to her e-mail address with no response from anyone.
Is there anything that can be done about THIS SO-CALLED “ANGELA PENBROOK” . this is probably not her real name. We have all been
SCAMMED.
This was my first time trying this. I have a full time job, I am
just looking for something to work on from home when I retire.
PLEASE CAN SOMEONE PUT A STOP TO HER?????
I fell for this too. I really don’t know why because I am usually very leary of things like this. I am a stay at home mom of 2 boys, 2yrs old and a 7 month old. My husband works hard and I thought I would try to generate a little more income for us. Boy was I stupid!! With a capital S. All I managed to do was throw money out the window. I have tried several times to contact someone about getting my money back and like the rest of you who have tried, with no luck. As I read through the replys here I see that no has mentioned processrebatecenter.com. I believe these are the same scammers?? Owned by Angela Penbrook. They are the ones who scammed me. Anyway I guess my mistake will help someone else to not make the same mistake. thanks
We’re seeking to compile detailed refund stories to help those who have been a victim of this scam. If you made a purchase and then managed to receive a refund, please visit this thread: https://ivetriedthat.com/2008/03/19/seeking-detailed-refund-stories/
Help us help those who have been scammed.
I too have the same situation. I have called and called and called, then i said you know what annoys me about these companies is that when you call you get her crappy voice and then press 1 for technical difficulties, press 2 for accounting or just stay on the line and a rep will get to you. Well everyone press “0” it hooks you right in to them. They cant even speak english!!!! I feel like I’m speaking to a foreign language person who asked for my e-mail address, and my name but not the last 4 digits of the credit card. But i called twice and pressed “0” and got someone different and the gave me the same exact confirmation number twice with 2 different people- so lets just hope this works. Hope we’re not all SUCKERS to this B*^*&^*&^!!!!!
I too have been scammed by Angela Penbrook. I’m in the process of trying to get my refund. I called this number yesterday:
866-885-8126, i did get someone to talk to me and requested my refund. she asked for name, phone#, email and last 4 digits of credit card, then she gave me a confirmation# stating that i should get my refund in 4-7 business day. We’ll see. I’ll come back next week to let everyone know, in the meantime stay away from her and if you’re a victim, try thr # I listed above.
I fell for this,too,but I don’t know if my $197 was processed;I can’t find a record of it on my CC acct.,even tough I know I used that card.I went back a year,month,etc.and no record of the transaction.Maybe they didn’t take it after all.Maybe they blanked it out somehow so I couldn’t get a refund.In any case,she is a fraud and I hope you or somebody nails her to a cross with no salvation!An expensive lesson learned!
Hi, it’s Joyce again.As I mentioned in my last comment, I sent 3 different emails to Angela Penbrook, and in my subject line I put the word “Sorry”!
Then explained in a very polite manner that I would not be able to do this work after all, and since I had a 90-day guarantee on the product, I wished to receive a refund of my funds. That is not really what I wanted to say, but I figured I should be polite and firm to as not to aggravate the situation. Yesterday,
one of my emails was returned to me. No explanation, just in the heading on my computer it read angelapenbrook@penbrookproductions then “Sorry”!
I think they thought it was funny that they were returning my email with the heading of “sorry” as a way of saying “sorry, no refund”. That is the kind of low life scammers we are dealing with here. I am profoundly deaf and I would love to be able to work from home, and this is the kind of treatment I get. I felt like throwing my computer out the window, but being deaf I depend on it tremendously. So to everyone reading this, “stay away from anything that charges you to get
a work from home job online.” All you will do is lose your hard-earned money. Still waiting to hear from my credit card company about the refund! Thanks for allowing me to vent!
I am so glad that I googled
Angela Penbrook I was just about to purchase her program when that if it sounds to good to be true then it is thing went off in my head. Thank you for the information. Someone should shut her down.
Well – this one and Virtual Training Solutions do the same thing. Both are scams! Read what else they have to say because it is all TRUE!!
Hi,
Thanks to google that i got to know about scam of Angela Penbrook. Else i was just about to signup with the program. But since i have heard a lot about online fraud cases so i thought just give a try on google about this lady.
Thanks everyone.
Hi,
I too am ashamed to admit that I was taken in by Angela Penbrook and her hype. Now after 3 emails and a phone call, no response to my request for refund in full, since I supposedly have 90 days to try the program. I have sent all the paperwork, emails, etc. to my credit card company and will dispute the charge if it takes forever. Can someone please get to the bottom of who runs these crooked websites, or do they just disappear and then start up again with different names, etc. For those in my shoes, fight with your credit card company until you get the money back!!!!
Only naive people can trust Angela Penbrook.
Sorry to hear about that, Joanne. Good luck getting your money back. If you’re successful, I hope you’ll let us know how you did it so we can pass on the word.
I paid my $197 this morning but I can’t even log on. First time anyone ever explained exactly (seemingly) what I would be doing before they asked for payment. I called the helpdesk number and did speak with a person who read a script saying the web page was down temporarily. Next time she (same person) says to just keep trying periodly; there are technical problems. And there are no instructions as to how to get my money back. “3 months free trial”. All the emails seem to be system generated. So far, five hours – 0 dollars.
She is nothing but a scammer from what I have read!!
I get at least 5-10 e-mails a day from Angela Penbrook, this seems like it would be nice, if only it wasn’t a scam……….you must read, read, read on these programs………..they are all scams.