PART THREE: THE FIRST SCAM

After an hour of climbing, Robin's path led him to a crystal-clear

stream cascading down from the heights above. The trail had vanished,

leaving him to follow the water upward over smooth stones and through

patches of mountain grass. He paused to splash cold water on his face,

and his reflection stared back at him from a still pool.

Know thyself, the archway had said.

Robin looked at his reflection and forced himself to think honestly

about the past six weeks.

THE FIRST SCAM

It had started on Craigslist. He'd found a "free business opportunity"—no

money required to join. It seemed perfect. He'd created his account,

copied his affiliate link, and posted it in the "business opportunities" section.

Within an hour, he had a response. A subscriber.

Someone named Jennifer. Robin remembered the excitement surging

through him. It's working already! He called Jennifer immediately,

eager to welcome his first potential customer. She'd been friendly, asking

questions about his business. But then, smoothly, she'd shifted the conversation.

"That sounds interesting," Jennifer had said. "But can I tell you about

something that's working really well for me? I was able to quit my

job in just three months..." Robin had listened. Jennifer's opportunity

sounded better than his. More profitable. Faster results. And she was

offering to be his personal mentor for just a $250 enrollment fee.

Why not? Robin had thought. She's already successful.

She can show me the ropes.

He'd paid the $250 that same day.

Now, standing by the mountain stream, Robin shook his

head at his own naivety.

Jennifer's "mentorship" had consisted of exactly two things:

"Follow the training manual."

"Post your link everywhere."

For two solid weeks, Robin had worked twelve-hour days.

He'd set up his pages, created his accounts, and plastered his affiliate

link across every free advertising site he could find.

Results: Zero sales. Zero sign-ups. Zero dollars.

When he'd called Jennifer for help, she'd essentially repeated the

training manual. When that didn't work, she stopped responding to

his messages altogether. She was never interested in helping me,

Robin realized. She just wanted my $250.

PRACTICAL TAKEAWAY:

The "Jennifer Trap"

~Scam: The Fake Mentor

This is one of the oldest scams in internet marketing.

Here's how it works:

Scammer joins YOUR opportunity (or appears to)

Scammer contacts you, pretending to be interested

Scammer pivots: "I'm in something better—join me!"

You pay to join their program

You get minimal or no support

Scammer moves on to the next victim

How to Spot It:

They usually contact YOU first

but it can work the other way around too!

They quickly switch from your opportunity to theirs

Their "success story" sounds too good (quit their job in weeks/months)

They charge you for "mentorship" or upgraded training

Once you pay, communication drops off

~Insight #1 Preview: Due Diligence

Before trusting anyone online:

Google their name + "scam" or "review"

Ask for proof of their success (screenshots can be faked, but ask anyway)

Check if they're active in legitimate marketing communities

See if they'll answer specific questions (scammers use vague generalities)

Trust your gut—if it feels pushy or too good to be true, walk away

The Real Lesson:

Jennifer wasn't the problem. Robin's desperation and lack of

knowledge were. When you don't know what you're doing, you're vulnerable

to anyone who sounds confident.

Discussion:

Have you ever been "Jennifer'd"? Most of us have. The question is:

What did you learn from it?

You can find our top recommended business HERE

You can find other recommendations HERE

Go to The 16 Steps of Success Contents HERE

Connect with your sponsor or Albie below:

Albie Derbyshire, 626-379-5692