Scams may be sophisticated or they may be simple, but they always follow the same pattern. Some (most, probably) prey on greed, although some prey on a lack of sophistication on the part of the mark. This was the former.
After chatting for some time and explaining about his money worries, the friend recommended a marketing affiliate site called CJ, where users can earn commission by reviewing designer goods and gadgets.
Bright, a security guard, said: “The timing was perfect and it seemed so easy.
“All you had to do was 35 reviews and then you can withdraw the money you make from commissions.”
Okay, such things do exist. However…
As soon as Bright began reviewing products, the site was asking him to keep putting more money in to top up his account and it said he could not withdraw any cash until he had completed the 35 reviews.
Bright said: “It started out as small amounts so I didn’t really worry at this point.
“But pretty soon, it was asking me to put in £100, £200 £300, £400, £500. And by that time I was in too deep.
“I had to keep putting money in and topping it up otherwise it said I wouldn’t get my money back, let alone the commission I was supposedly earning.”
That was the red flag. If they ask you for money, it’s a scam. Bright by name, not very by nature…
Fools and their money.
The depressing thing is that we’ve overcome Darwin by subsidising this level of idiot so they continue to breed. See also, current members of parliament.
And now they are trying to raise money from the other gullible members of society….
I suppose it was worth a punt.
And he’s a security guard.
How many crims have read about this and gone ‘mmm, wonder where he works?’
Inteligent, but Gullible and Stupid
Bank transfer scams reach record levels
https://www.channel4.com/news/bank-transfer-scams-reach-record-levels
Some time in the early 1980s I was out of work and replied to an ad in the Situations Vacant section of the local newspaper. I don’t recall whether it cost anything but it would only have been a small amount if it did. What it was was some kind of pyramid scheme, or multi level marketing as it now euphemistically called. I wasn’t familiar with the concept at the time and I was pretty naive for my age back then. I immediately smelt a rat and had no further contact with those people. If they are asking you to send them increasingly large amounts of money without even a pretty implausible reason why, you have to pretty dim to keep sending it.
A friend of mine took a couple of us to an Amway presentation. I’d not come across the concept before, but I could do basic maths. Enough to recognise a scam for what it was.
One of our relatives signed up to one that involved selling household cleaning products and for a while was badgering us to buy them. There wasn’t anything that we didn’t just pick up at Asda on our regular grocery shopping trip. Even if her stuff was cheaper, it wasn’t, it would have to be significantly so to make it worthwhile to go out of our way to buy it from her. No unique selling point, no price advantage, no reason to buy the stuff at all. Hardly a world beating business plan. Presumably the person one level up made a little out of selling to people who would buy the stuff, fail to sell it and end up giving it away or using it themselves.
That might have been Amway. They promise untold riches, but a moment’s analysis tells you that it is unsustainable.
What it was was some kind of pyramid scheme, or multi level marketing as it now
I tried a few MLMs in early 90s [Amway clone was one iirc] after I bought house to earn more by working evenings & w/e prior to starting MBA
However, I refused to follow their rules and said “Give me samples and marketing material. If it sells I will sign up” – the presented figures looked good, but smelt bad and basic Arithmetic confirmed
Worked well, taken to lavish meetings, conferences, dinners etc. I registered for VAT and reclaimed VAT on everything inc holidays. Try as I might, nothing sold.
Once a VAT inspector visited and said “All OK, but reconsider…” I did
Many years later I did Equitalk – free – and saved money & made money until Talk Talk bought them and closed it
@Stoney
Cleaning products – Kleenezee?
I think most bought the few products not in retail stores. I know neighbours and I did.
Was Avon first UK MLM? They all seem gone now since internet ended their ‘exclusive’ model
I don’t know which company it was, I kept away from it as I didn’t really want to get involved.
That was my reaction. It alerted me to the model and I’ve been aware of it ever since.
No one ever seems to ask themselves why everyone isn’t doing (insert scam here) if it really works as claimed, do they?
A bit like Scientology. I once waded through Dianeteics (that was time I’ll never get back). At the end, I thought that if it’s so good, why isn’t everyone doing it?