Complaint Review: WLBC RADIO - Internet

WLBC RADIO SCAM: Beware of Misleading Advertising Practices by LSM MEDIA LLC

In today’s digital age, businesses—especially small, locally-owned companies—rely heavily on advertising to communicate their message. Unfortunately, not all advertising platforms offer honest and effective results. One company that has raised concerns about its advertising practices is WLBC Radio, owned by LSM MEDIA LLC. This company is targeting small business owners across the United States, promising large audiences for public service announcements (PSAs) on topics that tug at the heartstrings, such as saluting the troops, veterans, breast cancer awareness, and drunk driving prevention.

However, after a deep dive into their operations, it's clear that WLBC Radio's reach is vastly exaggerated. This article aims to shed light on the deceptive business practices of WLBC Radio and LSM MEDIA LLC, warning business owners about wasting their advertising budget on a platform with minimal audience reach.

Who Is WLBC Radio and LSM MEDIA LLC?

WLBC Radio, which can be found at WLBCRADIO.com and through the WLBC Radio App in both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, is owned and operated by LSM MEDIA LLC, based in Park Ridge, Illinois. According to their sales pitch, WLBC Radio offers businesses the chance to buy ad space through public service announcements on their website and app. These PSAs often revolve around emotional topics like saluting veterans, supporting cancer awareness, and preventing drunk driving.

The idea sounds noble and beneficial, right? However, businesses who sign up for these ad campaigns often find out later that their message is not reaching anywhere near the audience WLBC Radio claims to have.

The Problem: False Claims About Audience Size

The core issue with WLBC Radio and LSM MEDIA LLC is their false advertising about the size of their audience. Sales representatives from the company contact small businesses, claiming that WLBC Radio has tens of thousands of listeners tuning in to their platform. This claim is the primary selling point used to lure in small businesses who are trying to build a local or national presence.

However, after investigating the platform’s actual metrics, the reality is starkly different. During the entire month of August, WLBC Radio had only 212 visitors. Yes, just 212 people visited the platform in one month, not tens of thousands as their sales representatives claim. This is a far cry from the impressive listener base they promise to potential advertisers.

How WLBC Radio Deceives Small Businesses Tugging at Emotional Heartstrings:

One of the main tactics WLBC Radio uses to entice small businesses into buying ad space is by appealing to their emotions. Sales reps from LSM MEDIA LLC focus on emotionally charged campaigns such as saluting veterans, honoring troops, spreading awareness about breast cancer, and advocating against drunk driving. These topics resonate with small businesses that want to align their brand with causes they and their customers care deeply about.

However, what these businesses don’t realize is that their messages are being broadcast to virtually no one. The small audience size means that despite paying thousands of dollars for a PSA, the impact of these advertisements is negligible.

Misleading Data and Exaggerated Claims:

The most egregious element of this scam is the blatant exaggeration of WLBC Radio’s audience numbers. Businesses are led to believe that a large, engaged audience will hear their PSAs, but the actual site and app metrics reveal a vastly different story. When a business spends money on advertising, they expect a return on that investment in the form of brand recognition, customer engagement, or direct sales. However, if no one is tuning in to hear their ads, the money spent is essentially wasted.

The Consequences for Small Businesses

Small businesses operate with limited budgets and every dollar counts. When they allocate funds to advertising, they expect those dollars to work toward expanding their customer base and promoting their brand. Unfortunately, when businesses are misled by companies like WLBC Radio and LSM MEDIA LLC, they see no return on their investment.

This type of scam can be especially damaging for small businesses that are already struggling to compete with larger corporations. Wasting thousands of dollars on ineffective advertising could mean the difference between staying afloat or shutting down entirely.

How WLBC Radio Is Using Emotion to Manipulate Businesses

One of the most insidious aspects of this scam is the way LSM MEDIA LLC manipulates business owners by using emotionally charged topics. By framing their ad campaigns around causes like supporting veterans or raising awareness about cancer, they create an emotional appeal that many small business owners find hard to resist.

Imagine being a local business owner, and a salesperson calls you, telling you that your company can support an important cause by running an ad on WLBC Radio that honors veterans. The thought of doing something good for a cause while also promoting your business sounds like a win-win situation. However, this emotional manipulation is nothing more than a tactic to get businesses to sign up for ad space on a platform that very few people are actually visiting.

The Facts Don’t Lie: WLBC Radio’s Abysmal Traffic

Despite the claims of tens of thousands of listeners, the traffic statistics paint a very different picture. During the month of August, WLBC Radio had just 200 visitors to its website and app. This is a shockingly low number, considering the size of the U.S. market and the aggressive sales tactics employed by LSM MEDIA LLC.

For businesses that spend thousands of dollars on an ad campaign, the prospect of reaching only a couple hundred people—at most—is devastating. And given that those 200 visitors likely weren’t all tuning in to listen to the PSAs, it’s easy to see that the reach of these ads is even smaller than it seems.

Warning Signs of a Scam: What to Look Out For

If you’re a small business owner, it’s essential to be able to recognize the signs of a scam before you invest your hard-earned money. Here are some red flags that WLBC Radio’s business practices are not as they seem:

1. Exaggerated Claims About Audience Size: If a sales rep is claiming that their platform reaches tens of thousands of people, ask for hard data to back up those numbers. If they can’t provide concrete proof, that’s a major red flag.

2. Emotional Manipulation: Be wary of advertising platforms that try to use emotional appeals to sell you ad space. While supporting good causes is important, your advertising budget should go toward platforms that offer real, measurable results.

3. Pressure to Sign Up Immediately: Scammers often create a sense of urgency to get you to commit to a deal immediately. If you’re being pressured to hand over your credit card information or sign a contract on the spot, take a step back and do your research.

4. Lack of Transparency: A legitimate advertising platform will be transparent about its audience metrics, the cost of ad placements, and the expected results. If the company you’re dealing with is being evasive or vague, proceed with caution.

What You Can Do If You’ve Been Scammed by WLBC Radio

If you’ve already fallen victim to WLBC Radio’s deceptive practices, all is not lost. Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself and potentially recover your money:

1. Contact Your Credit Card Company: If you paid for the ad campaign using a credit card, you may be able to dispute the charge. Many credit card companies offer protections for fraudulent or misleading charges.

2. File a Complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB): The BBB is a great resource for reporting scams and deceptive business practices. Filing a complaint may not get your money back, but it can help warn others and hold WLBC Radio accountable for their actions.

3. Leave Reviews: Share your experience on review sites like Google and Yelp to warn other businesses about WLBC Radio’s practices. The more people who speak out, the harder it will be for WLBC Radio to continue deceiving small businesses.

4. Seek Legal Advice: If you’ve lost a significant amount of money, it may be worth consulting with a lawyer to explore your legal options. There may be grounds for a lawsuit if you can prove that WLBC Radio intentionally misled you about their audience size and the effectiveness of their ad campaigns.

Conclusion: Protect Yourself and Your Business

WLBC Radio and LSM MEDIA LLC are using misleading tactics to exploit small businesses across the United States. By exaggerating their audience size and using emotional appeals to sell ad space, they are preying on the goodwill of small business owners who want to support important causes. Unfortunately, those ad campaigns are falling on deaf ears, with WLBC Radio’s platform attracting only a handful of monthly visitors.

If you’re a small business owner looking to invest in advertising, it’s crucial to do your due diligence. Always ask for concrete audience metrics, avoid emotional manipulation, and be cautious of any company that pressures you to sign up on the spot. Your advertising dollars are too valuable to waste on platforms that don’t deliver real results.