Get-rich-quick schemes and online scams
Get-rich scams target mostly uneducated, old, naive or unexperienced people, sophisticating their methods with all legal tools available. Alas, being stupid and uneducated themselves (educated people would never scam) such scammers fail miserably against anyone who could logically analyse. Doesn't take long for any person, who is somehow acquainted with high-tech, to realize that the remote access to your computer is dangerous, direct wiring to you bank account is a no-go, and gift card redemption... there are too many red flags.
Online scammers, who sell their social image are attention-desperate for greedy young adults, who are super-hyped by people on Instagram or other social media. Magic-pill-companies and dream-selling entrepreneurs still pave their ways in the 21th century. Trudging up from 'Get rich quick' books and media to the actual (in corpore) multi-level marketing companies and Ponzi schemes. If the fraud is so obvious, how come people still get hooked onto it?
The selling points:
- celebrity affiliation - your star-crash shouting out some blockchain schemes - you don't care anymore!
- promising tech leads - techs are revered, why not trust them?
- confidence pitch and luxurious life - I also worked in McDonalds, just like you, but look at my lambo, what are you waiting for, fool?
- little investment - you just need 200$ or so, lets begin!
- "idea-driven angel investors" - they "change" the world, I respect them!
- freebies - can't resist that, can you?
The power of celebrity
Star affiliation alone stands today as a unique breakthrough for online marketing schemes. Not a long time ago, it was hard to imagine some big names making guest appearances for scheme promos, basically for nobodies - but not today. Cunning entities with decent purse, in the USA alone, could afford to pay Floyd Mayweather, Kardashians or Mark Wahlberg himself to open their mouths for couple minutes on their social media (they'll get paid well with your money), in order to prompt almost any scam. Be no surprised, such celebrities will just cash in and never care about what they had just promoted - they are actors at the end of the day!
Guru-driven schemes:
YouTube marketing
Sounds old, right? Not for biggies! Think of boosting someone's presence for lower-cut fees, in order to get one day into a "team, that cares about you". Sharing image of any online marketing company for a low commission sounds easy? Copy and paste their videos of online courses, in order for someone to click the bait - you'll get the commission. Think of your lost time and what have you earned? What have you learned? Would have still been better off working in McDonalds or learning rocket science, literally.
Online courses, coaches
'Mentors' and 'gurus' are desperate for your attention, otherwise, why they are so active in public profiles? High-rolling to hook you up? 'Improve your skills from the pro himself', they say? 'Know how to invest in certain stocks with your 2000$ investment and make millions for us, we mean you!'
Nevertheless, are all online courses scam? No. But you must pay attention to their on-site info, to easily distinguish:
- prices
- rates
- contract stipulations
- terms of use
- legal company info
- contacts and address
- key people
- real names and prior convictions (no jokes here)
- an overall company image
Stock market, Forex and other 'secrets'!
'I've earned millions for my collection of Lambos Bugatti, now I want you to become rich! Why? Because we are kind, buy our books!' Forget the Goldman Sachs and Meryl Lynch, don't study them, don't bother, there are just couple of secrets in this world you would have to learn! Grab it now, just for 200$! Don't tell it to the Bank of America! We really need your 200$, because Buggati consume too much of petro.
Product-driven schemes:
Get-rich books
Most of them must be regarded as motivational, though not really practical, which does not constitute any crime, at first look.
- pay attention to the price tag and the 'bundle deals' that come with it. Ranging from 200$ to 20 000$?
- pay attention to the titles, e.g. books from 'the real insiders and pros'!
- pay attention to the similar books on Amazon, that come in 15-35$ price tag - the real hard work of authors, who suffer demand drop, due to the fraudster overuse in such a genre. Books that intended for wide range of audience, and no 'secretes only for you'. At least, a 20$ book won't make you wretched.
Weight loss media
Another target - is the vulnerable layer of those, who are obese. People with complex self-esteem, because of their different body complexion, may be desperate for change. Why not making money off of them? Although, not all the books in this niche are scam, but are in a very similar department with the 'get-rich-quick' books. On their sites, some scammers hide subscription fees below an innocent looking book, that is supposed to help you, not rip you off.
Disease treatment media
Alzheimer's, cancer, diabetes and other 'black holes' of science, to where the tricksters step in become so easily curable! Such would always run something like this:
Big pharma was hiding this formula from you, to make money and rip you off. We got the formula now! Here, in this book!
Forget the science, we are into the ride!
Our new potion is patented and trademarked, you have an exclusive chance to buy it for the entry price before our potion of immortality gets the legal approval and hits the shelves for much higher prices!
How to work against it?
Get into your local library - tonnes of financial and legal literature is waiting for you for free. There are more practical solutions: free stock market simulator apps, e.g. the official Nasdaq website offers such a simulator, some on Google Apps, etc. Buy books in retail (not everything is in the libraries) - 30$ won't make you broke! Support authors, who have been writing about the issue for decades, who are field experts and academics, not wannabees!
Target the real, not the buzz
Tactical books on marketing don't cost 2000$, they cost 20>75$ on Amazon. Invest in real producers, companies, people, who make goods, services, art, not specifically targeted for vulnerable people only, but for everyone. Think of Coca-Cola, do they target only poor? Dell, IBM? Production-based approach will help the real economy: real writers, real bankers, real cooks and teachers - not the impostors.