In Internet marketing, autosurfs are traffic exchanges that automatically rotate advertised websites in one's web browser.
In 2001, Autohits.dk was the first ever autosurf traffic exchange to use a PHP script that eliminated the need for viewers to manually click a link or image to advance to the next page in the rotation.
Autosurf traffic exchanges were created for trading pageviews automatically without any manual effort on the surfer's part.
Interested viewers can pause the surf timer or open any site in a new window, giving themselves more time to peruse an ad.
If the viewer is not interested and does nothing, the surf timer will reset and the rotation will advance to the next page in the queue after the specified period of time.
However, autosurf traffic exchanges that do not have investment options or pay members to surf were allowed to continue or resume using PayPal as a payment processor.
On the other hand, autosurfs which require an investment and promise to pay a profit must, to not be a Ponzi, have other sources of income which can yield the high percentages they offer.
Ponzi schemes will end when no new investors are found, and it follows that autosurf sites have rather short life spans, existing from one week to a few years depending on the popularity and "investment plans" offered.
In February 2006, autosurfs reached the United States national news when funds of members of 12DailyPro were frozen by payment processor StormPay.
In a statement released by the Georgia Government Consumer Protection Agency titled "Pyramid Schemes Never Die; Just Evolve", 12DailyPro was closely scrutinized.
[4] On February 28, the SEC filed a proposed stipulation, agreed to by the attorney for Charis Johnson, LifeClicks, and 12DailyPro that these parties would turn over all assets and records to a permanent legal receiver.
However, many still autosurf, either refusing to accept that they are Ponzi structured, or knowingly using this to profit (through attracting new investors to prolong the life of the program).