3 Get Rich Quick Schemes to Avoid

By Harmonleon

We’ve all seen these ads in magazines, in newspapers, and on the Internet, to get rich quick. But who takes them seriously? They all seem like scams. That’s why I decided to try out a few to see which get rich schemes are scams to AVOID!

Home Assembly
Assembling craft products at home claims to be a way to get on the road ot financial freedom! An ad in the back of a weekly paper says, “WORK AT HOME. Great Extra Income Idea! Assemble Products For Best Companies!” I call the 800 number and order their $40.99 booklet.

A few minor things are not mentioned in the literature. Almost all “assemble at home” projects require sewing skills. Not only sewing skills, but also a sewing machine. If you have neither, nearly 95% of the “assemble at home” jobs can’t be done. And all assembly projects require a one-time starter-kit fee, which ranges from $25 to $50. And a “refundable” deposit is required for supplies, which can run up to $100. Bah!

Chain Letters
What could be easier than making $$$ through an elaborate chain letter? One day I receive an e-mail from a gentleman—a rich gentleman—who claims he made $868,439 by sending a chain letter to 200 people. Accompanying his e-mail is a list of seven names with snail-mail addresses. If I want to cash in, I must send one dollar to each person on the list. My name then moves to seventh position and the first name is removed. Next I have to copy the gentlemen’s e-mail and send it out. Next I contact a bulk e-mail company, which also advertises via e-mail, and pay $89 to have them e-mail my letter to 150,000 people!

Weeks go by, and still nothing. Finally, I receive a letter from Pensacola, Florida. It’s written in a grandmother’s handwriting by someone who refers to herself as “Mrs. Hardy.” There’s a dollar bill inside. Out of 150,000 messages, only one response. But
I am one dollar richer—despite the fact that I’m still $95 in the hole.

Stuffing Envelopes
I come across a flyer in a coffee shop: “Would you like to earn some GOOD MONEY to catch up on all your bills and be able to get through this year without going into debt?” Stuffing envelopes is a good honest way to make a living, and, better yet: “Earn 2,500 weekly or more stuffing envelopes at home!!! Honest home workers urgently needed.”

All I need to do is send $39. And there’s no scam this time, because there’s a “REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT.” The fee will be returned once I stuff my first 250 envelopes.

I receive a small packet from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The packet contains 20 yellow flyers: “ATTENTION WORK-AT-HOME!!! Are you tired of living from paycheck to paycheck? Are you interested in Working At Home? In these financially stressful times, everybody is looking for a way to change their lives for the better. We can show you how!!!”

Apparently, those interested in being their own boss will be sending me self-addressed stamped envelopes. Once the hordes of inquisitive work-at-home enthusiasts have bombarded my mailbox, my job is to “stuff” their envelopes with blue flyers advertising a $39 directory called Discovering Financial Freedom at Home, which lists such opportunities as stuffing envelopes. It’s only offered for a “limited time” at 25% off the regular price of $52.

I place the 20 yellow fliers on bulletin boards next to others ads for things like yoga classes, diet secrets, and dog-walking services. After one month I find that I’m $2,496 short of my initial projected earnings. I receive only two self-addressed stamped envelopes. This yields me a four-dollar paycheck.

One envelope is from myself. The other is from a man named Adamid Montanez. He writes, “I’m interested in working. Please if you help me. I need to work fast please.” Adamid’s note makes me feel really bad. What if this poor, desperate man spends his last $39 on a crappy list of sleaze merchants.

I write a note on the back of a flyer: “Dear Adamid, By no means send $39. Again, Adamid, DO NOT SEND $39!!!”