Like many people I would benefit from some extra income.
As such I responded to an online ad somewhere and, an indeterminate amount of time later, received a message from 'Hazel' (names used are the ones given by the people I interacted with, but I have no way of knowing if the names given are real. So, the first time they are used they will be hyphenated) asking me if I was interested in an opportunity to partake in using TikTok to advertise something for Amazon.
I'll be honest, I envisaged Amazon sending me small products for which I would do an unboxing and usage video on TikTok. That the quality and value of the products would increase as my natural bonhomie, savoir faire, and wit made the TikTok vidoes massively viral was also right there in the background of my hopes.
'The first thing you need to do,' Hazel told me, 'is to open a SafePal account.'
That kinda threw me, but let's be honest, I'm not the person advertising for recruits so, what do I know?
Opening the account was easy. I even got given some native coin so I could do the things needed to get going. And, believe it or not, opening the account and moving some native coin about was sufficient to get me the session's pay, which was $30.
Day two was to be with 'Anna' and my guess was where I would be instructed in the use of TikTok to do things.
I'll be honest, this was worrying. I definitely have a face for radio and video was a little (massively) worrying. Beyond that I had avoided TikTok for reasons which some may view as 'tinfoilhat'.
Anna invited me to add her on Telegram, so that she could add me to the TikTok Working Group - a move in the right direction.
Our next step was teaching me to move money from SafePal to my bank account.
This raised a red flag.
However, the transaction was accomplished using Binance, two-factor-authentication, and no revelation of account details.
The money was removed and, then, returned. So far so good. I know how to take money out (the end goal, surely) and to put money in. These are good skills to have nailed down if I want to demonstrate how this e-wallet will be useful in shopping with Amazon.
Now it is time to teach me the TikTok part, yes?
'I will,' Anna tells me, 'introduce you to your next work. There will be four ways to make money.'
This is music to my ears. Moah Money equals Moah Good!
'The first way to make money, you know' Anna says, 'the more you deposit, the more you earn.'
This was a surprise. I've sought a job because I NEED money, not because I have money. However, I'm to be helping others get to grips with the e-wallet, so knowing the nerdy details is useful.
Next I'm sent a graphic which shows 'Weekly Wages' starting at $100 if I Promote 2 Users, up to $15,000 if I promote 100 Users.
'It is,' Anna says, 'also the core work. Promote SafePal Wallet to get people to join.'
Ann repeats what's in the graphic.
'I'm familiar with tiered marketing,' I send her.
She points out my own, personal, invitation link.
'The third way to make money. I sent it in your telegram, you can watch the video explanation in the telegram.'
While I'm downloading that anther graphic pings to me followed by, 'This is the fourth way to make money. The reward activities of SafePal wallet can be rewarded by depositing the corresponding amount by yourself or by the friend you introduced.'
At this point I've just watched the two minute or so video, and feel it is much the same as method two. So much so that I wonder if this was the wrong video and (well bless my heart) was there meant to be another video (like, one on using TikTok to advertise Amazon...).
no, not only is it the correct video, but it is highlighting how I make money from my 'subordinates' (oooooh, how red is THAT flag?).
Having completed all the training another $30 is deposited in my wallet.
I made the decision that tricking others into using an e-wallet wasn't my thing. I'm happy to have $60 I didn't have ten days ago, but something doesn't feel right and while I'm happy the precautions taken (and state of my bank account) mean I am protected, it's just t something I'm happy to promote.
This could be a great disservice to SafePal, but if it is then their folks need to address it.
Today Anna contacted me asking if I'd withdrawn my earnings today. As it's at $0.8, and must be over $1 before you can I advised her no, but that yesterday I'd moved $1.2 onto my account.
She suggested I deposited some funds.
'Anna,' I said, 'do you remember when I said I don't have available funds?' and then said as this wasn't what had been advertised, I'd done as much as I would be doing.
'You can promote SafePal wallet to get more people to join,' Anna said.
'I'm not happy to do so,' i replied.
Over a further few messages she continued to extol the fiscal benefits to me of getting other folks to use SafePal.
I may have got tired of the interaction because I said,'...the method of having me join was underhand, duplicitous, sneaky, sly, disingenuous, guileful, indirect, deceitful - I hope some of those are comprehensible to you.
As such I am not inclined to trust anything on an ongoing basis.
Sure, I see the 'interest' or 'profit' accrue to my account, but the lie told to have me join means there is no basis of trust for me to invite others to do the same.
It's possible you don't care, aren't worried, or don't comprehend my concerns, but I feel being honest is the only way to go here.
I'm not sure if Hazel deliberately lied or whether she was similarly lied to, either way, thanks for introducing me to SafePal - when the role of using TikTok to advertising Amazon users does become available, I'll probably still be interested. Until then, this isn't what was advertised.'
That seems to have closed the conversation.
To be clear I am up on the deal here, and am happy my details are secure.
But I also know that I can't see the real deal. The best case is the scheme is leveraging peoples money to mine the blockchain, and the benefit is being shared in opaque and inequitable ways.
The worst case is there'll be people convinced to part with money, only to see it disappear in ways which they will definitely not understand, and have no way of recovering.
Having been a stockbroker and financial advisor I know to not recommend putting all eggs in one basket, to spread risk, to not invest what can't be lost.