Good Idea Or Major Scam?
Hello!
I just received a private message from a member of this site, asking me to sign up for a "Major Bird-Dogging Opportunity".
The message included a link to the website of a company called "DELETE"
This company website states that someone can sign up (for free) to be on their national bird-dog list and for every property the bird-dog refers to the company, the company will pay a commision to the bird-dog equal to 1% of sale price of property, if an investor within the company buys the property, with a minimum payment of $1000 and a maximum of $25000.
Then, the message on the website goes on to say that for every person you (bird-dog) recruit to sign up with the company, you also get a 1% commision for any property THEY refer to the company. So basically, you get a 1% commision on your referrals (1st tier) and your recruits' referals (2nd tier) if the company ends up puchasing the property.
A "recruiter" sent the private message to me, hoping that I would sign up as his 2nd tier.
I am wondering if anyone knows anything about this company? Is it legit or is it a scam? Sounds like a good deal, as long as it hasn't been proven to be a scam previously.
Anyone heard of them --- "DELETE"
Thanks so much!
Shannon[ Edited by JohnLocke on Date 05/29/2004 ]
Shannon,
Glad to meet you.
If the person who spammed you knowing full well that it is against the policies of this web site, then be assured it is a scam.
Reputable members of this site don't have to stoop to underhanded unscrupulous methods. They share their knowledge with others in thiscommunity.
If you PM me with the members nickname who did this, I will look into see how much they can be fined, along with being banned from this site.
John $Cash$ Locke
TCI Moderator
Aproach with caution.
I went to their site and looked over their program just now, and from what I can see they pluck a lot of figures from the sky with mixed calculations.
Example: "OK, the law of 80/20 says that only 20% of them are going to follow through and bring in deals. 20% of 1,000 is 200. Only 20% or less of their deals will be accepted, that is about 40 deals from which you would make a minimum of $1,000 each!!!"
-That is to say that you have 1,000 people under you. It is also saying that 20% will follow through when we know that it's probably more like 5%.
Example 2: "While you are sleeping or playing, your affiliates are reading ads, calling sellers, writing post cards, advertising, placing flyers day and night to find deals."
-If everyone has the same idea of sleeping and playing while others work, who's working?
Another thing to be leary about is the fact that they can "fire you" at any given time. What's to say that you refer 10 props, they buy 2 but pay you for 0 because they "fire you" right before they buy them.
The last thing I would worry about is the fact that there is 0 cost to start. Is there a fee that you pay after you find a property, but before they can pay you? Or is it free, and they will sell your name to every spam e-mail they can?
Asside from these cautions, my only advice is look them up with the BBB(if they are so big and rich anyway) and proceed with 1 deal with them (It is free to join, nothing visibly at stake). And see how it goes. Also ask the recruiter who talked to you for their experience (ask them for refrences if you don't believe them).
ibohero.
Glad to meet you and good post.
To ad to what you posted, if they have unlimited funds, they should spend some money on producing a web site that doesn't look like it was a 3rd grade project for an elementary school.
Maybe "millionaireinthemaking" would care to comment on this.
John $Cash$ Locke
PS: Nevermind I see he is in Jail.[ Edited by JohnLocke on Date 05/29/2004 ]
OK now I feel REALLY dumb. I received a PM as well, and responded to it. The only reason I did not question it IS because it came through this site, and I do trust this site. I did however kinda question the quality of the website. I put one together in an hour (better quality) and put a link to their site (which I will be unlinking) before I get "Fired"
Thanks guys
ojedra,
Thank you for relating this. This should be lesson for others also.
I do not know of any private message sent to any member that are sponsored by TCI.
If you receive a private message that you are in doubt about, let a Moderator know. If you want to keep it confidential then use the Moderators private message mail to do so.
John $Cash$ Locke
Hi all, I too got a message from this group in email rather than this site. O took it for sounding good, bur also to much like an MLM scam, so I promptly ignored and deleted it.
As one of the other members stated their appreciation for this site, I do as well.
Happy Memorial day to all!
It is good there are so many astute people here. Greed blinds even the wisest people and that is there selling point. Get Rich DOing NOthing....
[addsig]
I got the same SPAM and just disregarded it without even looking at their site. Thanks to John for the good monitoring job he does on these forums. I'd rather spend my time talking to owners and making deals than recruiting people. Just one man's opinion.
Dave
[addsig]
TCI Members
I just received this private message the poster shall remain anonymous, however this is what can happen.
$$$
Good Idea or Major Scam! I may have been suckered!!
Hello John I was just going over some of the post and ran into this post.
To make a long story short I recieved this same proposition about three weeks ago both through my private e-mail and e-mail. I did sign on thinking what will it hurt. but ever since then I have had my personal computer off line while in the moving process and my phone was just turned on yesterday.
But now I have a lot of funky e-mails from this web site and others??? I don't know if my computer or info has been compromised?? What can I do other than sending this unit to the shop. I like this site it is great. Can you get back to me. I also have been having other issues since???
$$$
Of course I will help this member, my point here is if this has been going on for awhile, when anyone first received the spam private message if it was reported it could have saved alot of problems for others.
Let's put these spammers and board hustlers on notice, that the members here are not going to put up with them, we are here to learn and share with one another through our posts.
John $Cash$ Locke