The scam is misrepresentation. There's an almost intangible line between "fake it til you make it" and "fraud". There's pushing that line, and there's jumping over it.
- Misrepresented previous client list
- Misrepresented project experience
- Misrepresented personal brand (fake LinkedIn reviews)
- Misrepresented other brands (faking reviews from fake Nike employees)
- Misrepresented company status (faked employees)
- Misrepresented company director status (fake GQ adverts, fake instagram followers)
The scam is that an individual carefully constructed a fake reality to sell a "job" to a bunch of individuals under false pretences. This wasn't an honest mistake. It was an orchestrated and premeditated punt at using a group of individuals labour at zero cost to land a big client for significant financial reward for the perpetrator.
> A scam is something which is a deception or a lie, not terms to which you openly agree to.
"Come join our new agency. We have no client list, or leads, and no pedigree with which to land a big client, and I will be unable to pay you until we land our first client"
vs
"I am a highly successful creative director with a swathe of personal and professional connections to high value businesses. I am offering a commission only role but given <all of the misrepresentation> we will definitely land 7 figure contracts! You don't have to take my word for it, look at all the <carefully crafted misrepresentation>"
Shameful to be insinuating this is an honest business practice, IMO
- Misrepresented previous client list - Misrepresented project experience - Misrepresented personal brand (fake LinkedIn reviews) - Misrepresented other brands (faking reviews from fake Nike employees) - Misrepresented company status (faked employees) - Misrepresented company director status (fake GQ adverts, fake instagram followers)
The scam is that an individual carefully constructed a fake reality to sell a "job" to a bunch of individuals under false pretences. This wasn't an honest mistake. It was an orchestrated and premeditated punt at using a group of individuals labour at zero cost to land a big client for significant financial reward for the perpetrator.
> A scam is something which is a deception or a lie, not terms to which you openly agree to.
"Come join our new agency. We have no client list, or leads, and no pedigree with which to land a big client, and I will be unable to pay you until we land our first client"
vs
"I am a highly successful creative director with a swathe of personal and professional connections to high value businesses. I am offering a commission only role but given <all of the misrepresentation> we will definitely land 7 figure contracts! You don't have to take my word for it, look at all the <carefully crafted misrepresentation>"
Shameful to be insinuating this is an honest business practice, IMO