NationStates Jolt Archive

Has anyone else been hearing these ads about these programs where you can make thousands (if not millions) on the internet, and everything you need to know is in a "free" CD/pamphlet/book etc? Ok, now who all thinks it's nothing more than a scam? I've been hearing about these programs, and using Google search engine, 9 out of the 10 programs I search apparently has links to Scam alerts all down the list.

Hell, even listening to the advertisement itself should tip you off that it's nothing more than a scam. I mean hello, a program that can make you thousands on the internet, and the guy who created the program is giving it away for free? Comon, how naive do you have to be? If someone actually did find a way to make thousands on the internet by virtually doing nothing, I doubt he would be giving away this secret. If it was me, I'd be selling it for a high price, or horde it all to myself. Why add competition?

Now I don't doubt that there are ways to make a living on the internet, like an internet based business. However, they require hard work, planning, and research. So, it's not as easy as these ads like to make it seem.

So, what are y'alls thought on these ads promising thousands of dollars on the internet and you basically have to do nothing?

If making money were that easy, everyone would be rich.

If making money were that easy, everyone would be rich.

Except for procrastinators, and the truly lazy.

If making money were that easy, everyone would be rich.

Making money is easy, if you can tap greed and sell it packaged as hope. Nigerian money scams have been doing that for years.

Wait, there are people who actually think those might not be a scam? Seriously? Because if so, I just want to let those people know that I happen to be a Nigerian princess who will give them a billion dollars if they just give me their name, address, bank account information, credit card number, and an advance of, oh, a couple hundred thousand dollars.

Wait, there are people who actually think those might not be a scam? Seriously? Because if so, I just want to let those people know that I happen to be a Nigerian princess who will give them a billion dollars if they just give me their name, address, bank account information, credit card number, and an advance of, oh, a couple hundred thousand dollars.

*bows and offers up contents of wallet*


*secretly wonders what a Nigerian princess wants with a penny, a 4 year old condom, a red cross card, and some lint*

*bows and offers up contents of wallet*


*secretly wonders what a Nigerian princess wants with a penny, a 4 year old condom, a red cross card, and some lint*

Hey, if MacGyver were here, he could probably take over the world for me with that collection. :p

Making money is easy, if you can tap greed and sell it packaged as hope. Nigerian money scams have been doing that for years.

So have political campaigns. BAM!

Has anyone else been hearing these ads about these programs where you can make thousands (if not millions) on the internet, and everything you need to know is in a "free" CD/pamphlet/book etc? Ok, now who all thinks it's nothing more than a scam? I've been hearing about these programs, and using Google search engine, 9 out of the 10 programs I search apparently has links to Scam alerts all down the list.

Hell, even listening to the advertisement itself should tip you off that it's nothing more than a scam. I mean hello, a program that can make you thousands on the internet, and the guy who created the program is giving it away for free? Comon, how naive do you have to be? If someone actually did find a way to make thousands on the internet by virtually doing nothing, I doubt he would be giving away this secret. If it was me, I'd be selling it for a high price, or horde it all to myself. Why add competition?

Now I don't doubt that there are ways to make a living on the internet, like an internet based business. However, they require hard work, planning, and research. So, it's not as easy as these ads like to make it seem.

Who exactly is it that you think you are educating?

*bows and offers up contents of wallet*


*secretly wonders what a Nigerian princess wants with a penny, a 4 year old condom, a red cross card, and some lint*

It was common practice of the Greeks to place a drachma under the deceased's tongue as fare for Charon I believe. Maybe this is a modern version. :p

So have political campaigns. BAM!

It worked for Obama.

So have political campaigns. BAM!

And people keep buying into it, so what does that tell us?

And people keep buying into it, so what does that tell us?

That anybody can have money if they can get people to give it to them.

Who exactly is it that you think you are educating?

*sigh* Ever thought that maybe I post things to spark an exchange of ideas?

You can't cheat an honest man.

Anyone who believes they can have money without giving something in return ... deserves to be cheated.

Making money is easy, if you can tap greed and sell it packaged as hope. Nigerian money scams have been doing that for years.

"Making money is easy, if you break the law" I think you mean.

Nah, you're right on this. Lotteries too, make money from irrational hope.

Anyone who believes they can have money without giving something in return ... deserves to be cheated.

Or is on welfare :p

You could probably make thousands on the internet selling kits for making thousands on the internet. :D

Wilgrove, you too can be rich!

Just send $2 to my address and I will send you my patented "Get Rich Quick" plan, raved about in the Wall Street Journal. Tell your friends about this little-known secret, and I'll even send you my book, "10 Ways to Make A Buck on Wall Street," free of charge! Just pay shipping, processing, and your soul.

>.>

*sigh* Ever thought that maybe I post things to spark an exchange of ideas?

No, actually I don't think you do. I'm pretty sure you post things that you think are clever, in an attempt to get us to thing "gee, look how clever Wilgrove is!"

Except the "clever" things you post have a tendency to fall on the spectrum of "intelligent things to say" somewhere between "fire hurts!" and "don't stick crayons up your nose!"

No, actually I don't think you do. I'm pretty sure you post things that you think are clever, in an attempt to get us to thing "gee, look how clever Wilgrove is!"

Except the "clever" things you post have a tendency to fall on the spectrum of "intelligent things to say" somewhere between "fire hurts!" and "don't stick crayons up your nose!"

Why not?

Why not?

you'll color your brain *nods*

Then your gray matter will be all yellow and fuchsia. How you gonna get any thinking done then, all gussied up like that, huh?

I suspect the ads will be telling on this thread.

Make money easily, no sweat, payback guaranteed, invest, quit your job,

Not that I'm helping.

you'll color your brain *nods*

Then your gray matter will be all yellow and fuchsia. How you gonna get any thinking done then, all gussied up like that, huh?

hmm....maybe the blue crayon is why I can't do math...

I can make $3 million per year doing nothing? This sounds legit.

hmm....maybe the blue crayon is why I can't do math...

and the red one is why I can't remember....um.....

....um..

and the red one is why I can't remember....um.....

....um..

Her name was Janet ;)

I can make $3 million per year doing nothing? This sounds legit.

We get some funny ads.

people who bite on get rich quick scheems, generally get what they deserve, which is usually fleeced. you want a get rich scheme that works, market get rich schemes. the old p.t.barnum quote applies.

personally i'd rather live in a world where people recognize where real gratification is to be found (creating and exploring) and where it isn't (excitement and trying to impress each other)

people who bite on get rich quick scheems, generally get what they deserve, which is usually fleeced. you want a get rich scheme that works, market get rich schemes. the old p.t.barnum quote applies.

"You can't cheat an honest man" was the name of a film written by W.C. Fields. His character of Larsen E. Whipsnade may have been based on Barnum.

I stand to be corrected. Barnum wasn't a huge one for writing things down :)

I actually make a significant portion of my income on the internet.

If everyone was rich then inflation would rise too and all would remain the same as now.

I have a new idea.

Buy my book! "How not to get scammed". All the tricks of the trade and how to avoid them revealed!

Never be scammed again!

I've been thinking of selling a "how to get rich" book; consisting of one page which merely reads "Sell people a how to get rich book".
It would have some novelty value, and would make a fun gag gift if it's not too expensive.

As I tell everyone in this type of thread, there are 6 ways to make money off the internet:
1. Porn
2. Porn
3. Scamming
4. Porn
5. Ebay reselling & ads (very uncommon)
6. Porn

I actually make a significant portion of my income on the internet.
Porn?

As I tell everyone in this type of thread, there are 6 ways to make money off the internet:
1. Porn
2. Porn
3. Scamming
4. Porn
5. Ebay reselling & ads (very uncommon)
6. PornYou forgot "begging for donations". It works for a number of webcartoonists whose comic I read. Although, for some of them, I suppose you could almost call it scamming, since they don't keep to their promised update schedule.

I'm wondering how those porn sites are making money.

First of all, there are zillion of porn sites.
Secondly, on the same internet you can find 'access to all areas' passwords for those porn sites for free.
Thirdly, we saw already everything: sex with grandparents, animal sex, sex with whales, sex with vegetables, big boobies... Why are people prepared to pay for another cum shot?

I like sex, but I'm not a fan of porn.

So, what are y'alls thought on these ads promising thousands of dollars on the internet and you basically have to do nothing?

I just think it's nice that this thread was right on top of the "We use only 10% of our brains!" thread on the page list when I saw it first.

You forgot "begging for donations". It works for a number of webcartoonists whose comic I read. Although, for some of them, I suppose you could almost call it scamming, since they don't keep to their promised update schedule.
They obviously aren't making much money if they have to resort to begging. Besides, the only people that actually send them donations are nerdy guys who aren't allowed to use their parents credit cards for porn
I'm wondering how those porn sites are making money.

First of all, there are zillion of porn sites.
Supply/demand. There is alot of demand
Secondly, on the same internet you can find 'access to all areas' passwords for those porn sites for free.
People are stupid.
Thirdly, we saw already everything: sex with grandparents, animal sex, sex with whales, sex with vegetables, big boobies... Why are people prepared to pay for another cum shot?Novelty attracts. I'm sure if tomorrow you started the website www.lesbianshavenonconsensualsexwithsnakes.com you would be an instant millionaire!

Wait... why am I giving away business secrets?!?!?!
I like sex, but I'm not a fan of porn.
Porn is for people who don't get sex.
Sex is for people who can't afford porn or are too stupid to find it for free.

"You can't cheat an honest man" was the name of a film written by W.C. Fields. His character of Larsen E. Whipsnade may have been based on Barnum.

I stand to be corrected. Barnum wasn't a huge one for writing things down :)

I think the PT Barnum quote he was referring to was "There's a sucker born every minute."

"You can't cheat an honest man" was the name of a film written by W.C. Fields. His character of Larsen E. Whipsnade may have been based on Barnum.

I stand to be corrected. Barnum wasn't a huge one for writing things down :)

Actually not true, you can cheat a honest man by exploiting their generosity/altruism. Fake charity scams do this for example. You can also easily cheat honest but vulnerable people (see scams convincing old age pensioners to leave their money to some scam artist/sign away their house/sell their antiques for nothing).

Cheating honest people is more difficult though and much more reprehensible (IMHO) than exploiting someone's greed (and makes much worse TV)

It can be even worse.

In my country, companies are advertising artificial girls, with pictures and an artificial bio.

So men can send and chat via sms to these ‘girls’. I don’t have to mention it is costing tons of money.

These girls do not exist. The pictures are bought from American companies and the bio is just imagined.

The trick is, to keep the horny man waiting, for a real meet. They can play it for weeks and months. Sometimes they make a meeting, but do not appear, with an excuse ‘my child is sick or I had a car accident’.

There was a story in the news about a guy who tried out 6 such ‘girls’ to figure out it was fake.

Yep, there’s a loser born every minute.

*sigh* Ever thought that maybe I post things to spark an exchange of ideas?

*gives takes Wilgrove's ideas*
*gets confused*
*wanders off*

*gives takes Wilgrove's ideas*
*gets confused*
*wanders off*

*in Apu's voice* Thank you, come again

It can be even worse.

In my country, companies are advertising artificial girls, with pictures and an artificial bio.

So men can send and chat via sms to these ‘girls’. I don’t have to mention it is costing tons of money.

These girls do not exist. The pictures are bought from American companies and the bio is just imagined.

The trick is, to keep the horny man waiting, for a real meet. They can play it for weeks and months. Sometimes they make a meeting, but do not appear, with an excuse ‘my child is sick or I had a car accident’.

There was a story in the news about a guy who tried out 6 such ‘girls’ to figure out it was fake.

Yep, there’s a loser born every minute.

You live in Czech Republic?

You live in Czech Republic?

Nope. But I think they do it everywhere. You need such a 'girlfriend' ? :)

I think I saw a figure recently that email spammers only have a response rate of something like 1 for every 12 million emails they send. This struck me a slightly odd as it would imply that there are only five morons in the UK.

Nope. But I think they do it everywhere. You need such a 'girlfriend' ? :)

No, but there was a report on TV not much time ago on this kind of scam.

I think I saw a figure recently that email spammers only have a response rate of something like 1 for every 12 million emails they send. This struck me a slightly odd as it would imply that there are only five morons in the UK.

People have multiple e-mails...
But still the number you quoted isn't ringing right. Nigerian scam victims are counted by the thousands.

*doesn't read OP*
Wilgrove is in porn?

*doesn't read OP*
Wilgrove is in porn?

No No, not yet. We think he's trying to get in, though, and he's been gauging demand by telling us he posts in the nude every so often and waiting for reactions.

No No, not yet. We think he's trying to get in, though, and he's been gauging demand by telling us he posts in the nude every so often and waiting for reactions.
*fapfapfapfapfapfapfapfapfapfapfapfapfap*

People have multiple e-mails...
But still the number you quoted isn't ringing right. Nigerian scam victims are counted by the thousands.

Storm and similar botnets can spit out millions of emails a day. That's where the numbers add up from.

If you get five people a day every day in the UK, that's about 1500 a year.

Storm and similar botnets can spit out millions of emails a day. That's where the numbers add up from.

If you get five people a day every day in the UK, that's about 1500 a year.

You would think those five people would be broke by now or overdosed on fake viagra.

Here is the original story I was thinking of
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7719281.stm