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

Lies, Fakery, Greed and Tomfoolery

A collection of mailed SCAMs

Quotations from a (8 Red Flag rated) SCAM letter sent by: “Secret Club of the Golden Circle”

Please remember, the quotations below are from the SCAM letter of “Secret Club of the Golden Circle” _not_ by mailscamalert.com.

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“Dearest Last_Name,

Red Flag  # 1  “First of all, you must act very quickly, and very quickly means to say that you should answer this letter within the coming 48 hours!

Red Flag  # 2  “• Yes, to hope to regularly win thousands without working - and join the handful of people throughout the world who share billions every year — your subscription to the S.C.G.C. (enclosed with this letter) must reach us within the next 48 hours!

As soon as your subscription to the S.C.G.C. reaches us, you will then be ready to join those privileged people who claim to share this ‘manna from heaven’!

“First_Name, I don’t want to be indiscreet but how much do you earn today? Are you earning enough money to be able to live comfortably? Or, on the other hand do you have difficulties tying to pay off all of your bills? Do you have enough money to buy what you want? What is your financial situation like? Try and answer these questions as honestly as possible.

“• Do you win enough money to be able to refuse the possibility of some easy money which could bring you hundreds of thousands, maybe evenn millions throughout your life?

“Do you also share this point of view? That $3,000 or more a month would be more than welcome! You could pay off all of your most urgent debts or purchase everything that you have pushed aside for such a long time. And, above all, you could see it coming, as they say... After all, $3,000 a month to spend, is a very nice sum!

“Well then, you must listen very carefully:”

Red Flag  # 3  “Whether your financial situation be catastrophic or not, as from next month you can hope for a monthly income of $3,000 and maybe more!”

Please remember, the quotations above and below are from the SCAM letter of “Secret Club of the Golden Circle” _not_ by mailscamalert.com.

“‘... I did not think that it would be so easy to get out of my situation... The first 3 weeks, I was able to cash in £ 1,268... 3 weeks afterwards, I was already at more than £ 5,865 and I had just simply done as you had told me to do. This did not take me more than an hour, and in just 3 months time, (had already pocketed the sum that I earned in a year! I therefore decided to stop working and go and live in Cannes with my 2 children. I have respected your recommendations and ever since then my life has changed in each and every way Thank you, a thousand times, Thank you...’

Megan (UK)

“Precisely! What would you say to as a first step, pocketing 3,000; and this, every month? Does this perspective tempt you? Can you imagine what you could do with the money godsend falling from heaven every month, as Valerie has described? You too could have all of the money you desire!

“It takes just one hour of your time every month and with a reward of thousands in your pocket. It’s possible! Here is some more proof:

“‘...It’s not with a meager retirement pay of $600 that one can get by nowadays... To tell you the truth I have much more than I need meager[sic] today and I give a lot of my winnings away to charitable organisations. I no longer know how else I can spend my money even after spoiling my children and grand-children. For 12 months now, I have gathered up $87,000, a true fortune for me...’

“Gabriela (USA)

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“Today, you can say goodbye to all of your financial problems if you wish. It’s up to you, and depends upon your decision to join or not, the S.C.G.C. and the other privileged people who have told us that they cash in a lot of money every month.

Money which will regularly fall into your pocket!


“You have surely dreamed of this many times, of always having money, of no longer depending upon anyone and of being free to do as you please! Not having to count on a measly salary or allowance. Not having to depend upon a boss or manager who takes advantage of you. 3,000 a month, this would truly represent the end of many of your worries wouldn’t it? Well then, look and see what Andrew from Canada has to confide:

Please remember, the quotations above and below are from the SCAM letter of “Secret Club of the Golden Circle” _not_ by mailscamalert.com.

“‘At the age of 54, to find work is an almost impossible task. With less than 600 dollars per month of unemployment benefit, I thought that my life was over I thank the heavens that I was able to reply to the S.C.C.C. In just 2 months time I had won 7,800 dollars. I was able to pay off my outstanding debts and today I live very happily without having to work anymore.’

3,000 a month to begin with, that’s not a bad sum at all is it?
“So, are you going to accept to receive this money

Red Flag  # 4  “Once again, you will not have to work in the sense in which you understand it. In fact you will have nothing complicated to do at all. In any case this will not take up more than an hour of your time per month. On the other hand, as from next month, you will already be able to cash in 3,000! This will only be in the beginning. Then, why not 5,000 or maybe 10,000 EVERY MONTH just like many of the other members of the S.C.G.C. certify regularly cashing in!

“Yes, however old you are or your level of studies, you could regularly draw off from this perpetual source of money!

“It is certain that just like for all of the other members of the S.C.G.C. there is no reason why you should not do as they did. If all of these people in whom we can have confidence have testified that they have regularly have done in large sums of money every month, why should it be otherwise for you?

“Now, you may be thinking that you need particular talents to be able to gather in all of this money. No! You have just read it, whether you are young or not, with a degree or not, there exists a source of fresh money from which it is possible to draw off thousands every month!

Red Flag  # 5  “But only for another 48 hours... Because afterwards it will be too late... the access to this ‘source’ will be definitively blocked...

Another item is also very important:

“• This does not concern a games competition, a draw or a chain of door to door salesmen, numbers to play on the lottery or anything else of this kind.

“Therefore, luck does not intervene directly in your possibilities of gains. The true stroke of luck is this letter that you are holding in your hands, it is a personal invitation to join this very closed ‘Circle’ of people who have access to this inexhaustible ‘source’ of fresh tax free money...!!!

By what ‘miracle’ could you win so much money? And why you in particular?

Please remember, the quotations above and below are from the SCAM letter of “Secret Club of the Golden Circle” _not_ by mailscamalert.com.

“With the risk of being repetitive, to regularly receive substantial gains - which could go as far as $3,000 a month and more - does not stem from a miracle. You might have some difficulty believing this, and yet, it is true. This letter authorises you to have access to the status of life long member of the Secret Club of the Golden Circle. The access to this first circle is limited to a few fortunate people accross[sic] the world!

“Throughout all of their lives, these people benefit from this money that is ‘hidden’ from prying eyes and from the great public. Naturally, there are certain conditions that need to be fulfilled. However, you will see this in a few moments and these conditions will be a pleasant surprise.

To begin with you need to know that you are authorised to join this Secret Club, and this is the most important. This is gives you the possibility of regularly receiving easy winnings!

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“This could be for you, if you act immediately.

Red Flag  # 6  “It is natural that you are asking a lot of questions. It is normal, and this denotes that you are a sensible person. For example, you might be asking:

  • “How am I going to receive this money?
  • “Can I really win more every month?
  • “Do I have to declare this money to the tax man?

“Before answering all of these questions let me just reply to the most important question: Why have you been chosen from amongst millions of people to benefit from this favourable treatment?

“As our future relationship must be based on the utmost confidence and transparency, here are a few points which deserve to be underlined.

“• Every year, so that the number of members always remains the same, the S.C.G.C. searches for people who are worthy of confidence and who have not be been favoured by life up until now but who knew how to struggle on.

“Is this the case with you First_Name? Do you believe that you are someone worthy of confidence and are honest? Are you capable of keeping information that must remain hidden from the public and of not divulging it to any Tom, Dick and Harry?

“Now, do you think that you have been fortunate in life? Or, on the contrary, do you think that life really has not been very generous with you? Or do you believe that it could have been better?

Please remember, the quotations above and below are from the SCAM letter of “Secret Club of the Golden Circle” _not_ by mailscamalert.com.

“Another condition is required to be able to belong to this very select circle which can be resumed in this way: each candidate must possess special qualities such as good judgement, courage and the desire to help others. Can you recognise these characteristics in yourself?

“Now, to be able to answer to your other questions, you must understand that certain information cannot be revealed for as long as you remain a member of the S.C.G.C.

“Yes one of the conditions required to belong to the S.C.G.C. is discretion and confidentiality. In this way as soon as your subscription certificate reaches us, you will know when and how you can have access to this hidden money!

“Even better still, these probable gains are generally tax free which makes life even easier. You therefore don’t have to worry about these administrative details.

“Concerning your possibilities of gains, there really isn’t any limit. Here again, you will receive some very precious information to increase your potential of riches a few days after the reception of your official subscription certificate! Certain members, in time, have become well known public national and international personalities. It’s for this reason that discretion must absolutely be respected.

Why?

“The public at large must in no case know that the S.C.G.C. exists and even less about those who belong to it. Would you like someone to knock at your door and say: ‘Are you the one who lives such an easy life while others work...”

Red Flag  # 7  “No, I’m sure that this really isn’t what you would like to hear. Do you remember the saying that goes to live happy live hidden!!!

“Here is the opportunity to verify the great wisdom of this saying in your life. You must be sure that when you begin to have lots of money, you must not show off. Otherwise you risk meeting people who only try to profit from you. All the same, you seem to be someone who knows how to distinguish those who just want to take advantage of you you and your true friends.

“On the other hand, every member is free to do what they want with their money on the condition that a part of the gains is donated to a charitable organisation of their choice. This concerns another condition that is stipulated to be able to belong to the S.C.G.C. You must solemnly undertake to donate a part of your gains to a charitable organisation of your choice. You should give whatever you think is just, according to your conscience and your soul. The S.C.G.C. gives their members total liberty on this subject.

“Your subscription rights for life have also been settled, all that’s missing is your agreement... One of the conditions to belong to the S.C.G.C. consists of you discharging the rights of research that the fore mentioned company must undertake to find the person who corresponds to what is expected of each of our members. In other words, someone just like you.

Please remember, the quotations above and below are from the SCAM letter of “Secret Club of the Golden Circle” _not_ by mailscamalert.com.

“These subscription rights of research and communication come to exactly 1,656! The S.C.G.C. accepts to stand guarantor for you and would like to offer you this sum.

Why?

“In particular cases, (you have read their testimonials), certain people don’t have enough money to be able to pay the entrance fee. All the same, the great council of the S.C.G.C. of which I am the President, meet together to examine the situation of each candidate.

“The council has decided to grant you a favour. We believe that it is probably very difficult for you to pay this sum. However as we esteem that you have all the necessary qualities that we are looking for to become one of the members of the S.C.G.C., we are sure that when you will have all of the money you desire you will think of giving this sum to a charitable organisation.

We have total confidence in you, as you can see.

Fill in your subscription certificate and send it back to us immediately because the count down has already begun. You only have 48 hours left to be able to discover this mysterious secret ‘Source’ which will bring you to riches.

“Yes, you will be the only person able to activate the occult power of this sacred chest and the ‘magic objects’ that the S.C.G.C. would like to offer you for free, if you return your certificate within the next 48 hours. Your entrance fee has already been paid for life and nothing can therefore hinder you from joining this circle of privileged people who have access to a continual source of money. This could be yours, simply by consecrating one hour a month to follow the information that the S.C.G.0 are going to send you!

“Effectively, as soon as you belong to the S.C.G.C. you will receive some extremely important information in your discreet unmarked package. You will then have access to this money that is hidden from the public at large, at any moment and in every circumstance.

“Just between us, there is no point in me telling you tales because your entrance fees have already been paid.

“To be able to receive your life time membership papers from the S.C.G.C. and your ‘Sacred Chest’ all you have to do is send us a very modest sum. This sum is reimbursable** and in this case you undertake to return your package to us with your Sacred Chest and everything that is necessary to be able to draw off easy money from this source every month for the rest of your life.

Please remember, the quotations above and below are from the SCAM letter of “Secret Club of the Golden Circle” _not_ by mailscamalert.com.

“‘I did not say anything about it to my husband when I sent off my subscription certificate, I was afraid that he would be crass with me. This was two months ago and I have already won £6,222. I ended up by telling him that I had replied to an announcement and that I had won at the Races. I would just like to ask the permission from the council to be able to talk to him about it. I hope that you can understand this. Many thanks in advance for your help.’

“Sharon (England)

“Naturally, in this very precise situation we have authorised Sharon to talk about the Club. Her husband was overjoyed, which was a normal reaction because as they say “nobody wants to kill the goose that lays the golden egg”.

“Yes, and it’s now up to you to make your decision. This letter has clearly shown you that this concerns a real opportunity. The proof is here. If other people have become rich in such a short time, then it is also possible for you. If you don’t act now, you risk loosing precisely what you are looking for:

A possible and inexhaustible source of big income every month!


“Fill in your official subscription certificate that you will find enclosed with this letter. This really is the wisest decision you could make at the moment, because afterwards you will congratulate yourself for the rest of your life!

“I hope to receive your reply very soon,

Supposed signature of the president of S.C.G.C. who appears not to have an actual name!

“President of the S.C.G.C.

-PS.: This is the moment where you must act to become rich. You have already received a gift of 1,565 and this is just the beginning!!

Please remember, the quotations above and below are from the SCAM letter of “Secret Club of the Golden Circle” _not_ by mailscamalert.com.

OFFICIAL SUBSCRIPTION CERTIFICATE TO THE S.C.G.C.

For the request for a desired lifetime income of $3,000 minimum per month.

CAS Postbus 1187 3048 BD Harderwijk The Netherlands

checkboxYes, I would like to join the S.C.G.C. and also belong to those privileged people who share millions every month without anyone else knowing about it.

checkboxI wish to join the Circle of Riches with its potential gains of $3,000 per month and more, for life.

checkboxYou tell me that my entrance fees have already been paid by the members of the Club and I thank you for this Gift of $1,565 that you have made me!

checkboxAs soon as you receive my subscription, you will send me, in a discreet package, the instructions and my sacred Chest to be able to draw off easy money from this source that is hidden from the public at large.

checkboxI undertake on my honour never to talk about the S.C.G.C. to anyone around me and never to reveal the source of this hidden money which should bring me continual riches.

checkboxI also undertake on my honour, to give a part of the gains collected in this way to charitable associations of my choice.

checkboxYES I have carefully read the information and conditions for the despatching[sic] of my order, and accept them...

checkboxTo receive my official papers and the means of being able to gather up what I wish, I am sending you the modest sum of $39, which are reimbursable by:

“Credit card:

   “checkbox Visa or checkbox MasterCard

Red Flag  # 8 

“Card # ____-____-____-____

“Expiry date: __ / __

“Cryptogram: __ __ __ (The 3 last numbers at the back of your credit card)

checkboxMoney order checkboxCash (for security reasons please don’t send coins)

checkboxCheck made out to CAS who manage SCGC payments.

“So that you validate my inscription, I am sending you:

“My date of birth: __/__/__

   “at __ hours __ minutes

“Town of birth: ________________

“Country of birth: _______________

Please remember, the quotations above and below are from the SCAM letter of “Secret Club of the Golden Circle” _not_ by mailscamalert.com.

“For a delivery in the best conditions:

“I note down my phone number: ___________________

“He re is my email address: ___________________

Now, First_Name, please fill in the questionnaire.

Your answers must absolutely be as precise as possible

  “Yes “No
“Have you already won more than $100,000 at least once in your life? checkbox checkbox
“Are you amongst the first to help others and give a helping hand when it’s required? checkbox checkbox
“Do you think that you are able to recognise swindlers from your true friends? checkbox checkbox
“If you had all the money you wished for would you help others to benefit from it as they deserve? checkbox checkbox
“Would you like to move to a better place? checkbox checkbox
“Are you ready to receive a lot of money in your hands? checkbox checkbox
“What is the first thing that you would do if you had all the money you desire?
“Would you pay off your loans or your debts? checkbox checkbox
“Would you make a contribution or invest? checkbox checkbox
“Would you change your car? checkbox checkbox

The following text appears at the very end of the Subscription form. It is in extremely tiny print requiring me to use a magnifying glass. It is also very confusingly written. It appears to refer to a United States Federal law but apply it to personal information that will come from the form. Still, it makes for very interesting reading in that it appears to avoid any responsibility to supply anything mentioned in the letter. It also states that any refund will have $5.00 deducted to cover “BANK FEES.” Enjoy trying to make sense of the text!

“INFORMATION: IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE “FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT” YOU HAVE THE RIGHT OF ACCESS AND RECTIFICATION OF ALL DETAILS CONCERNING YOU. UNLESS YOU STATE YOUR REFUSAL THIS INFORMATION MAY BE USED BY A THIRD PARTY. THE PHOTO IS NON-CONTRACTUAL. THIS MESSAGE IS A COMMERCIAL PROPOSITION TO WHICH EACH PERSON MAY FOLLOW UP OR REFUSE ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN FREE WILL. BY THE VERY NATURE OF THIS OFFER IN WHICH THE CONVICTION OF SUCCESS IS PRIMORDIAL BY THE USER, WE CANNOT BE HELD TO ANY “OBLIGATION OF RESULTS”. *YOUR NUMBER WILL BE DELETED FROM OUR FILES UPON SIMPLE REQUEST. **FOR ALL REFUND REQUESTS, $5 WILL BE DEDUCTED FROM THE AMOUNT RECEIVED TO COVER A MINIMAL PART OF THE BANK FEES. NO REFUND WILL BE ISSUED WITHOUT THE RETURNED PRODUCT.”

Please remember, the quotations above are from the SCAM letter of “Secret Club of the Golden Circle” _not_ by mailscamalert.com.

Red Flag  # 1  The tired and all too common urge to get you to reply as soon as possible. Any hesitation on your part to discuss or research this SCAM means you may not be paying the money they want! (return to # 1 Red Flag above)

Red Flag  # 2  Did you notice that this SCAM is now saying your reply must reach them within “the next 48 hours”? That is much different than the request that you simply reply within 48 hours. Even if you take a letter to a major Post Office, you would have to pay for “guaranteed” over night delivery in order to meet that deadline. I suppose they don’t want you do absolutely any thinking about this SCAM!? (return to # 2 Red Flag above)

Red Flag  # 3  Actually, you can hope for anything or any amount you want! So, you don’t need this group to suggest you hope for anything! But that “hope” or more likely, your desire, is what this SCAM is ‘hoping’ to encourage in you. They simply want you to believe they have an answer for whatever you might want financially. (return to # 3 Red Flag above)

Red Flag  # 4  Here is one of the biggest red flags of any SCAM on my site. “Lots of money and almost no work!” You’ll see this in a few other SCAMs here, but since it is so incredible, most SCAMmers don’t bother using it. If I can borrow a phrase from this SCAM, “once again”, if it sounds too good to be true, it is most probably not! (return to # 4 Red Flag above)

Red Flag  # 5  Just another ‘urgent’ reminder to reply immediately! And don’t forget to use an over night courier! (return to # 5 Red Flag above)

Red Flag  # 6  The SCAMmers obligingly provide us with three questions that we might have? The first is: “How am I going to receive this money?” And the answer is: “We can’t tell you until we have your money!”

How about the second question: “Can I really win more every month?” The answer is: “Here again, you will receive some information once we receive your money.” Zero for two, by my count.

The last question: “Do I have to declare this money to the tax man?” The last ‘answer’: “these probable gains are generally tax free” That, at first sounds somewhat definite, except for those two little words “probable” and “generally”. I’ll be generous and give them half a point here. One half out of three is pretty marginal, my my humble opinion. (return to # 6 Red Flag above)

Red Flag  # 7  I must admit that I had to look that quotation up. It turns out I knew it better as “If you want to be happy, keep your head down”. Still not particularly interesting, but I can see how this SCAM would want to keep hidden or out of sight. The original comes from Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian. A more famous and perhaps, more appropriate verse from Jean-Pierre might be “He who laughs last laughs best.” I think that is what the SCAMmer plans on doing if you actually send your $ 39! Don’t give him that pleasure! (return to # 7 Red Flag above)

Red Flag  # 8  Please, please! Do not send your credit card or checking information to anyone you haven’t met or with whom you don’t already have a business account! Even worse, this SCAM wants your birthdate and place of birth! With this information in hand, you can expect to see you identity stolen very quickly! There is absolutely no valid reason to give that kind of information to anyone! Period! (return to # 8 Red Flag above)

There are also implications that the monies that will be forthcoming are not taxable. However, the sources of the money is implied to be from winning contests or lotteries. Such monies are certainly considered taxable in the U.S. and a review of any legal contest or lottery rules will plainly state this. Most will also report that it is the responsibility of the recipient to pay those all taxes even if some may be withheld by the sponsors. More importantly, no foreign lotteries can be legally entered in the Untied States. This may be the true reason for the demands that all activities of this “Secret Circle” be completely confidential. Of course, that still won’t make them legal!

It is also important to note that the letter writer claims any and all success relies completely upon the individual paying for the “product.” Of course, even after reading the letter, there is no actual “product” mentioned! The only mention of any physical item that will be received is “a discreet package” containing “instructions and [a] sacred Chest.” That is mentioned in the fourth check-boxed item above.

This “offer” appears to be written or printed in a British Empire country, thus the differences in the spellings of several words (e.g., honour, recognise, authorise and favour). But there is the noted reference to the “FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT” which is a United States law, not applicable, as far as I know, to any other part of the world. Perhaps it is simply an attempt to sound legal or at least official. Even more confusing is that all mailing addresses are for locations in the Netherlands. I have simply used “[sic]” to mark items to indicate that they have been copied exactly as displayed in the printed letter.

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