Armegoggon Posted May 7, 2014 Posted May 7, 2014 (edited) Ok so I have a friend who I've known since 2010 summer. We originally met in the library when we were playing lousy games. We haven't talked much between then but as of last month, we started talking really often. We did see each other once or a few times a year before then. We added each other on Facebook in 2012 summer. We are both turning 19 this year. So last week, he met me in the mall that was closest to the library. This plan came 1 week in advance. He had a friend there, who claimed to be a successful man who was working very well in economics job. He told me about the principles of economics. Just yesterday, we met each other again in a restaurant this time with another successful friend of his. He claimed that the successful friend is really really hard to get time to talk to him. Over the past few weeks, he's been trying his best to try and find me a job. Now I know I find it hard to find a job but he's at least helping or is this a potential scam? So today, I was supposed to come to another friend of his house (he told me the address) at around 8 but instead, I couldn't come. He said that it was supposed to be a presentation about jobs and how to be successful and there will be 5 of us attending it. The problem was, I had to help my parents instead. My friend ended up not attending it. So my parents thought about this and they thought it may be a scam. I mean why have a presentation in another person's house when you can do it in a public place? Is this really a possible scam? What are some signs to indicate it? My parents think that it can be because of them trying to do bad things like drugs since you're at a house where you've never met that person before. It's my friend's friend's house not my friend's house himself. He plans on rescheduling this to next Monday. Edited May 7, 2014 by Armegoggon
d0nnivain Posted May 7, 2014 Posted May 7, 2014 You can't really have a presentation in a coffee shop. It disturbs the other patrons. Places like libraries & other public spaces that offer private rooms often want donations. You said that this person is offering to help you get a job. If the person is not asking for anything in return, where's the scam? If you are really curious, ask your parents if the presentation can be done in your home with them present. That should satisfy everybody.
nescafe1982 Posted May 7, 2014 Posted May 7, 2014 It sounds fishy to me. Do not go in for any "opportunities" that require you to pay any money with promises of bigger returns. Other red flags: - the guy is pitching his job to you, not the other way around; - the group interview in a place that's not his office; - he knows nothing of your credentials (do you have any for this kind of work?) - he pushed back on you when you said your were busy that night. It may just be that the guy wants to help find you work.... but there are more than one or two signs of sketchy agendas here, too... Keep your hackles up. Also, what the heck is a "job in economics"? What does that mean? The only "economic jobs" I know about are professorial. Nope, sounds like he is looking for "investors." Unless he's pursuing you because you're rich, he thinks you're a mark.
sunrise24 Posted May 7, 2014 Posted May 7, 2014 (edited) Hi Armegoggon. Based on your description and nescafe1982's interpretation, this sounds like Multi Level Marketing. I have been approached by numerous such companies over the years: Amway in 2007 & again in 2011, Herbalife in 2012 & again in 2013, Nu Skin later in 2012, 5LINX & Solavei later in 2013, Scentsy this past January, and World Financial Group last month. Solavei is the only one of these that doesn't require money per se to join. My mother has also been approached about Herbalife on numerous occasions; she doesn't consider it legitimate. *** d0nnivain: It is possible to have presentations in coffee shops without being disruptive if using laptops and earphones. I was approached and shown presentations for 5LINX, Solvei and World Financial Group in this manner while at Starbucks. nescafe1982: A job in economics is usually associated with finance in some form; notable examples include accounting and financial planning. A college degree or certification is usually required. Although not all people involved in Multi Level Marketing have fishy ways of interacting with others, your analysis is consistent with my Amway experiences in 2007-2008, my Herbalife experiences in 2012, and my brief encounter with World Financial Group. *** Armegoggon: My first question to you is: what kind of job are you looking for in the first place? I don't know if you've heard of Multi Level Marketing, but it pays to do your due diligence in this case. Do you know what company this person is representing? Most people either don't take Multi Level Marketing seriously or consider it to be a scam. It's not because of obvious criminal activity like drug-dealing; it's more subtle. It's the way people on the inside interact with people on the outside that gives off cult-like vibes. Edited May 7, 2014 by sunrise24
Author Armegoggon Posted May 7, 2014 Author Posted May 7, 2014 Hi Armegoggon. Based on your description and nescafe1982's interpretation, this sounds like Multi Level Marketing. I have been approached by numerous such companies over the years: Amway in 2007 & again in 2011, Herbalife in 2012 & again in 2013, Nu Skin later in 2012, 5LINX & Solavei later in 2013, Scentsy this past January, and World Financial Group last month. Solavei is the only one of these that doesn't require money per se to join. My mother has also been approached about Herbalife on numerous occasions; she doesn't consider it legitimate. *** d0nnivain: It is possible to have presentations in coffee shops without being disruptive if using laptops and earphones. I was approached and shown presentations for 5LINX, Solvei and World Financial Group in this manner while at Starbucks. nescafe1982: A job in economics is usually associated with finance in some form; notable examples include accounting and financial planning. A college degree or certification is usually required. Although not all people involved in Multi Level Marketing have fishy ways of interacting with others, your analysis is consistent with my Amway experiences in 2007-2008, my Herbalife experiences in 2012, and my brief encounter with World Financial Group. *** Armegoggon: My first question to you is: what kind of job are you looking for in the first place? I don't know if you've heard of Multi Level Marketing, but it pays to do your due diligence in this case. Do you know what company this person is representing? Most people either don't take Multi Level Marketing seriously or consider it to be a scam. It's not because of obvious criminal activity like drug-dealing; it's more subtle. It's the way people on the inside interact with people on the outside that gives off cult-like vibes. The kind of job I'm looking for currently is more of a retail job. Yes apparently, it's hard to find a job in the retails right now. I believe the company that the person is talking about is regarding "shop.com". I'll ask him for more details on that since he wasn't fully fully clear. And yeah my parents really thought they were drug dealing. It sounds fishy to me. Do not go in for any "opportunities" that require you to pay any money with promises of bigger returns. Other red flags: - the guy is pitching his job to you, not the other way around; - the group interview in a place that's not his office; - he knows nothing of your credentials (do you have any for this kind of work?) - he pushed back on you when you said your were busy that night. It may just be that the guy wants to help find you work.... but there are more than one or two signs of sketchy agendas here, too... Keep your hackles up. Also, what the heck is a "job in economics"? What does that mean? The only "economic jobs" I know about are professorial. Nope, sounds like he is looking for "investors." Unless he's pursuing you because you're rich, he thinks you're a mark. No he's talking about the economy to me not the economics job. He told me it's free but I'll make sure not to bring my wallet just to make 100% sure. You can't really have a presentation in a coffee shop. It disturbs the other patrons. Places like libraries & other public spaces that offer private rooms often want donations. You said that this person is offering to help you get a job. If the person is not asking for anything in return, where's the scam? If you are really curious, ask your parents if the presentation can be done in your home with them present. That should satisfy everybody. Because the possible scam is because they think they're gonna lock you up in the house or something or try to threaten you since you're only in their house. Kinda like the Jun Lin murder.
d0nnivain Posted May 7, 2014 Posted May 7, 2014 If the idea that this person could murder you has even crossed your mind, don't go anywhere near this.
preraph Posted May 7, 2014 Posted May 7, 2014 It's a scam. Anytime they're being vague about what the hell it's about and trying to talk you into doing things, it's a scam. Probably a pyramid scheme or he's selling something. Just break off with both of them.
Author Armegoggon Posted May 8, 2014 Author Posted May 8, 2014 If the idea that this person could murder you has even crossed your mind, don't go anywhere near this. The thing is, I really want to get help from him and I don't want him to hate me. I really don't think there is anything of a criminal of the people there. It's a scam. Anytime they're being vague about what the hell it's about and trying to talk you into doing things, it's a scam. Probably a pyramid scheme or he's selling something. Just break off with both of them. Well since I got time to reschedule, what should I ask him for more info on the presentation?
sunrise24 Posted May 8, 2014 Posted May 8, 2014 (edited) Armegoggon, If SHOP.com is indeed the company this person represents, then yes, you have been approached about joining a Multi Level Marketing company. I did some research and confirmed that there are indeed fees to join; read here for more details. That being said, I wouldn't recommend asking him any further questions yet, as you'll most likely get biased answers designed to compel you to join; he has a financial incentive to recruit more people and train others to do the same. A few questions immediately came to mind after your last response: 1. Why are you concerned about this friend of a friend hating you? If you're going to be scorned for not buying into an "opportunity," then is that really the kind of person you'd want to associate with? 2. If you're not concerned about criminal activity, why did you bring up the Jun Lin Murder (I read about it and it's quite gruesome)? Is it your parents who are that concerned for your safety? 3. What kind of work experience do you have? P.S. Your English sounds a bit broken in your latter two posts; where are you from? Edited May 8, 2014 by sunrise24
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