mostdivinemind
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Hey guys, so I posted an ad on Craigslist that pretty much said that I was looking for stock market mentor ship and in exchange I was willing to give up a percentage of my portfolio or any of the services that my small businesses have to offer. I eventually got a reply and the text messages are below.
Do you guys think that this seems like a scam or should I risk the money and go for it?
Any other advice on getting started in the market would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!
(These are the ACTUAL text messages and I did not remove/alter a single thing)
[Mentor]1,000 dollars now and 3% of your monthly profits for a two month period. I will teach you one of my proprietary stock investing methods and I'll mentor you while you learn. I'm a multiple business owner specializing in investments and manufacturing... contact me if your serious and ready to get started..
[Me]Of course. That sounds great! Thank you for replying to my ad by the way. So anyway it's $1,000 as a mentoring fee and you said only a two month period? How much money do I need as an initial investment?
[Mentor]Your initial investment amount would depend on the market segment that you're interested in. However I recommend that you start with no more than 5,000. Within a two month time frame you should have a positive ROI with my help...
[Me]I see. How would I determine which market segment I should cover, is it more of a personal choice or is there a segment that's better than the rest?
[Mentor]The market segment that one chooses MUST always be based on PROFITS... Always base all decisions on profit potential....
[Me]Sounds like a plan. I will keep that in my mind throughout my entire journey. So what exactly is it that I need to get started?
[Mentor]1,000 dollars now and 2 months of available time, which would consist of 2 or 3 hours of training per week. Within 18 hours of mentoring you should be ready to fly solo... however if you need additional help I would be available.
[Me]Ok. Would this be done online, would I travel to you or how does all this work? Say if I have the money and I am ready to start, what's the next step to take?
[Mentor]The mentoring would be via phone, email, texting, Skype when available and in person when I'm at My office in Las Vegas, NV if you're local and when our schedules permit...
[Me]Ok and when are you usually free? Does your schedule vary or when would be an ideal time for you?
[Mentor]This month (July) and August are months in which I can dedicate 18 - 24 hours to you if you're serious and ready to proceed... Historically September has shown profitable opportunities in select commodities offerings, therefore getting started now would be ideal...
[Me] I see. So are you in Vegas now so that we can meet or what would be the first step to take?
[Mentor]I'm currently in Portland and will be back in Vegas this Friday... I suggest that you pay your mentoring fee of 1,000 dollars which could be done by credit/debit card via my PayPal business account, that way you would have a receipt of payment and we could proceed immediately via phone and texting and meet in person this Friday.
[Me]Ok. Could I just pay you cash when we meet?
[Mentor]Sure that's fine. Can you tell me a little about yourself....
[Me]Of course. I'm 21, going to UNLV for Computer Science. Single, no kids. Started my first business when I was 15. Currently have a cell phone repair store and an a separate online business. I'm looking to get started trading as I see a lot more potential in that. I know just the basics about the market. Like some vocabulary, basic knowledge of how it works and I played on a stock market simulator for 30 days last month and had a small positive return on my investment with a consistent strategy that I came up with. I look at this opportunity having a lot of potential for both us to make lots of money as I am willing to share my profits since you are teaching me after all. Which leads me to ask you, why $1,000? It just seems such an insignificant number compared to me offering you a percentage of my portfolio. I'm not sure if that's all that you wanted to know about me or if there's something else, if you have any questions let me know.
[Mentor]1,000 dollars upfront and 3% of the portfolio profits over a two month period is my standard arrangement. My trading systems and strategies are unique and come from hard won experience. The 1,000 shows me you're committed and ensures me that you will follow my methods.
[Me]I see. So have you done this with other people too or would I be the first?
[Mentor]Yes I have been mentoring others since 2006 in matters of business development and alternative investment methods and strategies.
[Me]Okay so you said that $1,000 upfront and 3% of portfolio for 2 months is your standard arrangement, which other arrangements do you have?
[Mentor]I have a upfront flat fee and a split fee arrangement of 500 dollars upfront and the balance of 500 in 30 days, however the portfolio profit percentage would be increased to 7% over the same two month period.
[Me]I see. That's my only concern so far. A couple of weeks ago there was a guy who promised me to do the same thing just like you and I payed him $1500 cash upfront and I never saw him again and he won't answer my calls or text so is there anyway that we can start and I'll give you the full $1,000 two weeks after we start and 3% for 5 months?
[Mentor]I have a potential loss of two weeks of my time which is not refundable. I've built, developed and or redeveloped businesses for more than two decades, I too got started at a young age... I have to stick to the options in which I've presented to you as I don't have time to keep bantering back and forth. I wish you luck...
--At this point, I did not reply as I did not know what to say but he sent me the message below the next day--
[Mentor]I will give you some advice, if you choose to accept it. First, Never allow the bad deeds of others to negatively effect your goals and ambitions. Secondly, A rule from Investing 101: The most basic concept in finance, the time value of money states that a dollar today is worth more than a dollar at sometime in the future. ture. If you invest 1,000 in a 5% savings account today, it will be worth 1,050 in one year. Therefore, if you can have 1,000 today or choose to have 1,000 one year from now, it is always ways better to have the money now because of its potential to grow. I'm sure you know this, however you must keep it at the forefront of your mind and when buying stocks always look for real world value and not simply book value. Furthermore be cautious when reviewing P/E Ratios and Financial Statements... This is advice that's sometimes overlooked, so tread lightly and don't get caught up in the next big thing!!! Find True Value...
[Me]I really do appreciate your advice. You seem like you would be a great mentor. Would you consider $200 upfront and $800 in two weeks? Plus 7% for the first two months? If so, I would be happy to get started as soon as you're ready.
[Mentor]You're willing to make a financial commitment upfront, that's great as that's good business in this case... I will accept 350 now and 650 in two weeks to include 7% over the two month period. If these terms are acceptable to you we can start as soon as the 350 is received. My methods are unique, keep that in mind and follow my lead... You will get more than your monies worth!
So scam or not? What do you guys think?
Do you guys think that this seems like a scam or should I risk the money and go for it?
Any other advice on getting started in the market would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!
(These are the ACTUAL text messages and I did not remove/alter a single thing)
[Mentor]1,000 dollars now and 3% of your monthly profits for a two month period. I will teach you one of my proprietary stock investing methods and I'll mentor you while you learn. I'm a multiple business owner specializing in investments and manufacturing... contact me if your serious and ready to get started..
[Me]Of course. That sounds great! Thank you for replying to my ad by the way. So anyway it's $1,000 as a mentoring fee and you said only a two month period? How much money do I need as an initial investment?
[Mentor]Your initial investment amount would depend on the market segment that you're interested in. However I recommend that you start with no more than 5,000. Within a two month time frame you should have a positive ROI with my help...
[Me]I see. How would I determine which market segment I should cover, is it more of a personal choice or is there a segment that's better than the rest?
[Mentor]The market segment that one chooses MUST always be based on PROFITS... Always base all decisions on profit potential....
[Me]Sounds like a plan. I will keep that in my mind throughout my entire journey. So what exactly is it that I need to get started?
[Mentor]1,000 dollars now and 2 months of available time, which would consist of 2 or 3 hours of training per week. Within 18 hours of mentoring you should be ready to fly solo... however if you need additional help I would be available.
[Me]Ok. Would this be done online, would I travel to you or how does all this work? Say if I have the money and I am ready to start, what's the next step to take?
[Mentor]The mentoring would be via phone, email, texting, Skype when available and in person when I'm at My office in Las Vegas, NV if you're local and when our schedules permit...
[Me]Ok and when are you usually free? Does your schedule vary or when would be an ideal time for you?
[Mentor]This month (July) and August are months in which I can dedicate 18 - 24 hours to you if you're serious and ready to proceed... Historically September has shown profitable opportunities in select commodities offerings, therefore getting started now would be ideal...
[Me] I see. So are you in Vegas now so that we can meet or what would be the first step to take?
[Mentor]I'm currently in Portland and will be back in Vegas this Friday... I suggest that you pay your mentoring fee of 1,000 dollars which could be done by credit/debit card via my PayPal business account, that way you would have a receipt of payment and we could proceed immediately via phone and texting and meet in person this Friday.
[Me]Ok. Could I just pay you cash when we meet?
[Mentor]Sure that's fine. Can you tell me a little about yourself....
[Me]Of course. I'm 21, going to UNLV for Computer Science. Single, no kids. Started my first business when I was 15. Currently have a cell phone repair store and an a separate online business. I'm looking to get started trading as I see a lot more potential in that. I know just the basics about the market. Like some vocabulary, basic knowledge of how it works and I played on a stock market simulator for 30 days last month and had a small positive return on my investment with a consistent strategy that I came up with. I look at this opportunity having a lot of potential for both us to make lots of money as I am willing to share my profits since you are teaching me after all. Which leads me to ask you, why $1,000? It just seems such an insignificant number compared to me offering you a percentage of my portfolio. I'm not sure if that's all that you wanted to know about me or if there's something else, if you have any questions let me know.
[Mentor]1,000 dollars upfront and 3% of the portfolio profits over a two month period is my standard arrangement. My trading systems and strategies are unique and come from hard won experience. The 1,000 shows me you're committed and ensures me that you will follow my methods.
[Me]I see. So have you done this with other people too or would I be the first?
[Mentor]Yes I have been mentoring others since 2006 in matters of business development and alternative investment methods and strategies.
[Me]Okay so you said that $1,000 upfront and 3% of portfolio for 2 months is your standard arrangement, which other arrangements do you have?
[Mentor]I have a upfront flat fee and a split fee arrangement of 500 dollars upfront and the balance of 500 in 30 days, however the portfolio profit percentage would be increased to 7% over the same two month period.
[Me]I see. That's my only concern so far. A couple of weeks ago there was a guy who promised me to do the same thing just like you and I payed him $1500 cash upfront and I never saw him again and he won't answer my calls or text so is there anyway that we can start and I'll give you the full $1,000 two weeks after we start and 3% for 5 months?
[Mentor]I have a potential loss of two weeks of my time which is not refundable. I've built, developed and or redeveloped businesses for more than two decades, I too got started at a young age... I have to stick to the options in which I've presented to you as I don't have time to keep bantering back and forth. I wish you luck...
--At this point, I did not reply as I did not know what to say but he sent me the message below the next day--
[Mentor]I will give you some advice, if you choose to accept it. First, Never allow the bad deeds of others to negatively effect your goals and ambitions. Secondly, A rule from Investing 101: The most basic concept in finance, the time value of money states that a dollar today is worth more than a dollar at sometime in the future. ture. If you invest 1,000 in a 5% savings account today, it will be worth 1,050 in one year. Therefore, if you can have 1,000 today or choose to have 1,000 one year from now, it is always ways better to have the money now because of its potential to grow. I'm sure you know this, however you must keep it at the forefront of your mind and when buying stocks always look for real world value and not simply book value. Furthermore be cautious when reviewing P/E Ratios and Financial Statements... This is advice that's sometimes overlooked, so tread lightly and don't get caught up in the next big thing!!! Find True Value...
[Me]I really do appreciate your advice. You seem like you would be a great mentor. Would you consider $200 upfront and $800 in two weeks? Plus 7% for the first two months? If so, I would be happy to get started as soon as you're ready.
[Mentor]You're willing to make a financial commitment upfront, that's great as that's good business in this case... I will accept 350 now and 650 in two weeks to include 7% over the two month period. If these terms are acceptable to you we can start as soon as the 350 is received. My methods are unique, keep that in mind and follow my lead... You will get more than your monies worth!
So scam or not? What do you guys think?
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