I don't know if it's just me, but there appears to have been a sharp upturn in a certain variety of "business" people using free webinars as hooks to promote expensive courses that will help you "become a millionaire!"
The hook isn't always that "you can be a millionaire" per say, but whether it be to make you successful, drive HUGE traffic to your site - or whatever - the premise is always the same; to make you rich. In the past, the most questionable "opportunities" were fairly easy to spot.
These haven't gone away. How many phishing emails have you received from scammers in the guise of a well-known company, even recently? How many ads do you still see where someone wants to help you get rich quick or get rich working from home. That rich foreign woman looking for a husband, that vanity press promising to sell a million copies of your book and that Nigerian prince offering you a cut of his fortune in exchange for your bank details, all have one thing in common. They are clear cut, obvious scams. Most of us have simply gotten really good at filtering them out - at least I hope most of us have. There can't be that many gullible people in the world, can there?
This brings us to the next stage. A number of components, including developments in technology, social networking and a shift in the population's social paradigm, have allowed "others" to come in on a whole other level. Most of the "opportunities" I've seen in the past six months have been presented by successful, well presented and seemingly knowledgeable young people. Some even offer value or hook you with information that is in fact useful. Once hooked, however, the next step is parting with your hard earned cash in exchange for something that is below par, or something you can get for free online with a bit of effort. Instead of "get rich quick" they say, "if you are looking to get rich quick, this is not for you because what I'm about to show you requires effort." The nature of both approaches is the same. They may look different, but both are designed to prompt the same psychological response and appeal to your desire for success, for a better life, for freedom. They don't promise the path will be fast, or even easy, but they still give the illusion that it will be easier than it is in reality. In other words, you can throw silver glitter on a turd, or you can throw gold glitter on a turd, but at the end of the day it's still a turd.
I don't need to name the proponents of these schemes. You've seen them on Facebook, YouTube, and various networks. You know who they are. I'm not saying that these people don't have anything of value to offer. But you need to ask yourself, "do I really need to spend all that money to get it?"
So, let's address the elephant in the room. Are these "opportunities" scams? Well, that depends on how you define the word scam. The Cambridge Dictionary defines a scam as, "an illegal plan for making money, especially one that involves tricking people."
The internet has created its own subset of complications in litigation when it comes to the real world vs the world wide web. Just think of all the tax scandals surrounding large online corporations. The same complications create confusion when it comes to what is, and is not, lawful. If we wanted to discuss the merits of an "illegal plan" here we'd end up writing a book, or a volume of books. But when all is said and done, just because something is lawful it doesn't mean it isn't awful. Just because something is legal, it doesn't mean it is moral or trustworthy. The internet casts an extra layer of gray over the world and everything in it.
Your definition of scam may be, "something that takes advantage of people and tricks them out of money."
Though, it is true many obvious scams fall under that umbrella, by the same logic the following would also be considered scams: get fit quick programs, bottled water, house mortgages, car insurance, paying for anything through installments, etc. In fact, it could be argued that many legitimate products and services are in fact scams, as many of these "trick" people out of their money. That's why online marketing is the huge machine that it is today. Advertising walks a hair-thin line through dark places where persuasion, coercion, and trickery converge.
Regardless of how you interpret the word scam, it is just that; an interpretation. But, none of this really matters. What DOES matter is that you recognize that you already have something to help you decide between opportunities and "opportunities". I call it your sixth sense. Some prefer to call it your BS sense. It's that tiny voice in the back of your head that yells, "it's too good to be true, don't do it!" Please, for the love of all that is good in the world, listen to that little voice. He/She knows what he/she is talking about. If something seems too good to be true, 99% of the time, it truly is. This really sucks when it comes to that 1%, which is easily overlooked as a result.
When I noticed this surge of new "opportunities" it made me wonder; if these successful people are so successful then why the hell do they want my money? I figured if they are as successful as they claim to be then my subscription is naught but peanuts. I found the answer in one of MJ DeMarco's books. These people make big bucks $$$ ka-ching. They obviously do well for themselves, so kudos to them. But, they also have a terrible relationship with money and live beyond their means. If you make 2 million dollars a year and you squander 3 million dollars on a lavish lifestyle, are you rich? Hell no, you have a million dollar deficit. In other words, you are poorer than most poor people. That makes you a serious financial liability. Even though that is an extreme example, it serves as a point. These proponents of the golden "opportunity" need more money, and who best to squeeze than the swathes of drooling sheeple sitting in front of their devices, glazy-eyed, with their hands extended and their wallets/purses wide open.
I'll admit, I watch these webinars from time to time, but I do so with no intention of buying into them. I find that some of these webinars contain little gems. Of course they do. Those gems are bait for their hooks. But, these webinars alone should set off alarms, especially the "live" webinars. Anyone with two brain cells to rub together can tell you when a webinar is not live, even one that is designed to appear live. I've got news for you. When someone says something is one thing but it turns out to be the opposite, that is called a LIE. So, when that same person sells you his amazing "opportunity" and makes all sorts of promises, why on earth would you believe he is telling the TRUTH? The mind boggles.
Sometimes the proponent comes from a credible background, but then they blow it by pushing one of these so-called opportunities. This is a real shame since a good standing is worth more than all the money in the world.
Do you want to know what makes the whole vulture-like "opportunity" culture particularly annoying? There are people out there offering AMAZING courses that are full of EXTREMELY valuable content and are worth so much more than their price. Mark Dawson's SPF 101 and Advertising For Authors courses are perfect examples. Unfortunately, as is always the case with human beings, all the good stuff gets buried under "one big pile of shit." Think Jeff Goldblum in that dinosaur movie. Maybe it's a blessing in disguise for those who are willing to dig deepest, but that's another subject for another day.
If you only take one thing away from this post, take this: When your BS sense is tingling, always – and I mean ALWAYS – run for the hills. Don't be a sheeple.
Sometimes our BS sense needs calibrating. These people are called "opportunity" or scam artists for a reason. They are always coming up with new and creative ways to hook you. How do you stay ahead of them? Keep educating yourself. Keep doing your research. Check out websites like avertscams.com. Check google. There are plenty of sites that offer great advice on spotting scams and "opportunities" alike. Learn from other people's experiences so you don't have to learn from your own. Learning through mistakes is the hard way. Why chose the hard way when you don't have to? If, for whatever reason, you do choose the hard way, make sure you only chose it once.
Or, you could let me teach you how to REALLY tell the difference between legitimate opportunities and scams disguised as opportunities.
I have 20 years of experience doing just that and have the success to show for it too. I live an incredible life, have an amazing family and own a business that is currently skyrocketing. Happiness comes from learning how to chose between what will make you happy and what will take your happiness away. Let me teach you my 5 secrets to happiness. But first... I'll need your credit card details.
Take care out there,
Killian
P.S. Bellow is an example of the difference between real success and what various opportunists promise.
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