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Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.
Albert Einstein
My forum is about making profit online. As such, I see fit to post this. Some of you might be angered by it. I hope that at least some people learn a lesson that launches them onto more profitable ventures.
Note: Keep in mind this is my OPINION. I am not professing to have done the government's work for them. They will come to their own conclusion. I am guessing it will be the same as my opinion - but that's my opinion, too.
For the past few days, I've received a lot of forum notifications about the Stormpay, 12 Daily Pro and autosurf mess.
-- Oh my God, Stormpay ripped me off.
-- I lost my money and it's Stormpay's fault.
-- We trust 12 daily pro, they're the good guys.
And so on, and so on.
Folks, wake up and smell the coffee.
Here is a snippet from a letter sent out by Stormpay;
...investigation by both StormPay and other outside investigational organizations/law enforcement agencies have have drawn early conclusions that these types of programs are nothing more than well hidden "Ponzi" or "Pyramid" schemes...
Please be reminded that this could have been avoided if the merchant(s) could have, or would have provided information proving no illegal pyramid or ponzi activity....
You can read the letter, here;
http://www.4daily.com/
Folks, here's the facts.
1) In December, the government swooped into eGold to do an investigation on whether they were allowing illegal activities. eGold was one of the processors for auto surfs. Coincidence?
2) The Dean of Mariott school of business at BYU discovered that students were participating in 12DP and told them it looked like an illegal pyramid. He reported it and told the students to stop or they will be expelled. You can hear that on ABC4, here; (stay on to listen to the story, too, not just the opening line)
http://www.abc4.com/mediacenter/default.aspx?videoId=36141
3) Stormpay is under investigation for accepting pyramid scheme owners as merchants. They told ALL merchants affected - including 12DP - that if they showed how their profit was obtained and could prove they are NOT an illegal pyramid, they would not have their accounts frozen. 12DP (and many others) had their accounts frozen. Can anyone add two and two??
4) So, what is a pyramid?
http://www.sec.gov/answers/pyramid.htm
FACT: There are, indeed, legitimate "pay to surf" programs.
They are the ones that require people to LOOK AT websites with their eyeballs. Advertisers will pay for that. Hence - legal profit. The advertisers hope that while you are sitting there clicking on links to make a few bucks, you might like what they offer.
No advertiser is going to pay for a piece of software (autosurf software) to hit their server. That would be just plain stupid.
Bob Needham has a good post about the pay to surf industry. It's here.
http://community.adlandpro.com/forumShowPost.aspx?PostID=284587
FACT: If you could make 12% interest in 12 days legally, wouldn't banks be doing it?
Think about that real hard. If it was possible to make 12% interest that fast, wouldn't your bank do it? So - where did the money come from? Need to read the definition of pyramid again?
Oh wait. Maybe some internet gurus figured out a way to pay you more interest, legally, than any financial institution ever could. If you believe that, I have a bridge for sale.
FACT: Payment processors have legal requirements to follow
Stormpay is a payment processor, just like paypal. They are backed by a bank, like every payment processor is. They have legal requirements to follow for what they can and can't do.
They can't allow a merchant to sell kiddie porn. They can't allow a merchant to sell body parts. They can't allow illegal stuff. Why do you THINK paypal and ebay have the rules they have?
As such, if a payment processor is found to be allowing illegal activities, they WILL have to freeze accounts when they are under investigation.
Both eGold and Stormpay are being investigated for WHO THEIR MERCHANTS ARE.
The Point?
If you go to Vegas and plunk a grand on the table and lose it - it's YOUR fault.
If you join a pyramid and lose money - it's YOUR fault. If a "friend" recommended it? Well, if a friend told you to throw your child off a bridge, would you listen? Same concept.
Pointing the finger all over the place solves nothing.
Click the links in this post.
Stop pointing fingers.
Educate yourself.
-- If you want to make money that doesn't have the risk of disappearring as fast as the Cheshire Cat, start a business.
-- If you want to gamble, don't whine, point fingers and look for a scapegoat when you lose. Pyramids are a gamble. Learn how to identify a pyramid so you can decide if you want to gamble or not - and when, and with how much.
I hope at least ONE person learns something from this experience.
Note: Keep in mind this is my OPINION. I am not professing to have done the government's work for them. They will come to their own conclusion. I am guessing it will be the same as my opinion - but that's my opinion, too.
: )
Linda
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