We all want to succeed in life! We have dreams that are almost certainly shared by most. Watch out tho, on your quest to succeed, some fraudulent individuals have figured how they may exploit your weaknesses to their benefit.
The pitch!
“How would you like it if I told you that you can have fun, freedom, and fulfillment making money. In other words I have this secret that allows you to make a living doing what you do in your spare time but also being paid for it.
You will retire early with more than enough money to last you a lifetime. And you’ll have made this money effortlessly by just living and loving what you do everyday anyway.” They’d say.
Sounds good?
“Well, here’s what you have to do. Sign up for this program, service, product by paying a substantial, up-front sum of money to join. Then share this opportunity/secret with your friends, family and anyone you know. Then the company will pay you depending on the number of people that you enrolled into this success club.”
Reality;
Now if you happen not to have come up with this sophisticated plan and are receiving this pitch. You my friend are about to be a victim of a scam. And if you buy into the pitch. You have a 95%+ chance that you will loose your money and live the exact opposite type of life that was pitched to you.
Here are a few signs that you are about to be scammed.
- If it sounds too good to be true. It most certainly is not true.
- You are offered a chance to join a group, scheme, program or team where you need to recruit new members to make money.
- You are required to pay a big upfront subscription or membership fee to join.
- The scheme involves offering goods or services of little or doubtful value that serve only to promote the scheme, such as information sheets good ratings and the numerous countries of operation.
- The promoter makes claims like ‘this is not a pyramid scheme’ or ‘this is totally legal’.
- There’s pressure for you to join. “If you don’t join early, there may never be a next time.” Or “This is an opportunity you can’t afford to miss.” “Join us you will not regret it” “This is guaranteed income.”etc.
Uganda, like many mismanaged nations. Has a large unenlightened, ambitious overzealous, young and gullible population. This is scam-heaven for such get-rich-quick schemes. And the government lacks effective institutions to protect its people (more like sheeple).
Many people will come to you with such seductive money making deals from some company you’ve somehow never heard of, that are scams and even they themselves may never know that they are victims of a scam. The few I have had the misfortune of learning about from friends are; QNet, FOREVER, WORLD VENTURES.
These companies are pyramid schemes at the core disguised to sell, product/services that are of no value like Bio-discs, difficult to sell products, or some other poor quality or downright useless substance. The true purpose however is recruiting members to support the pyramid.
The enrolled members make a payment and join. In exchange, the organization promises its new members a share of the money taken from every additional member that they recruit (their down-line). The directors of the organization (top of the pyramid) also receive a share of these payments.
For the directors, (the only ones that pocket enough money) the scheme is potentially lucrative—whether or not they do any work, the organization’s membership has a strong incentive to continue recruiting and funneling money to the top of the pyramid where they are positioned.
The enrolled member has to recruit more members to earn, meanwhile the company solicits more money from its current members. Eventually, recruiting is no longer possible and the plurality of members are unable to profit from the scheme.
The sad part is, those that have joined are now trapped and they have to haggle and hassle their friends, family, and loved ones to join. Soon they’ll discover they can’t recover their investment as the guys at the top cheer them on and blame them for being lazy or not doing enough. If they don’t break through.
Truth is you can’t break through. It is mathematically impossible to break through if you are not anywhere near the top 3% of the top member of the pyramid.
Now you know! The best way to protect yourself is your critical thinking and skepticism.