MLM & Pyramid SCAMs...and how to avoid them!

Lies, Fakery, Greed and Tomfoolery

A collection of mailed SCAMs

Quotations from a (3 Red Flag rated, illegal) SCAM letter sent by: “Rhonda M. Fitzgerald”

Please remember, the quotations below are from the SCAM letter of “Rhonda M. Fitzgerald” _not_ by mailscamalert.com.

Red Flag  # 1  “Attorney at Law”

Multi-Level Marketing

“I DID NOT ORIGINATE THIS, BUT READ IT VERY CAFEFULLY, THEN READ IT AGAIN.


THIS IS THE FAST ONE


“WHILE YOU ARE WAITING FOR OTHER PROGRAMS TO WORK, You could have $30,000 in two weeks. The cost is about $30.00 and one hour of work, and NO MAILING LIST!

“Dear Friend,

“My name is Rhonda Fitzgerald, and I am an Attorney. A month ago I received this program in the mail. It is 100% legal and legit. I decided to try it once to see if it really worked as it claimed. To my astonishment I received over $30,000 in cash in 2 weeks. IT DOES WORK. It works every time. Here are the basics:

“HUGE PROFITS: You will receive at least $15,000 or more in cash in 2 weeks.

Red Flag  # 2  “EASIEST: It takes less than 1 hour and no personal contact with anyone. NO selling or buying anything.

“FASTEST: It pays you off COMPLETELY IN 2 WEEKS, not months as with with other programs.

“CHEAPEST: The cost is less than $30.00 total to participate. This includes EVERY SINGLE EXPENSE. NO MAILING LISTS TO BUY!!

“You are wondering how this is possible, right? This program is the best thing I have ever seen to get a lot of cash very quickly and legally. There are only 3 levels with this one, not 8 or 12 like the others. This allows you to receive all your money within 2 weeks, not months from now. Just in time for next month’s bills. This 3 level program is more realistic and much faster because it is so easy. The response rate is VERY HIGH AND VERY FAST. Red Flag  # 3  All you have to do is mail out 20 copies (or more) of this letter to people who sent you their programs in the mail and to the people on those lists[Emphasis added], because they are believers and this program is BETTER AND FASTER than theirs. Even if you are already in a different program, I would advise you to do this one. This program is so affordable and takes a very small investment and not hundreds of dollars. It will pay you before any other program begins to trickle in...give one person $20. You don’t have to send a bunch of people money, just one. Don’t be afraid to give money to a stranger, it will always return to you TENFOLD! That’s all there is to it. All you have to do after you send your letters and your $20 gift is to wait 2 weeks to get your gifts. You will receive gifts from over 1,000 people just like you who are willing to invest $20 in someone else and one hour of their time.

Please remember, the quotations above and below are from the SCAM letter of “Rhonda M. Fitzgerald” _not_ by mailscamalert.com.

“If everyone who receives this letter chose to participate, then EVERYONE would receive at least $120,000 in cash in 2 weeks. This is our goal, 100% participation. We are currently at 60%, which is $24,460 in 2 weeks to you. Can you honestly think of one reason why you shouldn’t join right now? It costs less than $30 to join, no further obligation and you receive thousands of $$$$ in just 2 weeks! Surely you can afford to donate $20 to one person in this country and to have thousands of others donate $20 to you. LET’S ALL HELP EACH OTHER AND OURSELVES DURING THESE HARD ECONOMIC TIMES.

“Many people have paid cash for new cars, homes, education, vacations or just to get out of debt with this program. You can participate weekly if you want, but make sure that you follow the rules EXACTLY honestly to keep it legal. VERY IMPORTANT, every time you participate you have to send a $20 gift to the name in the number one (1) position, otherwise it is not legal. You can use this letter over and over again, as much as you like.

“The following is a testimonial torn someone who profited with this program and was able to change her life. There are literally thousands of people that need help, but all who participate in this program will definitely profit

“Hello my name is Cathy O’Brien. I have participated in this program at least 20 times in the past year. We were badly in debt, with two children. We were paying our bills every month but couldn’t get ahead no matter how much we worked. I received this letter in the mail and decided it was worth $30 to see if it really worked. I never joined any other program before. They were just too expensive and time consuming and I couldn’t afford to spend over $100 on something that may or may not work I could however afford the $30 for this one, so I joined that very day. I sent $20 to the person in the #1 spot and spent $9.80 to copy and mail 20 letters. I waited two weeks and received $18,000. I paid some bills with that money. Then a month later my car motor blew up, and since my credit was already extended too far, I couldn’t get a loan to pay for another car. I choose[sic] to participate again at that time. Instead of sending out 20 letters, I called a mailing list company and got a list of MLM participants. I[sic] took me two days longer than just sending out 20 letters and it cost me $35 for the list, but I really needed a car. Two weeks after I sent out 300 letters, received over $150,000 in cash. If you are skeptical, that’s normal. I was too. Just remember in a couple of weeks, it will wash away any doubts you had to begin with. I guarantee it. Also remember that gifting to another American is a good thing to do. When you help out others, you help yourself because it will return to you thousands of times aver, and very quickly. It is worth your time and $30 to participate in this program. Do it and you will become a believer like the rest of us. GOOD LUCK!!!!~

Please remember, the quotations above and below are from the SCAM letter of “Rhonda M. Fitzgerald” _not_ by mailscamalert.com.

“Here’s how to participate:

Back to top
  1. “On a piece of paper print your name; address and the word “GIFT”. Fold around a $20 bill and send it to the person In the #1 position only, on the list below. This is the most important step because it makes the whole program legal. If you skip this step, then you are participating illegally and dishonestly.(NOTE: Addresses have been modified on the marginal chance that they were real!)
    “Position No. 1 CLARENCE SPUUR 10 Academy St.
    “Mount Angel, OR. 97362-9571
    “Position No. 2 LEONA A. TABUCANON 2231 Wabash Circle
    “Sparks, NV. 89434-8898
    “Position No. 3 TRENTON GRAHAM 18945 E. Colorado Dr.
    “Aurora, CO. 80017
  2. “Remove the #1 name on the above list and move the #2 name up one position. #2 becomes #1 and #3 becomes #2. And you will put your name and address in the #3 position (an easy way to do this is retype the name list and tape it over the old list before you make copies).
  3. “Make 20 or more copies of this letter. Place them in stamped envelopes and seal them. Address these letters to people on the list of other programs you have received or people you know who will participate. If you don’t have any names, you can get a list of 300 names and addresses from PROTECH COMMUNICATIONS and the phone number is 1-608-538-3737 or on the Internet at www.mlinlabels.com on the web. In a recent survey conducted by Vangaurd Publishing in Raleigh, North Carolina, PROTECH was listed as the #1 source (per test results). Proven responsive and recommended by the American Mailing Service and many ‘Heavy Hitters’ in MLM. You can also contact a list company of your own that you know will bring you results and success
  4. “Mail your letters RIGHT AWAY. That’s it. That’s all you have to do! Now, just wait 2 weeks and you will receive at least $15,000 CASH in the mail and it’s ALL YOURS!

Please remember, the quotations above and below are from the SCAM letter of “Rhonda M. Fitzgerald” _not_ by mailscamalert.com.

“On your entire investment of $30, you will receive $20 from thousands of people who want to participate. Your name will reach the number one position next week and it will be your turn to collect your gift. Ask yourself, do you have anything to lose? The answer is NO. Everyone can afford to participate, especially since the returns are so high and fast, and the cost is so low. So quit procrastinating and do it! DO IT NOW because you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. This program was designed for people like us, who aren’t willing to invest $100’s in this type of program. You don’t have to invest a lot of money to get a hugh return and this program is proof of that This program WILL HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOU FINANCIAL GOALS NO MATTER WHAT THEY ARE! It will amaze you how much money you will get from total strangers during this time of financial doom and gloom that are willing to invest in YOU! This program is more reliable than the stock market, casinos, lotteries or sweepstakes... you name it. Nothing is better or faster than this at getting the money you want or need in 2 weeks. Our return is so high because it is so easy and affordable. See for yourself, the most it will cost you is $30. That’s it. That’s all. If you don’t do it right now you never know. The sooner you join us, the sooner your financial worries will be a thing of the past. I hope I have said something to kick-start your financial freedom. I’m a hard-nosed attorney and I don’t believe in coddling people who don’t have the guts to help others

“GOOD LUCK!!

“Sincerely,

“Rhonda M. Fitzgerald

“Attorney At Law


“If you would like to know how I’m

“doing you can e-mail me or call me.

“hoseypower@sbcglobal.net

“661-123-4567”

Please remember, the quotations above are from the SCAM letter of “Rhonda M. Fitzgerald” _not_ by mailscamalert.com.

Red Flag  # 1  Ironic that a supposed “attorney” would discuss what is actually an illegal pyramid scheme. You don’t suppose that’s a deliberate attempt to fool you... While the letter claims this is a Multi-Level Marketing program, it’s true description is betrayed by the fact that there is nothing to “market!” And that’swhat makes it illegal. It is nothing more than a “chain letter”! click this lin to see what the USPS thinks of those. Here are a few links to other sites that dispute Ms. Fitzgerald’s claim that they are legal:

(return to # 1 Red Flag above)

Red Flag  # 2  A true Multi-Level Marketing program is NOT illegal. But they don’t rely on the exponential increase of “buyers” but the actual sale of a real product of some tangible value. Regardless of the warning to write the word “gift” on a pice of paper, any reputable, practicing attorney will know that that action will have absolutely no bearing on the fact that this is an illegal plan. It is no more than a pyramid scheme and that’s why it is illegal. (return to # 2 Red Flag above)

Red Flag  # 3  Please read the sentence that sent you to this location (just click the "return…" link below), then come back here.

Do you now understand why this is simply a chain letter? Did anyone buy anything? After all, buying something is what is envolved in “marketing” something. That lack of selling or marketing is what keeps this SCAM from being a multi-level-marketing scheme!

Here is a link to a very easy to understand video about pyramid schemes and how they are absolutely always going to fail, eventually. The Math Behind Pyramid Schemes If you’d like to see a more technical or mathematical explanation, try this link: The Math Behind Pyramid Schemes

Now let’s assume that only one of the 20 people who get your letters is concerned about the illegal SCAM from some stranger. How much money do you think your legal problems will cost you? That’s a serious consequence to consider! At least you may have the address of someone calling herself a “lawyer” who might be able to defend you, assuming she is licensed to practice in your state… and assuming she is actually a “lawyer”… assuming her contact information is correct… Are you willing to make this many assumptions, especially since we already know that chain letters are illegal?! You can be prosecuted as a co-conspirator if a prosecutor in any jurisdiction files an indictment!

If it sounds too good to be true… (return to # 3 Red Flag above)

Back to top