P.T.Barnum Theory.
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Original Text
From Peter Steffen <[log in to unmask]>, on 10/6/97 7:25 PM:
Does anyone actually fall for this garbage????
MIke Downey wrote in message <[log in to unmask]>...
>Folks,
>
>I hesitated about trying this and ended up in financial collapse.  Now
>that I have tried it, I receive envelopes by mail with dollar bills in
>them. How is this possible?  Take a minute and read
> This is not a get rich quick scheme; it is your own home business
>developing mailing lists.  It is legal.  Like most people I am skeptical
>of things of this nature.  But, after much thought,I have tried it out.
>Honestly, it takes a lot of work on your part to make it work.  In the
>end you will be satisfied.
>
>Please read through the attached comments and excerpts.  They are quite
>thorough on how this will work for you.  There is absolutely nothing to
>lose on this deal!!!!
>
>
>   (Excerpt From Bob Novak Who Started This New Version)
>
>
>     NEW VERSION ! 1997   (Legal Questions Addressed!)
>
>
>       "In late October of 1996, I saw an article in an
>internet newsgroup telling me that I could make $50,000
>within a month for an investment of only $5. I thought, "OH
>YAH!! I'VE GOT A BRIDGE I'LL SELL YOU TOO!!"  It sounded
>like all the rest of the "get rich quick" schemes and scams
>I've seen over the past 40 years or so.
>
>        I spoke to my attorney, a few friends, and family about
>it, and they all agreed it was some kind of scam.  I can't
>stand scams, because usually someone gets burned, and I
>didn't want it to be me. After rejecting the idea at first,
>it kind of played on my mind and I thought, "what if it
>really worked?" I realized all I had to lose was $5.00, I
>usually blow that much on the lottery every week anyway, so
>I figured what the heck, and decided to give it a shot.
>
>        Within two weeks I began receiving money in the mail!
>Soon, hundreds, and then thousands of dollars began to roll
>in.  Within 4 weeks, I had received a total of $46,812.00!
>It came from everywhere in the world."  Lately, I've doubled
>my efforts and the money is rolling in even faster.  I would
>tell you how much but then the IRS would know also, let's
>just say it's a VERY comfortable living.  Now, I am really
>going to work!  If I can make as much as I have, and still
>am, on a lousy $5.00 investment, why not double it and make
>the "Big Bucks" twice as fast?  Anybody can afford to gamble
>$5.00 on a chance to make $100,000.00 or more in a month,
>especially when the business has already proven itself."
>
>        If you follow the three steps below, there is no reason
>why the same shouldn't happen to you!  This is a legitimate
>investment opportunity. You invest $5, and you receive a
>return on your investment.  So does the next investor.  THIS
>IS NOT ILLEGAL, THIS IS NOT A CHAIN LETTER, THIS IS
>PERFECTLY LEGITIMATE.  (See additional legal details below.)
>
>
> THE PROCEDURE IS SIMPLE:
>
> 1) Invest your $5.00 by writing your name and address on five
>separate pieces of paper along with the words: "PLEASE ADD
>ME TO YOUR MAILING LIST:  $1USD PROCESSING FEE IS ENCLOSED."
>(In this way, you're not just sending ONE dollar to someone;
>you're paying for a legitimate service.) Fold $1 U.S. Treasury
>bill, money order, or bank note inside each piece of paper, and
>mail them by standard U. S. Mail to the following five addresses:
>
>
> 1.  J.T. Heenan
>     50855 Washington St.#124
>     LaQuinta Ca. 92253
>
> 2.  Michelle Beth D.
>     2514 Averett St. N.W.
>     Roanoke, Va. 24012
>
>
> 3.  Cecil Jacques
>     5607 Bear Road apt. I-8
>     North Syracuse, NY 13212
>
> 4.  Michael William D.
>     HHB 1-41 FA Box #124
>     Ft. Stuart, Ga. 31314
>
> 5.  Ben Downey
>     5677 Williamson Pkwy
>     Cicero, NY 13039
>
> 2) Now remove the top name from the list, and move the
>other four names up. In other words, #5 becomes #4 and so
>on. Put your name as the fifth one on the list. You can do
>this by simply retyping the article or reposting it to other
>newsgroups with the edited addresses.
>
> 3) Post the article to at least 200 newsgroups. There are
>22,000, so it shouldn't be hard to find that many. Remember,
>there are no "Free Lunches" in this world so the harder you
>work the more money you will make.
>
> 4) If you want a list of over 700 newsgroups, mail your E-mail
>address or a self addressed envelope with $2USD to:
>     Ben Downey
>     5677 Williamson Pkwy
>     Cicero, NY 13039
>
>       You are now in the mail order investment business, and
>should start seeing returns within a week or two. Of course,
>the more newsgroups you post to, the greater your return
>will be. If you wish to remain anonymous, you may use a
>pseudonym, but make sure your address is correct.
>
> LEGAL ? ? ?
>
>        People have asked me if this is really legal.  It is!
>You are using the Internet to advertise your business.  What
>is that business?  You are assembling a mailing list of
>people who are interested in home based computer and online
>businesses and methods of generating income at home.
> Remember - people send you a small fee to be added to your
>list. It is legal. What will you do with your list of
>thousands of names?  That's up to you. "
>
>
>MORE LEGALESE:
>
>     This opportunity has been incorrectly described as a 'pyramid
>scheme' by doubters and those unwilling to risk $5 for the chance at
>a huge payoff.  This is not a pyramid, and not even as close to one as
>many 'legitimized' multi-level marketing systems (Amway, NSA, etc. etc.)
>The difference here is that the names above you do not remain on the
>list forever -- in five rounds they are removed.  There is no residual
>income that continues forever with no further effort on your part.  You
>can always add your name to the bottom of the next list you see, but
>you start from the bottom again.
>
>     Build your mailing list, keep good accounts, declare the income,
>and pay your taxes.  By doing this you prove your business intentions,
>and can also take advantage of business write-offs on your tax return.
>You need your computer, an internet account, and a spreadsheet, database
>or mailing list software to conduct your business.  You will also need
>to drive to the bank, the post office, the office supply store -- all
>of these costs can be used to offset your income taxes.
>
>     There really is no risk -- eat cheaper lunches for a week and
>you've covered the $5.  The biggest risk is not to try.
>
>       There's my pitch; Now back to BOB NOVAK:
>
>" NOW HERE IS WHY THE SYSTEM WORKS:
>
>        The internet is growing at a tremendous rate - it
>doubles in size every 4 months.  Think about it.  You see
>those "Make Money Fast" posts more and more.  All that
>growth means profits for everyone who participates. There
>are no losers.
>
>        Of every 200 posts I made, I received 5 responses. That
>probably doesn't seem like much.  You make $5 for every 200
>posts with your name at #5.
>
> Each person who sent you $1 now also makes 200 additional
>postings with your name at #4. i.e.. 1000 postings. On
>average therefore, 50 people will send you $1 with your name
>at #4. $50.00.
>
> Your 50 new agents make 200 postings each with your name at
>#3 or 10,000 postings. Average return 500 people=$500.00.
>They make 200 postings each with your name at #2=100,000
>postings=5000 return at $1 each=$5,000.
>
>  Finally, 5,000 people make 200 postings with your name at
>#1 and you get a return of $50,000 before your name drops
>off the list. AND THAT'S IF EVERYONE DOWN THE LINE MAKES
>ONLY 200 POSTINGS!  Total income in one cycle = $50,000.
>
> From time to time, when you see your name no longer on the
>list, you take the latest posting that appears in the
>newsgroups, and send out another $5, and put your name at
>#5, and start posting again. Remember, 200 postings is only
>a guideline. The more you post, the greater the return.
>
>        Lets review why you should do this. THE ONLY COST IS
>$5, AND 5 STAMPS, AND 5 ENVELOPES.  Anyone can afford $5
>for such an effortless investment with such SPECTACULAR RETURNS.
>
>        Some people have said to me, "what happens if the
>scheme is played out and no one sends me any money?" Big
>Deal, so you lose $5.00 but what are the chances of that
>happening?  SINCE THIS IS A BRAND NEW PROGRAM AS OF JANUARY
>1, 1997, YOU'RE IN ON THE GROUND FLOOR!
>
>        There are millions of internet users, and millions of
>new net surfers every month.
>
>        Remember- read the instructions carefully, and PLAY FAIRLY.
>THAT IS THE ONLY WAY THIS SYSTEM WILL WORK.  Get a printout
>so you can refer back to this article easily.
>
>        Keep a list of everyone that sends you money, keep good
>books, pay your taxes, and always keep an eye on the
>postings to make sure everyone is playing fairly. You know
>where your name should be.
>
>        If you're really not sure or still think this can't be
>for real, then don't do it. But please print this article
>and pass it along to someone you know who really needs the
>bucks, and see what happens.
>
>        REMEMBER-HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. WHAT ARE 10
>DOLLARS TO YOU? YOU DON'T NEED TO CHEAT THIS IDEA TO MAKE
>MONEY!!! (We will monitor the program and if we find you
>have cheated by not sending your money to your five
>recipients, we will just dump you out of the system). This
>is the easiest way that you can make a buck.  Think how
>excited you'll be to open up your mailbox day after day!
>Will it be $50? or $5,000?  Start making your plans, because
>it can happen to you.
>
>        DON'T PASS UP THIS ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY!!! "
>
>
>
>    ------------------------------------------------------------
>
>                         Extra section:
>
>        HOW TO POST TO NEWSGROUPS FAST WITH YOUR WEB BROWSER:
>
>
>
>              The Fastest Way To Post To a Newsletter:
>
>Highlight and COPY (Ctrl-C for copy) the text of this e-mail message
>and PASTE it into a text editor (Notepad) and SAVE it (as a .txt file).
>
>After you have made the necessary changes that are outlined above,
>simply COPY and PASTE the text into the message section of the message
>composition window, select a Newsgroup and post it!
>
>
>     ------------------------------------------------------------
>
>         If you have Netscape 3.0 do EXACTLY the following:
>
>1) Click on any news group like normal, THEN click on 'TO NEWS', which
>is on the far left when you're in the newsgroups page.  This will bring
>up a box to type a message in.
>
>2) Leave the newsgroup box like it is, CHANGE the subject box to some-
>thing flashy, like, "NEED CASH $$$  READ HERE $$$" or "FAST CASH"!!!
>
>3) Tab once and you should be ready to type.  Now, retype (only once)
>THIS whole article WORD FOR WORD, except insert your name at #5, and
>remove #1 off the list, plus any other small changes you think you need
>to make.  Keep almost all of it the SAME!
>
>4) When you're done typing the WHOLE article, click on FILE in THIS BOX,
>RIGHT ABOVE SEND, NOT WHERE IT SAYS NETSCAPE NEWS ON THE FIRST BOX.
>
>Click on SAVE AS when you're under FILE.  Save your article as a text
>file to your C: or A: drive.  DO NOT SEND OR POST YOUR ARTICLE UNTIL
>YOU DO THIS.  Once saved, move on to number 5 below.
>
>NOTE: If you don't want to type in the whole article by hand, AND you
>know how to use a plain text editor (like Notepad), you can edit the
>file ahead of time, then attach it as shown in step 6.
>
>5) If you still have all of your text, send or post to this newsgroup
>now by just clicking send (right below FILE, and right above Cc:).
>
>6) Here's where you're going to post all 200.  OK, click on any news
>group then click on 'TO NEWS', again in the top left corner.  Leave the
>NEWSGROUPS BOX alone again, put a flashy subject title in the SUBJECT
>BOX, hit TAB once and you're in the body of the message. Click on
>ATTACHMENTS, which is below the SUBJECT BOX.  You will get another box
>to come up.  Click on ATTACH FILE, then find YOUR file that you saved;
>click on the file, and then click 'OPEN' now click on OK; if you did
>this right, you should see your file name in the attachments box, and
>it will be shaded green.
>
>Note: If you don't want to type in the whole article and you know how
>to use a plain text editor (Notepad), you can edit the file ahead of
>time, then attach it.
>
>
>                                QUICK TIP!
>
>You can post this message to many newsgroups at a time by simply
>selecting a newsgroup near the top of the screen, hold down the SHIFT
>key, and then select a newsgroup near the bottom of the screen.  All of
>the newsgroup in-between will also be selected.
>
>
>                         IF YOU USE IE EXPLORER...
>
>IT'S JUST AS EASY...HOLDING DOWN THE LEFT MOUSE BUTTON, highlight this
>article.  then press the "crtl" key and the "c" key at the same time to
>copy this article.  Then print this article for your records, to have
>the names of those you will be sending $1 bills to.
>
>2) Go to the news groups and press "post an article".  A window will
>open. Type in your headline in the subject area and then click in the
>large window below.  Press "crtl" and then "v" and the article will be
>placed in the window.
>
>If you want to edit the article, do so and then highlight and copy it
>again. Now every time you post the article in a new newsgroup all you
>have to repeat is "ctrl" and "v" and press post.
>
>3) That's it.  Each time you do this, all you have to do is type in a
>different newsgroup, so that way, it posts to 200 DIFFERENT newsgroups,
>or more.
>
>You see?  Now you just have 199 to go!! (Don't worry, each one takes
>about 30 seconds, once you get used to it.)
>
>
>                        REMEMBER 200 IS THE MINIMUM.