14 ways to spot a fake “guru” from a thousand laptops away!

This is an easy drill. Why? Because the fakes outnumber the real guys by ten to one!

But how can you tell the difference?

1. They send you dishonest or miss-leading emails, such as:
   
   “Thank you for your order – it's free!”......but you didn't place one.
   “Urgent, re your new website – it's live!”... but you have to sign up and pay for it.
   “You just earned a commission!”...then they add, “if you do (blah) you will see this message.”
   “Your commission check is ready.”....but there isn't one.
   “Click here to confirm your payment information is correct.”... but there is no payment.
   
   These are all actual emails I have received and are “guru” tricks to get you to open their emails.
   
   
2. Their video is dramatic and runs like the trailer for a blockbuster movie. You are electrified!
   
   
3. THEY INSIST THAT YOU NEED NO technical knowledge!
   
   
4. They make it all sound so easy any newbie could do it.
   
   
5. Their program costs no more than $37.00 and if you reject it they will give you a $10.00 or even $20.00 discount. (Do you really believe a program costing $17.00 is going to change your life? Just wait for the up-sell.)
   
   
6. They tell you their program will work for a newbie as well as for an experienced professional

(but if it interests the pro it will be way over the head of the newbie, and vice-versa.)

7. They show you screen shots of their accounts earning them huge sums of money. (Easily faked)

8. They 'forget' to mention you need to buy a domain name and web hosting to access their “free” website.


9. They never say anything is just “free.”. No, it's “absolutely free” or “totally completely free” or “guaranteed totally absolutely free.” (There is a catch coming up. The more adjectives in the phrase the more it will actually cost!)


7. 10. Their sales letter (copy) is loaded with hype and superlatives. Example: Instead of saying, “You could make some good money with this” … they say things like, “money will flood/gush/pour like an avalanche, bursting into your bank account until your bank manager phones you up implying that you are selling drugs!!”
   
   
8. 11. Their video may start with the presenter driving up to a fancy mansion in an exotic car. (Probably rented for the day.)
9. 
   12. Once you buy the program you will be hit with a “must buy” up-sell that is going to cost you another $200.00.
   
   
   1. 13. They talk a lot about how much you can make but say little or nothing about what you will have to DO to make it.
      
      
   OK! I could go on because there is more, but I'm sure you get the picture. The bottom line is the “gurus” k now what you want to hear so that is what they tell you even though it isn't remotely close to reality! They have one object in mind. To SELL you something!
   
   There is no free lunch my friend! If you want to achieve the Internet Lifestyle you WILL have to acquire some skill in this industry and actually do some work. You know this is true and you know you CAN tell the hype from the truth, with the help of this checklist!
   
   
10. 14. Now this last point is the 'acid' test. Ask yourself what product or service will you have to deliver and in what quantity for you to get all the money you are expecting. If you can't figure this out it's a scam for sure!
    
    The way to wealth is to over deliver!
    
    Of course we all secretly want the easy life and want to be told it's out there to be had for little or no effort. I'm sorry if I'm bursting your bubble but wouldn't you really rather know the truth?
    Ask anyone who has truly succeeded in life (by whatever standard you chose) and they will tell you it took a lot of hard work! At least with the Internet you know that if you get it right the rewards can be huge!
    
    Brian WINGATE
    Tujunga, CA
    30 Dec 2012