For some reason, I do get them. More then once in a while.
Just a few days ago, it was one of those offers to earn 2k$ in Bitcoin within an hour. The only requirement to enter this program is to pay 200$. Before I responded to this message, the person who shared this with me, received another message mentioning something like 400$ to get alerts. They may have something to offer, who knows: But for the mass, this is a scam, period!
Sometimes these offers are more believable. Like selling energy and phone subscriptions for which a starter package is required, costing a few 100$. Over time, I checked a few of those offers. All of them using the pyramid game. Added to that: The participant has to sell prepared packages which are more expensive than when getting the same product or service from the vendor directly. Those offering these programs, literally talk about selling to friends and family.
Either one is able to screw people over and over all the time, or it's gonna be an investment wasted.
This morning I was triggered by some guy with a video on LBRY (video). He talked about 'Swipe Files'. No clue what Swipe Files are about, nothing planned for the day other than cooking some quality meals, I decided to dig into the (supposedly) master of Swipe Files 'John Crestani'.
This guy offers free training! Time for some research...
screenshot: promo video by John Crestani
Took a bit of time before this guy mentioned Swipe Files. It seems to be a set of proven advertisements to be used for affiliate marketing. But first things first!
The first hour of the video was kinda ok. This guy, John, was explaining how he was struggling to make an online business when he was 18/19 years old. After trying all sort of activities, he discovered affiliate marketing when he was 20 years of age. Since then he started making money. Mostly he was explaining what affiliate marketing is. Explaining the concept of people, place and product. Social media platforms to be used (Facebook, YouTube and all). However, he was not giving anything tangible. None of the information he is giving in his video can be used to start the business of affiliate marketing with any success. Obviously, he was building up to sell something to the viewers.
An hour it took before he dropped his 'product'.
A 5k$ worth package...
screenshot: promo video by John Crestani
...now for a measly 997$.
screenshot: promo video by John Crestani
No indication how much time left for the end of the video, I let it run in the background. Now 2,5 hours later from the start of the session, the video finally ended. This guy talked 1,5 hours just to try to get the viewers converted, ie buying the package. He used all the known tricks. But at the same time, he became sloppy in his content. A limited number of new signups, fluctuating between 17, 20 and 30 in maximum numbers depending on where in the video. Multiple times, limited time offers for the next XYZ minutes. Extended time offers. Additional bonuses increasing the value of the package. Testimonials: Lots of testimonials! From Facebook message all the way to videos of those who made lots and lots of money using the program of master Crestani.
Hear Hear!
While the video progresses, more and more bonuses added to the package, increasing the package value every single time.
screenshot: promo video by John Crestani
Next one...
screenshot: promo video by John Crestani
And then another one: Bonus number 5...
screenshot: promo video by John Crestani
The viewer is simply stupid not to spend the little money the packing costs. 1k$ for a package worth around 20k$ of free money! The ability to earn as much as a starting value of 2,5k$ per week? All of this for 4 hours work week only? An offer you can't refuse!
He himself made over 20M$ using his own program. Maybe he did. Or, maybe he simply earned all that money from all those giving him 1k$ to participate in the program. 20k ignorant people are required, only.
I must say: This guy is good! A great sales guy! Not one of those slick ones. He comes across very knowledgeable, especially to those not familiar with marketing and business terminology. In the first hour, he gives information about how this whole affiliate marketing works. He shows a few websites he uses. Very believable. But when you are a bit familiar with affiliate marketing, it is clear this guy didn't give any solid information at all. It's just a cleaver sounding information session, without any substance. I suppose good enough for those who stay till the end of the video; Who may actually buy his package.
screenshot: promo video by John Crestani
Again, I realised how good these people are. The way he builds up his show will trick people into believing him for sure. And of all those people who start believing him while the session progresses, for sure some will hit the subscribe button and pay him the requested 997$.
With just a tiny bit of research, one can easily conclude this guy is a likely a scam artist. The URL with the offer presented as a limited time offer, continuous to be available, also after his show. When opening the same page in another tab of the web browser, it starts the countdown of 45 minutes again. The website doesn't even recognise the other open session I had in my browser. But I suppose, those who actually believe this guy can make them rich, whilst not spending too much time, will not research, but just click the buy button.
I'm pretty sure people do make money with affiliate marketing. Some may even make so much money most of us can only dream about. But I'm also pretty sure, way more people out there spending good money for nothing!
Whenever I'm approached by someone asking me if some 'scam' program is an honest one, I ask myself the same question. A question, I like to ask you (the LEO and HIVE community) as well:
To be honest: I don't have an answer, other than adding warnings to such messages whenever they are discovered (as a result of research: manual or by AI), or blunt out applying censorship (which I'm not in favour of). I do know, when nothing is done against these type of scam artists, it'll continue to create a lot of victims. I even suspect an increasing amount of victims over time, since we will see income from jobs reduced, the number of jobs reduced, while the urge of earning online increased the more we progress into the future.
all images by edje unless stated otherwise
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