Comments on: Searching for Shop to Earn scam

By: Carnival of Fraud - October 13, 2008 | Sequence Inc. Fraud Files Blog

Sun, 17 May 2009 16:05:55 +0000

[...] Coenen presents Searching for Shop To Earn scam posted at Fraud Files Blog, saying “Consumers are searching for information on ShopToEarn. [...]

By: researchresearchresearch

researchresearchresearch — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:01:48 +0000

Put aside all your doubts about being able to make money, about recruiting people who won’t make money so you will, etc etc.

Here’s some red flags that should make anyone say, wtf?

from the shop2earn web site – their corporate address
3441 South Eastern Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89109 USA

In reality this address is their accountant(who is also listed as their CFO?)
L.L. Bradford & Company
3441 S Eastern Av.
Las Vegas, NV 89169

From the shop2earn web site, their phone number
Phone: (410) 585-9394

Reverse lookup of this phone number, it belongs to
The Auto Dealer LLC
5501 Reisterstown Rd, Ste C
Baltimore, MD 21215-4429
(410) 585-9394

10 years to develop, part of it being the relationships with the various vendors? I applied and have received links identical(except for ID numbers) with the links used on the shoptoearn sites within HOURS, not years. A website that consists of thumbnails and links that could be constructed in about one hour.

You too can apply for them at linkshare dot com or cj dot com , to just name a couple.

Try finding legitimate corporate info, contact information or any kind of history on any of the principals involved in shop2earn. The domains they use are all registered under names that aren’t principals of the company or with the contact info blocked by the registrar.

Training materials that are not posted on their sites. Sales pitches that are not posted on their sites. All to avoid future litigation due to unfulfilled promises.

A website that consists of thumbnails and links that can be constructed in hours. Underlying data management software purchased from genconsult dot com, that they promise can be up and running for you in a few weeks, including their Genesis Virtual Office MLM package which will enable you to “be in business in 2-4 weeks and have the confidence to look and feel like a Corporate Giant.”

Too many red flags to even consider their program for anything except watching for when it disappears into the sunset along with your friends, family and business associates that you encouraged to join.

By: Marilyn

Marilyn — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:29:23 +0000

I’d just like to share that a woman in my mom’s group today was gushing about the “ton of money” she’s making with STE and gave all of us her business cards, so she could “help us join.”
The business card says –”They say if you were one of the first 500,000 to get in a company like Amway, you were GOLDEN! (CAPS theirs) This company is in it’s (sic) infancy! Currently there are under 100,000 members”– Is that true? Are Amway’s founders really rolling in the dough, just out of curiosity?
I plan to pass out your articles at the next play date! Sure I’ll probably earn an enemy but gain many, many more friends !
haha
Thanks for saving me 500+ $$ and priceless hours.

By: Biz

Biz — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:07:08 +0000

This stupid thing has totally changed my relationship with a very good friend of mine who got involved into this. She thinks about it all the time, she is always on the phone trying to recruit, even when we are doing things together. I can’t stand it anymore. So disappointing.

By: Tracy Coenen

Tracy Coenen — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:50:12 +0000

Being around for a long time doesn’t mean that the company or its opportunity is good. Membership in the Direct Selling Association and BBB mean nothing, by the way.

By: Jhon Sagunto

Jhon Sagunto — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 05:40:37 +0000

For those who want to make US believe STE is legal and the best thing after paradise, just FOUR small QUESTIONS:
1- IS STE MEMBER OF THE DIRECT SELLING ASOCIATION “DSA” ?
2- IS STE REGISTERED WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU “BBB” ?
3- WHERE IN THE WEBSITE IS THE COSTUME SERVICE NUMBER TO CALL IN CASE OF ANY DOUBTS, A REFUND OR ANYTHING LIKE IT ?
4- IF EVERYTHING IS LEGAL LIKE IT SHOULD, WHY IS THE STE LAYER CALLING EVERYBODY WITH A WEBSITE WITH SOME DOUBTFUL IDEAS AGAIN STE AND SENDING THREATENING EMAILS TO THEM ?

just like i was thinking from the beginning, “something fishy smell around”.

Beware, take for example AMWAY, is 50 year old in the us and doing business in 80 countries around the world, 21 lines of exclusive products, got a superb customer service with 6 month warranty in everything they sell and is member of everything legal around.
That`s a proven MLM with value and service.

By: Big Ray

Big Ray — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 18:24:10 +0000

Hey Tracy,
Crap a good friend of mine got into this…i want to talke him out of it but he already paid and they already sold him on the “dream”. Think Im going to refer him to your site…..
Thanks for your info on this stupid STE venture,

By: RAY

RAY — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 15:37:50 +0000

So now if you go on to STE and apply for a business credit card through the new vendor, Discover Card, then STE will send you $50 once the card is approved. Does not have to be activated or ever used. And if you are stuck with a STE website you can say you are applying for a STE business credit card. A good way to get $50 of your wasted $448 back.

By: Liz

Liz — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:31:30 +0000

I agree totally with you. Unfortunately, I should have followed my gut and not given in to a friend, who asked me to join. Sure, she got $100 as a referral from me, but I got stuck with $448.00 for a useless website. When I requested a refund, I was given a lot of stone-walling as to why I wouldn’t get my money back and the website was cancelled.

By: Toni

Toni — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:50:07 +0000

A couple of my co-workers are attempting to recruit for STE here at my job, and their main selling point (which I think is very ironic) is that there is no selling involved. I don’t know about others, but you will have to be a great salesperson (or recruiter, since ‘there is no selling involved’) to convince me to give you $400 of my hard earned money so that I can work for you. For myself, the wrong approach is to tell me how much money I can make while doing the least work.

My first reaction to something like STE is to do research, and I recommend anyone that is considering the program to do the same. I would like to think that most investors do thorough research about any and all endeavors before risking their time and money.

Kevin- I was thinking the same thing.