Is "Honda FK8 Civic Type R Product Reviews Group" a SCAM??

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TacticalToolbox

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This isn't a post I wanted to write.

However, I'm trying to find some answers to some questions I have.

Over the past 8-9 months I enjoyed reading the reviews and "How-To's" in the "FK8 Product Reviews" FB Group.

About a month or so ago I was looking for an install tutorial I saw in the group, but for some reason I was banned.

Honda Civic 10th gen Is "Honda FK8 Civic Type R Product Reviews Group" a SCAM?? 1590445192631




I thought this was odd considering I don't remember leaving any comments or making any
posts to the group for them to have grounds to ban me. Then again my memory could be failing me.

So I began to do some research into the matter.

First I tagged them in an Instagram comment asking them to send me a DM regarding the matter.

Honda Civic 10th gen Is "Honda FK8 Civic Type R Product Reviews Group" a SCAM?? 1590445271592


After a week with no response, My wife used her account to find out who the Admins were in the "FK8 Product Reviews Group" so I could send them a message.

So I messaged them from wife's account.

Honda Civic 10th gen Is "Honda FK8 Civic Type R Product Reviews Group" a SCAM?? 1590445320137


Honda Civic 10th gen Is "Honda FK8 Civic Type R Product Reviews Group" a SCAM?? 1590445360766




After a few days, I check the messages to see if there was a response.

There wasn't a response, However, now my wife's account is banned from the group.

Honda Civic 10th gen Is "Honda FK8 Civic Type R Product Reviews Group" a SCAM?? 1590445409733



So I began to dig deeper.

I noticed that "FK8 Product Reviews Group" claims to be "Non-Profit"

Honda Civic 10th gen Is "Honda FK8 Civic Type R Product Reviews Group" a SCAM?? 1590445144709



What is a Non-Profit?

Honda Civic 10th gen Is "Honda FK8 Civic Type R Product Reviews Group" a SCAM?? 1590445538684



Because I own a non-profit and know the rules and regulations.
I performed a search at IRS.gov for their non-profit status.

To my surprise, I couldn't find anything.


According to federal law all operating non-profits must submit their financials and this is considered public information.

Examples:

Honda Civic 10th gen Is "Honda FK8 Civic Type R Product Reviews Group" a SCAM?? 1590445952242



Honda Civic 10th gen Is "Honda FK8 Civic Type R Product Reviews Group" a SCAM?? 1590445996528





Furthermore,

If they aren't classified as a "non-profit", even if the members of the group don't earn money from the group.

According to the IRS Free Product in exchange for a review is classified as monetary income based on the fair market value of the product received.

Honda Civic 10th gen Is "Honda FK8 Civic Type R Product Reviews Group" a SCAM?? 1590446688202



Therefore if the group isn't operating under a 501C(3) status, they're classified as for profit as long as they receive free product






I'm not mad about being banned from the group at all, I was mainly just confused on the reasoning.

However, I'm more worried about their claims they're making on being a "Non-Profit" as many people trust their reviews.


Therefore I'm asking "FK8 Product Reviews Group" to submit their "Form 990" to the CivicX group to prove they haven't been lying about their non-profit status.


Let me know your thoughts.
 
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tinyman392

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Oh wow, I did not notice that they were listed as a non-profit. So the review page is not a "scam" as they don't same users out of money. They are heavily biased though and create "partnerships" with products and manufacturers. I know in the past some companies were approached to pay them to write a favorable review (or get a product sample, etc.). When that didn't happen, they started bad mouthing that manufacturer and slandering them. I'm not sure if they are indeed a non-profit as I don't have enough information to know for sure.

Edit: if you said something that a certain admin of the group doesn't like (or agree with), he has a tendency to ban you. Something could be as small as arguing that the rumored Phoenix yellow Civic Type R is possibly real (this was before the LE was announced).
 
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Si_chRis

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I remember there used to be a user on here (I believe his user name was ctrmofo) with a white CTR that was either the owner, or associated with this group. The only reason I remember this is because he used to flaunt pictures of his fancy garage and Lambo in the CTR forum threads. I don't think he posts here anymore though, and hasn't for a long time.
 
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TacticalToolbox

TacticalToolbox

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I remember there used to be a user on here (I believe his user name was ctrmofo) with a white CTR that was either the owner, or associated with this group. The only reason I remember this is because he used to flaunt pictures of his fancy garage and Lambo in the CTR forum threads. I don't think he posts here anymore though, and hasn't for a long time.
Oh really? I'll look him up
 
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TacticalToolbox

TacticalToolbox

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I remember there used to be a user on here (I believe his user name was ctrmofo) with a white CTR that was either the owner, or associated with this group. The only reason I remember this is because he used to flaunt pictures of his fancy garage and Lambo in the CTR forum threads. I don't think he posts here anymore though, and hasn't for a long time.
I've heard the same things.
 


boosted180sx

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welcome to Fk8 Product Review group. you disagree with his reviews or bad mouth a company he has a "partnership" with you get banned.
non partners posting in their partners thread gets you banned and the post deleted.
Either pay a fee or provide them with free samples to be a partner in that group.
 
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TacticalToolbox

TacticalToolbox

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welcome to Fk8 Product Review group. you disagree with his reviews or bad mouth a company he has a "partnership" with you get banned.
non partners posting in their partners thread gets you banned and the post deleted.
Either pay a fee or provide them with free samples to be a partner in that group.
Whoa... That's nuts man
 

Patrick Bateman

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I remember there used to be a user on here (I believe his user name was ctrmofo).....I don't think he posts here anymore though, and hasn't for a long time.
Thankfully.

He once referred to himself as ā€œThe Ben Shapiro of car mods.ā€
 

Zeffy94

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You won't find him, pretty sure he's banned or something.
Was about to say, I thought he got banned from here a while ago.
 


Tim818

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welcome to Fk8 Product Review group. you disagree with his reviews or bad mouth a company he has a "partnership" with you get banned.
non partners posting in their partners thread gets you banned and the post deleted.
Either pay a fee or provide them with free samples to be a partner in that group.
This is pretty much spot on lol
 

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Yup, the group is a joke. Pay to play, certainly not ā€œnon-profitā€.

I got banned because I argued against his claim of RV6 ā€œ9-way adjustableā€ sway bar. Iā€™m like dude, the bar has 3 holes, how TF do you claim 9 way. He proceeded to talk down on me as if he knows everything in the universe and Iā€™m some idiot with no racing credentials.

He claimed to be a Porsche club instructor with over 10,000 track miles. When asked to produce pictures, videos or lap times, he couldnā€™t. Because he doesnt track, and has no real world experience with tuner cars except getting groceries. A ā€œtoonerā€ at best.

Stay far away from that group, itā€™s a joke.
 

.grimace

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That whole group is a joke. They give out so much incorrect info the second you try to nicely correct them they ban you. Wouldn't listen a thing those jokers say, the one who started it, Aston love to post my Lambo got banned from this forum LOL
 

tinyman392

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That whole group is a joke. They give out so much incorrect info the second you try to nicely correct them they ban you. Wouldn't listen a thing those jokers say, the one who started it, Aston love to post my Lambo got banned from this forum LOL
That's was your Lambo? It seemed like he was trying to get everyone to believe it was his :p
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