Category Archives for Ethics

Boiler room scams

Boiler Room Scams: How They Work

Boiler room scams are on the rise, so I feel it’s important for you to know how this type of scam works. Step 1: You buy an inexpensive product or accept a “Free plus Shipping” offer from an infomercial or similar marketing medium. Step 2: Get a call from a boiler room where you are […]

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Warrior Forum Scammer Confesses

I recently stumbled upon a shocking story in which a scammer privately confessed to the scams he’d been perpetrating on Warrior Forum. The scammer in question (Andy Tudor) charges from $250 to $500 for a solo ad to an opt-in list with 50,000 subscribers. The problem: There is no list. You pay a few hundred […]

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Mark Shurtleff: A Case Study in Political Corruption

Have you ever wondered how all those boiler rooms in Utah get away with so much fraudulent behavior without any apparent repercussions? Answer: Mark Shurtleff, Utah’s Attorney General Some of the largest call centers in Utah have given Mark sizable campaign contributions (i.e., “protection fees”) over the years. For their contributions, they get carte blanche […]

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Why Your Online Reputation Is More Important Than Ever

In December, there was one story I followed that completely fascinated me. It all started with a November 26 New York Times article my dad forwarded. The article was “A Bully Finds a Pulpit on the Web.” The article detailed the business practices of Vitaly Borker, a man who essentially misrepresented his products and then […]

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What Marketers Can Learn from Hitler

Most marketers suck. Here’s what I mean: They dish out BIG benefits, HUGE promises, and OUTRAGEOUS claims in their sales pitches… and then… fail to deliver. I was recently reminded of this when a client told me about “the biggest piece of crap I have been sold” (his words, not mine). He and I both […]

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