TL;DR: I was talked up by a guy who had an investor business partner. I bought it met with him for coffee got the business of the 21st century book from them. Searched it and found a reddit post about it being linked to MLM recruitment.
So a few weeks ago I was in a store looking at raspberry pi kits like they were naked women and a man came up behind me and asked me about them.
I told him all the projects you could do with it and how it works and how I started using them and how I want to use them.
He said "You seem really smart. Do you work for a living?"
I mentioned that I was still finishing up my last semester of college and had 3 part time gigs. He was impressed and wanted to get my number after I showed him the 3d scanning I had been doing.
A couple weeks go by of off and on hey, how are things, well? Inviting them to my senior show and all that. Then I get a message that he shared my work with his "business mentor" and they were so interested in my work and wanted to help me with "mentorship and leadership". I stuck with it hoping it was actually going to help me a just out of college artist learn to market myself. Great!
We set a time to meet and have coffee and then the first red flag appears. Instead of one of the numerous decent local coffee shops he says to meet at McDonald's.
I began to feel a bit suspicious about this but I still went to meet him the day of. We had a chat that seemed normal for an interview but the questions seemed odd and stuck in my head. He also asked if I'd ever "gone for that away thing"
He then handed me the book.
The business of the 21st century.
I had never heard of it or the author. I did some searching and found surprisingly positive things until I started digging deeper.
When I searched for it on reddit this came up.
https://www.reddit.com/r/personalfinance/comments/552d53/am_i_being_scammed
The questions the guy asked him were identical to the person asking me.
At this point I begin to realize that I have been wasting my time with this and need to get my sample portfolio back and return this book asap.
I messaged him this.
Hey,
I just want to be upfront and ask this as I get into this book. I found the cash flow chart and the types of people interesting but I wanted to just ask. Is what you want me to be involved with network marketing? I don't really mean to sound rude or pushy but when researching his other books he talks about, I found articles of similar stories of people asking the same questions you asked me. I just need to know upfront. Especially after you mentioned amway.
I won't be interested in network marketing. I just want to be upfront. I do network to sell myself but this book seems to Push network marketing toward multi level marketing. Which is why I'm worried.
Thanks again
He didn't respond for quite sometime.
The response I received back was.
"I am glad you enjoyed the book. I completely understand if you have had some experience with networking in the past. That was the reason for my question. Our team is focused on mentorship and leadership, but based on your skepticism I think we should stop the process here.
I can match up with you and grab that book from you or I can give an address to drop it off in the mailbox. Just let me know what works best for you! "
I tell him I want us to meet again face to face. I mention to him that the way the book doesn't talk any negative about business worried me. It seemed all positive and very little actual info.
He said well glad you enjoyed it.
I said it also seemed to lean toward multi level marketing.
Well I have to be going now.
He said as if on a script to vacate.
I ask him if this really is some form of business mentorship I would do it! I thought being able to stand up was my test to see if I'd blindly accept this book or not.
Bye now!
He says as he continues to walk away on a script.
I've never been so annoyed that I wasted time and effort to impress this person. It seemed like a legitimate thing right up till we had a real sit down.
I wanted to also list off some warning signs I've noticed.
They will ask you the questions in the post I linked to.
They will act like they have your best in mind.
They will act like you are so smart and hard working.
They will make you think they are real.
Don't waste your time like I did. If there is something there they will tell you.
Never been so annoyed at myself.
Submitted June 10, 2018 at 12:27AM by AlaricV https://ift.tt/2sPfgnQ
