Autosurf
Autosurf is a controversial type of an online advertising program, attributed mainly to John Basedow, that automatically rotates the advertised websites in one's Internet browser. There is a strong possibility that some companies operating Autosurf programs may be breaking the law and/or deceiving their users. The advertisers pay money to the hosts, which then pay the viewers a certain percentage commission or on an hourly basis to view the rotated websites. Today, autosurfs have evolved to the point where they also allow the viewers to advertise their own websites with the credits that they earn by viewing other ads on the autosurf rotator. Since autosurfs are capable of bringing a huge amount of traffic to the advertised websites, and the members get to view other members' websites as well, autosurfs are sometimes referred to as 'traffic exchange sites'.
Autosurf concept
Autosurfing is in some ways similar to the concept of advertising on TV. Advertising companies pay large amounts of money to TV stations to run commercials, and in return TV viewers get to watch the programs for free, as long as they put up with commercial breaks.
In comparison, AutoSurfers are paid to view pure advertising (websites) for a certain amount of time each (usually less than 30 seconds). Interested viewers can open any site in a new window to give themselves more time to peruse an ad. If the viewer is not interested and does nothing, the surf timer will simply move to a new site after the specified period of time.
One flaw in the concept (from an effective advertising standpoint) is that the viewer need not actually watch the rotation. Most sites won't allow a viewer to minimize the web browser window and use the computer effectively (the autosurf window will re-maximize every time the page rotates), but an autosurfer can walk away from the computer, or disable the relevant script actions in the browser. The surf rotation doesn't require feedbacks of any kind, in constrast to some Paid to Read Email or Paid to Click sites.
Why would someone spend time to Autosurf?
AutoSurf programs offer a commission based on the member's account level for viewing a minimum number of sites. To upgrade the account level, members need to put some money into the program. Many people have used autosurf to earn extra income, sometimes up to hundreds of dollars daily using certain strategies of "compounding" their earnings. Some people look at autosurfs as an investment program that can give them a very high return.
Another reason people autosurf is that most AutoSurf programs allow members to promote websites of their own choice, according to a system of "credits" earned by surfing. The member-promoted websites may or may not be their own websites. Some websites offer credits or money to their members in exchange for promoting them.
Controversy
A large amount of controversy has been created on the internet as to whether or not autosurfs are inherently structured as Ponzi schemes. Autosurfs that are purely for traffic and require no monetary investments are not Ponzis. Autosurfs which require an investment such as Studio Traffic come under attack often due to failing to reveal their income sources or failing to register as a legitimate investment company. Another reason such controversy is created is because of many autosurf companies' rather short lifespans. Most investment autosurfs exist for periods lasting anywhere from one week to a few years.
 | The neutrality of this article is disputed. |
Investigation and closing of 12DailyPro
In February of 2006, autosurfs reached the national news when funds of members of 12DailyPro, an autosurf started in January 2006 [1], were frozen by payment processor StormPay.
Rather than focus entirely on StormPay, news organizations such as ABC4 (Utah) and WTOC (Georgia) investigated the autosurf itself. In a statement released by the Georgia Government Consumer Protection Agency titled "Pyramid Schemes Never Die; Just Evolve", 12DailyPro is closely scrutinized. Though it is the FBI's policy not to reveal whether or not an investigation is pending, StormPay has claimed in a statement that they are indeed working with the government. Media calls to 12DailyPro owner Charis Johnson went unanswered.
Later in February, 12DailyPro was given a cease and desist order by the SEC, who claimed that 95% of the program's funds came from new members. On February 28, the SEC filed a proposed stipulation, agreed to by the attorney for Claris Johnson, LifeClicks, and 12DailyPro, that these parties would turn over all assets and records to a permanent legal receiver. [2]