We all know that when it comes to the internet, you have to tread lightly. You can't always take things at face value. It seems like everywhere you turn, there are people out there in the world asking for your money. If you aren't wise to the word, you just might find yourself giving these people your money, unsuspecting in the beginning that you just been took.
Sucker!
I know that I for one get emails all the time from these people, telling me of a sad story of bereavement, inheritance, or announcing that I have half a million dollars just waiting for me in some foreign bank account from some lottery I just won when I never even bought a lottery ticket in the first place. All I have to do is send them a few thousand dollars to cover the taxes and fees and within thirty days, I'm wiping my bum with hundred dollar bills.
Peanut butter jelly time!
Then reality hits you like an over-sized muscular green monster on steroids with an attitude. Hulk mad! Instead of being half a million dollars richer, you're just a few thousand dollars poorer. The next thing you know, you're eating dinner over at grandma's house for a while. "What's for dinner, grandma?"
"Little Friskey's tuna delight."
"But, you don't own a cat."
I've seen this a thousand times. The next thing you know you're catching lice from a friendly game of "duck, duck, goose". Well, we're not falling for it! Are we? .... Are we?
Actually, some people do fall for it. I mean, it's just too good to be true! Well, word up. If it's too good to be true then .... you know the rest of it.
Recently, a friend of mine was approached on Twitter by a website called EasyLifeStyles.org. Now, I'm not going to accuse this site of being a scam, but they sure do look fishy. I'll tell you why, but first, let's take a look at the conversation. It starts out innocent enough, but wait until we get to the punchline.
At this point, my friend was really into it. I mean, who wouldn't? Getting paid to write? What a way to go! However, she came to me asking if I would look into these people and see if they are legit. So I did. Everything was looking okay at first. They sure do know how to reel them in. But after I signed up to learn more, I saw the bottom line. The way they present themselves and the "catch" at the end was a dead give-away to me that this might not be all that it seems.
My friend gave me her sign-in info and password for her Twitter account so I could follow the conversation. And click the link they supplied her. Once I saw the red flags, I had to bust her balloon. "I'm sorry sweetheart, but I think it's scam." And with that revelation, I responded to them on her twitter account with the last line in the next screenshot.
Okay, so you may be asking, "What did you learn, Carroll?" - very good question. Gee whiz, you people are so smart. Well, here is what I learned when I clicked on their link. This website is hiring people with absolutely NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED! To write. Yes, you heard me, anyone can earn a living (Up to 27,000 dollars a year!) to write reviews for blog posts, restaurants, short stories and or write reviews for books, and so much more.
Take a look.
Excited yet? Well, you should be ..... NOT!
After clicking on their link and then clicking on their "get started" link, I was sent to this page.
Oh, it's so ..... colorful. And look at the lovely lady. She's dressed for success ... and smiling!
As you can read for yourself, they have more writing jobs than what they can fill.
They're hiring!
You also get to see this after you submit your name and email to them.
Make tons of money! OMG! Braingasm!
Money, money, money .... monnnn-ey!
So far, I am creaming my jeans just thinking about all the money I am going to make. The hotrod car I will be driving and all Swedish girls that will be living with me in my newly, custom-built mansion. You with me so far? Good!
So, hey, hire me, hire me!
Then I get to the bottom of the page.
Suddenly, I feel a strange blunt object penetrating my rectal area.
Before they will "hire" me, I have to pay them a fee with a credit card.
Yes, I have to pay "THEM" a fee.
$68.00 dollars to be exact.
If I submit the secret code that they give me, I can get a 50% discount.
A 50% percent discount? Just to get a job? Count me in!
NOT!
Don't believe me? See for yourself.
A fool and his money soon go their separate ways.
Like I said earlier, I'm not sure if this really is a scam, but it's not looking so good from where I sit. I don't know of too many jobs where I have to dish out some money in order to get hired. I thought the purpose of employment was to make money, not spend it to get the job. Hey, I understand the economy is bad right now, but who in their right mind is going to fork over $68.00 bucks for a chance to earn more?
There's no guarantee in life.
And there is no guarantee that this job offer to write for a living with this website is legit. But am I going to take that chance? ... I don't think so.
However, the manner in which they present themselves, and tell you all about the money you can make gets the reader excited. They go through this whole shamille to lure you in and then they hit you with a "membership" fee at the very end. This is how most scams work. They know you're going to be excited and while you're all juiced up, they know that many people will not hesitate to send them their money in the hopes of getting a writing gig. From what I have learned through the years, legit companies would never ask you for a fee of any kind. So just be on your guard.
However, the manner in which they present themselves, and tell you all about the money you can make gets the reader excited. They go through this whole shamille to lure you in and then they hit you with a "membership" fee at the very end. This is how most scams work. They know you're going to be excited and while you're all juiced up, they know that many people will not hesitate to send them their money in the hopes of getting a writing gig. From what I have learned through the years, legit companies would never ask you for a fee of any kind. So just be on your guard.
If anyone out there is familiar with this company, please let us all know if this is for real. As for my friend, she's no longer interested. It's a "proceed at your own risk" kind of deal.
You can check them out on Facebook, so I did, and this is what I found.
Nobody seems to be following them, yet on their website they show almost 500 Facebook Followers. Something just isn't adding up here.
Again, I'm not saying that EasyLifeStyles.org is an actual scam, but I ask you, how bad do you want to find out?
If you're approached by them on Twitter like my friend was, just know that a little commonsense can go a long way to keeping your hard earned money in your wallet. (Or purse) It's okay to get a little excited, but try and keep your composure and do your research. If you're still not sure, contact me and I will see what I can do to help. You fine folks aren't just a bunch of readers to me, you're my friends. I'll be more than happy to do whatever I can.
Meanwhile, if it sounds too good to be true .......
I'm Carroll Bryant .... and this is The Looking Glass.
Things We Learned Today:
* Not everything is what it appears to be
These people contacted me on twitter and I had to find out if they were for real. I've had my share of "exciting opportunities" (such as selling things door to door) so I didn't want to be scammed. Your article was the best. Thanks
ReplyDeleteAt least you did your research first, most people don't even do that Karin. I'm just glad you found this article and I hope you share it with your friends to help get the word out. In this economy, every dollar counts. For many folks, 68 dollars is the difference between eating real food or eating Ramen Noodles.
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