Infoscams
In this article I am going to talk about those infomercials that
are obvious scams. Which ones are they? They are the ones
promising you, that by following their system you will make
thousands part- time and tens of thousands full-time. Or, they
invite you to come to a free seminar where they can tell you
about their secret money making system. Let's first look at the
ones that offer a money making system, they go something like
this.
For only 39.99 you will get the following materials:
- Our get started now booklet
- Our making money
with our system workbook
- Our where to find the money
making deals guide
- Our two CDs or video tapes showing
you step by step how to make big money using our system
And as a free bonus you get - Our top ten secrets
to making really big money using our system
- All the
forms needed to start making money now.
This is a
$150.00 dollar value yours for only 39.99 if you order now blah
blah blah.
These commercials are so full of baloney. Yet thousands of
people fall victim to them everyday. In exposing their obvious
scam lets first look at the math.
They offer all this nicely printed material, plus pay to run a
thirty minute professionally produced commercial on television.
And yet, they can afford to sell you a product for $39.99 and
make a profit. Well, what a lot of people don't know is that
they don't make a profit, or much of one. That is to say they
don't make a profit on the $39.99 sale. This is known as a front
end sale. Just something to bait you in, the back end sale is
where they will cash in.
You see, when you order this material it is designed not to give
you any real information. Basically, what you have purchased is
cleverly written sales material. It will either be worthless,
just more hype, or it will be too confusing to understand.
Magically, in a couple of days one of the companies' salespeople
will start calling you, offering all sorts of upgrades. They
will disguise this sale cleverly by innocently inquiring how you
are doing with the product. Since what you purchased is garbage
to begin with, of course you will not be doing well with it.
This is the point where the salesperson cons you into
subscribing to their one on one service, or purchase their
upgraded material. They will go on to tell you that the people
who have made the really big money, invested into these upgrade
programs. Notice that I used the word invested, and not
purchased. That is because it is the term they will use on you.
It's not a purchase you are making but an investment, wouldn't
make sense to invest a few hundred dollars to make thousands. Of
course it would, and that is why most people sucker into this
sale. This is known as the back end sale, and this is where
these companies make the big money. These upgrades and one on
one training courses cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars,
and people pay it. What do they get for their money? Well
according to what I have read from these people, absolutely
nothing. It's a very costly mistake.
What about the idea itself, won't it make money? Well the answer
is no, and here is why. If you had come up with some sort of
marketing idea that ended up making you very wealthy, would you
honestly share it with anyone? Not only share it, but create a
thirty minute television production, and advertise it many times
a day on various networks. Do you have any idea how much that
costs and the time it takes? Why bother doing all that work, and
spending all that money, to tell someone else about a system
that makes you thousands part-time. The answer is you wouldn't,
unless of course the only system you have is one where you
produce infomercials that scam people out of there money.
Another consideration is this, if what they had was a legitimate
money making system, and everybody started doing it. The market
would eventually become flooded and the system would no longer
be any good. In fact one of these infomercial superstars did
make money with his system, until everyone else got into the
game. Now he makes money scamming others out of theirs.
What about all the people testifying about the big money they
made? They are most likely paid actors, notice nobody gives a
phone number to call, or an address to write. And what about
those big check stubs they have in their possession. Well I can
print those up on my computer too, doesn't mean I have the
money. Also, ever notice how the check stubs are all the same? I
guess everyone has the same bank.
What about the infomercials that invite you a free workshop? You
are invited to attend their free workshop where you will learn
how to make money with their system. Ok, once again let's do the
math. Somebody, with a money making system that has made them
lots of money; are going to advertise for thirty minutes on
various television networks, then rent out a banquet room at a
major hotel that can seat over 100, purchase various printed
material for the guests to read and take notes on, put on a four
hour workshop, all for free. Yea right, once again front end,
back end sales. You see the front end is the free money making
workshop which, attracts the suckers. Now they have a target
audience, a bunch of people who are going to sit down and
attentively watch a four hour commercial. This commercial called
"the workshop" will be very entertaining, and very well
orchestrated at selling. By the time most of these people leave
the free workshop they will be handing over there hard earned
money purchasing all sorts of kits, which will teach them this
remarkable money making system. And these kits will not be just
twenty or so dollars; oh no, they will be hundreds dollars. This
is once again the back end sale where these people make their
money. They spend it up front to get you into the door and
before you know it they got you purchasing their products for
hundreds of dollars.
What about the people who testify how great the workshops are
when they are leaving the banquet room, like shown on the
commercial. Well they are either paid actors, or suckers who
just parted with a few hundred dollars of there money and
actually think they have something of value. If it was that easy
everyone would be doing it and the market would be so saturated
that nobody would make a dime.
When you come across one of these infomercials, change the
channel before you get sucked into the scam. If you feel the
need to watch one take down the product they are selling and the
name of the person selling it. Then go to your favorite search
engine, enter their name, or product, and see what comes up. In
all the cases where I have done this I find all sorts of
information from people who have been suckered by this person or
product and how stupid they feel for every getting involved with
it. In some cases I have read where some of these infomercial
people have been imprisoned for various frauds. If you are
really concerned e mail me
about it. I will be happy to investigate it for you and post my
findings on my website. I already have listed numerous scams
both in my book "Crime Awareness 101," and on my scams
and more scams page located in my Members Area. Don't be
another sucker you work too hard for you money just to give it
to a scammer.