For real news regarding scams and schemes affecting you, stay tuned to REAL news, not bogus news spread through your uplines and similar people out to recruit you.
Zeek Receiver Announce First Distribution Coming 30-SEP-2014
On the ZeekRewardsReceivership website, receiver Ken Bell announced that the first interim distribution is tentatively scheduled for 30-SEP-2014. All people who have filed a claim must have accepted the claim by 15-AUG-2014 to be paid by 30-SEP-2014. Also, those outside of the US must sign the OFACS waiver as well. Please see the ZeekRewardsReceivership.com update for yourself, as linked above.
Obviously this will NOT be the only distribution, but rather than make victims wait even longer (Zeek was closed in 2012!) a distribution will be made now while receiver goes after more net winners.
Sann Rodrigues will NOT receive award in Brazilian Congress
An event arranged by a Sao Paolo business leader Regino Barros to honor Sann Rodrigues, accused pyramid scheme TelexFree co-conspirator, and other people, has been cancelled hours before it was to start, according to iG News in Brazil. Sann Rodrigues was scheduled to receive "multi-level marketer of the year" award, according to program notes for the event, where Regino Barros will name Sann Rodrigues to "Multi-level Marketing Regulatory Agency", which is a private organization, despite the official sounding name and is not a government agency, according to iG. The senator who booked the room in Congress for Barros apparently was surprised at seeing Rodrigues' name on the list of honorees, but replied "we should not crucify before we have all the fact." when questioned by iG about Rodrigues. It is unknown if Rodrigues would have attended personally.
http://economia.ig.com.br/2014-05-29/homenagem-a-lider-da-telexfree-no-senado-e-cancelada.html (in Portuguese) and thanks to PatrickPretty for the lead
a blog about Skepticism, MLM, Scams, and Critical Thinking
Friday, May 30, 2014
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Scam Psychology: The Illusion of Asymmetric Insight
Ever heard of "illusion of asymmetric insight"? No? Me neither, at least not until about a week ago, when I heard it on the "You're not so smart" podcast.
The premise is quite simple: let's say A and B have a difference of opinion on a certain issue. However, A thinks that he understands B's position better than B understands A's position. Sometimes, A thinks he understands B's position than B understands his own position.
The reverse is also true: A believe he knows his own position far better than any one ever could, certainly more than B's understanding of A's position, at least in A's own mind.
The problem is more often than not, this is an illusion, not reality.
Lord of the Flies
In 1954, a group of psychologists, posing as camp counselors, got 11 and 12-year old boys into a camp... on separate ends of the camp. The two groups don't even know each other exists as they arrived on separate buses via separate routes. As psychologists predicted, a social order quickly emerged, with leaders taking charge and the rest will serve the order in whatever roles needed. The two groups are nearly identical... except they are on separate ends of the camp.
So what happened when they met? Well, you can read the short account by David McRaney of "You are not so smart". Let's just say, one of the things each group obsessed on is trying to find differences between the two groups... and used that difference to "prove" (to themselves) that their own way is superior and the other group is inferior, even though such differences are trivial.
And the experiment almost got out of hand when... let's just say... knives were involved.
http://youarenotsosmart.com/2011/08/21/the-illusion-of-asymmetric-insight/
The premise is quite simple: let's say A and B have a difference of opinion on a certain issue. However, A thinks that he understands B's position better than B understands A's position. Sometimes, A thinks he understands B's position than B understands his own position.
The reverse is also true: A believe he knows his own position far better than any one ever could, certainly more than B's understanding of A's position, at least in A's own mind.
The problem is more often than not, this is an illusion, not reality.
 |
| Cover of Lord of the Flies, Educational Edition |
In 1954, a group of psychologists, posing as camp counselors, got 11 and 12-year old boys into a camp... on separate ends of the camp. The two groups don't even know each other exists as they arrived on separate buses via separate routes. As psychologists predicted, a social order quickly emerged, with leaders taking charge and the rest will serve the order in whatever roles needed. The two groups are nearly identical... except they are on separate ends of the camp.
So what happened when they met? Well, you can read the short account by David McRaney of "You are not so smart". Let's just say, one of the things each group obsessed on is trying to find differences between the two groups... and used that difference to "prove" (to themselves) that their own way is superior and the other group is inferior, even though such differences are trivial.
And the experiment almost got out of hand when... let's just say... knives were involved.
http://youarenotsosmart.com/2011/08/21/the-illusion-of-asymmetric-insight/
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
News Update 27-MAY-2014: TelexFree losing more telecom license; Trustee to Take Over TelexFree? SEC explains where did the money go
Remember folks... Don't believe crap info passed along by ex-TelexFree affiliates but instead seek out real news websites for information. The TelexFree affiliates are prone to pass along mis-information that they believe are "good news" when they are not.
TelexFree under investigation in Oregon
In a recently filed memo, as found by PatrickPretty.com, Oregon joined Nevada and Minnesota in their slow-move to deny the TelexFree telecom license applications, which was previously started by Joe Isaacs of ISG Telecom when he was helping TelexFree. When the ruse by TelexFree was discovered, Joe Isaacs quickly sent letter explaining he was duped, and he's no longer involved, and all the numbers he filed for TelexFree may have been lies.
http://patrickpretty.com/2014/05/27/telexfree-faces-prospect-of-regulatory-probe-in-oregon/
Judge Signals Quick Approval for Trustee Takeover of TelexFree
(Wall Street Journal) In the first bankruptcy court session in Massachusetts, Judge Holman said he will appoint a trustee to take over the company from the existing management as soon as all the paperwork are in. All parties, including the SEC, US Trustee, DOJ, and TelexFree have no objection or approve of the trustee takeover.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303403604579588452063956192
Editor's note: This news was passed around by TelexFree affiliates as a "great victory". It is NOT a victory.
Facts are
For a look at what a bankruptcy trustee can do, look up "Irving Picard", who's the trustee for Bernie Madoff's ponzi scheme.
TelexFree under investigation in Oregon
In a recently filed memo, as found by PatrickPretty.com, Oregon joined Nevada and Minnesota in their slow-move to deny the TelexFree telecom license applications, which was previously started by Joe Isaacs of ISG Telecom when he was helping TelexFree. When the ruse by TelexFree was discovered, Joe Isaacs quickly sent letter explaining he was duped, and he's no longer involved, and all the numbers he filed for TelexFree may have been lies.
http://patrickpretty.com/2014/05/27/telexfree-faces-prospect-of-regulatory-probe-in-oregon/
Judge Signals Quick Approval for Trustee Takeover of TelexFree
(Wall Street Journal) In the first bankruptcy court session in Massachusetts, Judge Holman said he will appoint a trustee to take over the company from the existing management as soon as all the paperwork are in. All parties, including the SEC, US Trustee, DOJ, and TelexFree have no objection or approve of the trustee takeover.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303403604579588452063956192
Editor's note: This news was passed around by TelexFree affiliates as a "great victory". It is NOT a victory.
Facts are
- Trustee has not yet been appointed yet (soon)
- Appointment of trustee does NOT stop the criminal and civil investigation by DOJ and SEC
- Appointment of trustee does NOT stop the class action lawsuit
- Trustee takeover means EVERYBODY in the company is FIRED. It's be like a receiver (like the one for ZeekRewards) who, under supervision of the judge, can SUE people to see return of assets to pay the creditors (i.e. all of you who are owed money).
Whoever told you that the bankruptcy has been "granted" is false, and obviously this does NOT prove or disprove that TelexFree is a pyramid scheme. Company is DEAD.
For a look at what a bankruptcy trustee can do, look up "Irving Picard", who's the trustee for Bernie Madoff's ponzi scheme.
Sunday, May 25, 2014
NEWS UPDATE 25-MAY-2014: Katia Wanzeler released but ordered NOT to travel; TelexFree promoter kidnapped for ransom in Peru
As previously reported, Katia Wanzeler was apparently released from custody on 22-MAY-2014, transported by Marshal service on 23rd and delivered to Massachusetts the same day. Testimony is under seal as are the details of her release. She had to surrender her passport and ordered not to leave the state. Attempt to do so would constitute contempt of court and arrest may result.
In other news, La Republica in Peru reported that a vigilante team of TelexFree victims apparently kidnapped their upline/promoter and tried to force him to withdraw money to refund them. However, being amateurs, their suspicious behavior made the bank trigger the robbery alarm, and they ran, but were soon arrested later, where they confessed to the kidnapping and they only want a refund of their money.
http://www.larepublica.pe/24-05-2014/estafados-secuestraron-a-promotor-de-telexfree (in Spanish)
http://www.losandes.com.pe/Policial/20140524/80360.html (in Spanish)
In other news, La Republica in Peru reported that a vigilante team of TelexFree victims apparently kidnapped their upline/promoter and tried to force him to withdraw money to refund them. However, being amateurs, their suspicious behavior made the bank trigger the robbery alarm, and they ran, but were soon arrested later, where they confessed to the kidnapping and they only want a refund of their money.
http://www.larepublica.pe/24-05-2014/estafados-secuestraron-a-promotor-de-telexfree (in Spanish)
http://www.losandes.com.pe/Policial/20140524/80360.html (in Spanish)
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