What's The Biggest Con Job You've Run Into In Your Years Of Marketing?

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Please, no names, because we don't want to get this thread deleted, but
what were the biggest con jobs you've run into in your years of marketing?

The reason I am asking is because by sharing the con (without naming the
company) we can alert other marketers to what to look out for as well as
what NOT to do to other people.

The worst I ever ran into went like this.

1. Email sent to you saying that John Doe just joined under your downline
and you now have $X in your account.

2. More emails then sent by the dozens with different people now all under
you. Your $X is now quite large. Mind you, you don't ever remember
signing up with this program.

3. An email comes saying that in order to receive these commissions you
have to pay your membership now.

4. Seeing all this money you're getting, you pay your membership fee.

5. You contact the company to find out when you're getting paid.

6. You are told that you won't be receiving THOSE commissions but only
commissions that come in AFTER the time you made your payment.

In other words, they flat out lied to you.

I asked for a refund, was refused and finally went through my credit card
company saying I was defrauded. I sent all the emails and everything else
to them. I eventually got my money back.

This company is no longer in business...surprise, surprise.

Okay, your turn. Hopefully, we'll get a great list of things not to do when
you run a business.
#biggest #con #job #marketing #run #years
  • Profile picture of the author Sean A McAlister
    The biggest con I ran into was a Warrior who tried to offer coaching
    at a price tag of $25 k.

    When I called him out on a few things he became almost hostile
    and I could not believe the things he was saying to me. No doubt
    he was a con. Even if his services would have been worth it
    anyone who conducts themselves in the manner this guy did
    should be in jail....seriously.....boarderline psycho.


    Needless to say....I do not see him in these parts anymore.

    So....be careful, follow your gut and remember the old saying....

    Looks like a duck, quacks like a duck...it's probably a duck
    (haha...may have got that wrong but you get the point)


    Highest Regards,
    Sean
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    • Profile picture of the author affilcrazy
      I promise i won't mention any names Steven...but many may have come across this in their time!

      A few years back now, i was an affiliate for a company. The basis of their sales copy was that you could join for free and earn affiliate commissions for people who sign up as your downline and you were also told that you would be provided with your own website and would receive between $2 - $5 per sign up and also a bonus $75 sign up fee.

      Once you signed up, in order to receive your affiliate link, you then had to pay for hosting for your website!!! Which turned out to be $75 (at the time).

      Now although this method of affiliate marketing taught me a lot and i actually did make some money...it turns out that the company was actually based in New Zealand, so all monetary figures quoted were New Zealand Dollars, which at the time was much lower than the USD. Also the Hosting had to be paid for in USD, so you lost out there...and in order to receive your $75 (NZD) sign-up fee, you had to make a minimum number of sales and the program also paid commissions 2 months in arrears. So sales made in January, would eventually be paid in March! The only method of payment was cheque and i came across numerous reports of cheques missing, being delayed or having the incorrect payee name. I wonder how many people joined, paid for hosting, tried it for a month and then gave up!!

      Now, i did make money from this (a few hundred dollars - NZ of course!) and i spoke with others who were quoting figures in excess of $7000 a month (no proof provided), but just the fact that certain Terms and Conditions were not mentioned until you had purchased hosting from the company, makes this a con in my book!
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      "There is no fixed teaching. All I can provide is an appropriate medicine for a particular ailment" - Bruce Lee, Tao of Jeet Kune Do (on Zen)
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      • Profile picture of the author Tom B
        Banned
        This is a pretty negative post Steve.
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        • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
          Originally Posted by Thomas Belknap View Post

          This is a pretty negative post Steve.
          Thomas, the world isn't all peaches and cream, sugar and spice and
          everything nice.

          There is crap out there that people need to be aware of, not only for their
          own safety but so that they don't pull the same kind of crap on others.

          I've seen reputations totally trashed with some of the stuff that's gone
          down. As I said, this company (and it was a big one at the time) is now
          gone, probably because of crap like this.

          Negative?

          Maybe...but important just the same.
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  • Profile picture of the author Zeus66
    I have one on the flip side (customer running a con job). A few years ago I ran a broadcast email service and had a big fish on the West Coast as a client. They ordered and paid on time several times in a row. Then they placed a large order... very large. And after the work was done and broadcasts sent, they disappeared on me. Phone dead, email bounced, nothing. I was out a 5-digit paycheck. After the anger subsided, I had to grudgingly admire their operation. They ordered small stuff to test the service and gauge their conversions. They built a level of trust with me such that I was willing to take payment after the work was done, because they had paid promptly each time before.

    It gets better.

    Eventually I tracked down the main guy and got in touch with him. Know what he had the gall to tell me? That they'd pay me, but only if I'd do another similar broadcast so they could makes sales and have the money on hand to pay me. I kid you not. Needless to say, that didn't happen and I never did get paid. I toyed with going after them, but the legal fees and headaches decided against it. Live and learn.

    John
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  • Profile picture of the author Melkor
    Hands down the CPA rebill scams for "free trials" - don't know how the crooks promoting that crap live with themselves.
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  • Profile picture of the author Clark
    Subprime mortgages
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