Guru Scam Words!

I've been around this business long enough to see just about every scammer out there. I've noticed that all of the scammers use certain words: Here's my list:

1. SECRET (the gurus have a secret alright. The secret is that they don't have a secret, beyond the secret to fleecing newbies.)

2. SYSTEM (many of the gurus claim to have a "system" that will allow you to get rich without work)

3. AUTOPILOT (also meant to convey to newbies that money will just fall from the sky without effort. One internet marketing program claims that you will make money while you sleep. Just take a nap and you'll be rich I suppose.)

4. OUTRAGEOUS PROFITS - no business has outrageous profits. It always sounds easier than it is.

5. EXPLODE (your income, profits, wealth, etc) - in the real world you work hard for these things, they don't simply explode!

6. INNER CIRCLE (meant to convey that you will be best personal friends with the guru)

7. UNIVERSITY (meant to give legitimacy to the guru when they clearly aren't accredited as an institution of higher learning)\

Can you think of more words that the gurus use? Let's hear them!

Mike

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 08:12AM

Jeff Tumbarello

Real Estate Investor · Fort Myers, Florida

949 posts
3130 Influence
6 Awards

Icon_minipost May 12 '09, 09:01 AM

Take Action today: Meaning your wallet just got a little smaller, your sphincter just got a little rounder

Dream Stealers: People with more common sense than you.

I am doing this to give back: I only add value to myself

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 08:12AM

James Hiddle

Real Estate Investor · Altus, Oklahoma

2515 posts
9267 Influence
7 Awards

Icon_minipost May 12 '09, 09:54 AM

One of the worst ones is when they use the words:

Rental Property
Riches

And tell you in 1 minute you can get rich I mean come on people WTF!!!!!

:mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 08:12AM by James Hiddle

Jon Holdman

Real Estate Investor · Denver, Colorado

11859 posts
75527 Influence
15 Awards

Icon_minipost May 12 '09, 10:56 AM

Special bonus - I recorded this phone call I had a while back and will give you a CD of it.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 08:12AM

Jon Holdman, Flying Phoenix LLC

Norm Chrostowski

Real Estate Investor · Lakeview, New York

284 posts
1761 Influence
6 Awards

Icon_minipost May 12 '09, 11:12 AM

The latest one I've heard is "turn-key"

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 08:12AM

Michael Rossi

Real Estate Investor · Ohio

4587 posts
14256 Influence
14 Awards

Icon_minipost May 12 '09, 11:22 AM

Rental Property
Riches

And tell you in 1 minute you can get rich I mean come on people WTF!!!!

I believe that guy has stated that the title was a sarcasm of all the guru stupidity. I know for a fact that calling him a "guru" would be considered FIGHTING WORDS! He'd much rather be called a slumlord than a "GURU"! LOL!

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 08:12AM

Norm Chrostowski

Real Estate Investor · Lakeview, New York

284 posts
1761 Influence
6 Awards

Icon_minipost May 12 '09, 11:26 AM

I thought there was a connect there...lol

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 08:12AM

Steve Flemming

Real Estate Investor · Smithville, Tennessee

34 posts
8 Influence

Icon_minipost May 12 '09, 11:44 AM

# 1 RE scammer word "guru"

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 08:12AM

Nick J.

SFR Investor · Scottsdale, Arizona

2804 posts
27912 Influence
21 Awards

Icon_minipost May 12 '09, 02:17 PM

Originally posted by MikeOH

3. AUTOPILOT (also meant to convey to newbies that money will just fall from the sky without effort. One internet marketing program claims that you will make money while you sleep. Just take a nap and you'll be rich I suppose.)

That's what I'm talking about!! I love naps!

Originally posted by Steve Flemming

# 1 RE scammer word "guru"

exactly right on point with that

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 08:12AM by Nick J.

James Ward

Real Estate Investor · Ocala, Florida

748 posts
19653 Influence
18 Awards

Icon_minipost May 12 '09, 07:59 PM

Special price today of $497. ONLY! The items included are actually totaled around $2000 plus the "bonus" material adds a value that makes this the best deal out there. But only today.....$497.

This one cracks me up!

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 08:12AM

Larry Moore

Real Estate Investor · Belvidere, Illinois

171 posts
1319 Influence
2 Awards

Icon_minipost May 13 '09, 02:19 AM

I would add "cracked the code" and "Blueprint". Seems every guru is offering free Blueprints, which also provides a 30 day free trial of what they are really trying to sell. You must use your credit card to pay for shipping of the Blueprint, and then of course, they now have your cc# to continue billing you for their program after the free trial period.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 08:12AM

Account Closed

805 posts
380 Influence
2 Awards

Icon_minipost May 13 '09, 02:34 AM

Originally posted by Larry Moore

I would add "cracked the code" and "Blueprint". Seems every guru is offering free Blueprints, which also provides a 30 day free trial of what they are really trying to sell. You must use your credit card to pay for shipping of the Blueprint, and then of course, they now have your cc# to continue billing you for their program after the free trial period.

Well, you could always use the one time use only numbers most credit card companies generate now for on-line sales. I have used them a number of times and even though I cancel during the trial period they still try to charge the card. I usually get a nasty email about the credit card being fraudulent and they are going to "report me" unless I immediately give them the real card number. It's funny, because I then ENCOURAGE them to start a fraud investigation and we will look into why they tried to charge my card fraudulently. That usually ends it.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 08:12AM

Tom C

Real Estate Investor · Ohio

1068 posts
1200 Influence
4 Awards

Icon_minipost May 13 '09, 04:05 AM

"Hi my name is [SCRUBBED BY ADMIN] and meet my friend [SCRUBBED BY ADMIN]"

:)

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 08:12AM by Administrator : Sorry - had to do it

Nick J.

SFR Investor · Scottsdale, Arizona

2804 posts
27912 Influence
21 Awards

Icon_minipost May 13 '09, 04:15 AM

Originally posted by Tom C

"Hi my name is [SCRUBBED BY ADMIN] and meet my friend [SCRUBBED BY ADMIN]"

:)

ok, you win with that one :rock:

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 08:12AM by Administrator

James Hiddle

Real Estate Investor · Altus, Oklahoma

2515 posts
9267 Influence
7 Awards

Icon_minipost May 13 '09, 04:31 AM

Originally posted by Taz

Originally posted by Larry Moore
I would add "cracked the code" and "Blueprint". Seems every guru is offering free Blueprints, which also provides a 30 day free trial of what they are really trying to sell. You must use your credit card to pay for shipping of the Blueprint, and then of course, they now have your cc# to continue billing you for their program after the free trial period.
Well, you could always use the one time use only numbers most credit card companies generate now for on-line sales. I have used them a number of times and even though I cancel during the trial period they still try to charge the card. I usually get a nasty email about the credit card being fraudulent and they are going to "report me" unless I immediately give them the real card number. It's funny, because I then ENCOURAGE them to start a fraud investigation and we will look into why they tried to charge my card fraudulently. That usually ends it.

Where do you get those?

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 08:12AM

Joshua Dorkin

BiggerPockets Founder · Denver, Colorado

10629 posts
46531 Influence
24 Awards

Icon_minipost May 13 '09, 04:43 AM

Originally posted by Tom C

"Hi my name is [SCRUBBED BY ADMIN] and meet my friend [SCRUBBED BY ADMIN]"

:)

I had to scrub the post of the direct accusations . . . sorry man.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 08:13AM

Joshua Dorkin, BiggerPockets, Inc.
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