Wednesday, July 29, 2015

HUMOR: Suspect Credential Translator

A lot of scams misrepresent their "credentials" by inflating what they do, piling on euphemisms, and stretching the definition of the term to be something that's barely relevant.

MLMSkeptic has compiled the following terms and show you the real meaning behind the fancy terms.


They say: US based company!

Reality Says: I registered this online in Nevada (or Delaware) for $149 (or less)!


They say: Renowned Investment Group!

Reality says: I registered more than one companies online!


They say: International Conglomerate!

Reality says: I registered companies online in more than one country / continent!


They say: Decades of experience in the industry!

Reality says: I spent decades amounting to nothing (which is why I'm STILL at it!)


They say: Internet advertising platform!

Reality says: I know how to deploy a free banner rotation script!


They say: We have investments in biotech!

Reality says: I sell some nutritional supplements I got from some no-name factory in Asia!


They say: Experienced Internet entrepreneur!

Reality says:  I launched multiple failed schemes one after another!


They say: We have signed contract, making everybody a ton of money!

Reality says: A memorandum of understanding... i.e. "intent", not a contract, can be backed out at any time. 


They say: We have resort on _____!

Reality says:  We have a piece of rocky beach that nobody would bother build a resort on.


They say: We have a golf course!

Reality says: We have a CLOSED golf course we *want* to redevelop! 


Monday, July 27, 2015

Scam Tactics: Two-face... being very different things to different people

One of the most memorable villains to Batman is Two-face, formerly district attorney Harvey Dent. After a severe injury that left him scarred on half of his face, he developed full blown schizophrenia: two completely personalities depending on which side is talking to you.

And guess what company is acting like Two-Face? Herbalife. To lawmakers, it's presenting itself as a company that's changing lives, and it's FLYING IN members from across the country to show them off in Washington D.C. to, quote, "talk about the benefits of Herbalife's science-based nutrition products. Members will also be sharing their own experiences and the income-generating opportunities available to Herbalife members through hard-work and dedication", as per Herbalife's own press release.

Why are a bunch of distributors talking "science-based nutrition", not scientists and nutritionists?

Furthermore, why are these 12 members talking about "income-generating opportunities available to Herbalife members" when Herbalife itself stated that 73% of members did NOT join Herbalife for income as a primary reason? Are 9 of these 12 NOT going to talk about the opportunities, as Herbalife itself claimed?
Herbalife rebuttal slide, page 91, circa 2014
Of course not. Herbalife flew these 12 in because they are bright-eyed and bushy-tailed enthusiastic distributors (sheeple?) properly trained in Herbalife's alternate reality. They may be telling the truth as they know it, but it's not "the" truth, and they sure do NOT represent the rank and file as Herbalife want Congress to believe.

In the meanwhile, Herbalife is hiring as many high-level government people as it can, as well as lobbyists. But that's not the other face. The other face is the Herbalife convention in St. Louis.