Archive | Aug 2008
The Sarah Palin pregnancy cover-up that wasn’t (updated)
I’m predicting that the dust-up concerning Sarah Palin’s youngest child, Trig, is all fabricated. Bloggers like one at The Daily Kos are going so far as to declare that he is definitely the child of her 16 year-old daughter, Bristol. But they don’t let silly little things like concrete evidence deter them. They have no [...]
Continue reading...Sarah Palin: I’m insulted
30 Aug 2008
No, it’s not what you think. I’m not insulted that she chose to bring into this world the precious life that God was kind enough to give to her and her husband. No, an abortion (baby killing) wasn’t preferable. I’m not insulted that Sarah returned to work 3 days after having her baby. I think adults can [...]
Continue reading...Shop to Earn member says the company won’t refund his money
30 Aug 2008
This isn’t the first reader commenting here about their ability to get a refund from ShopToEarn (aka ShopToEarth). If you sign up as a member, there is apparently a clause which offers refunds, but members seem to have a hard time actually getting their money back. This member said:
Continue reading...United First Financial’s new math (It’s still not worth $3,500.)
30 Aug 2008
Guest post by Craig Hansen The fine folks at United First Financial (UFF) have come out with a new version of their Money Merge Account (MMA). It’s version 4, and it’s marketed as something that uses… factorial math! And promoters are saying the software does over 3 million calculations each time you use it to analyze [...]
Continue reading...Mutual funds suck!
29 Aug 2008
I hate mutual funds. Check this out: Out of almost 2,100 diversified retail U.S. stock mutual funds that are open to new investors, just 17 have positive returns for both the past 12 months and year-to-date, according to investment researcher Morningstar Inc. Less than 1% of mutual funds are in the black for the last 12 months. [...]
Continue reading...Let the bashing of Sarah Palin begin!
29 Aug 2008
This is priceless. CNN.com has a commentary by Paul Begala on John McCain’s selection of Sarah Palin for his running mate. He says in part: Palin a first-term governor of a state with more reindeer than people, will have to put on a few pounds just to be a lightweight. Her personal story is impressive: former [...]
Continue reading...Barack Obama’s experience (or lack thereof)
29 Aug 2008
“You know, I am a believer in … in knowing what you’re doing when you apply for a job. Uh, and I think that … if I were seriously to consider running on a national ticket, I would essentially have to start now, before having served a day in the Senate. Now there may be [...]
Continue reading...Len Clements: Usana distributor with “seasoned” associate number
27 Aug 2008
Well, well, well. Leonard Clements, defender of Usana to his death, former “executive” of multi-level marketing company Zenza, failed business owner… is now a Usana distributor. But he’s not just any distributor. No, any distributor number would not do for Len. He’s got the number 47278, which is an old, old number. (We’re talking 15 [...]
Continue reading...United First Financial scam: You’re using the bank’s money to pay down your mortgage
27 Aug 2008
Banking 101 - If you’re “using the bank’s money” it means you’ve borrowed it from the bank and you’re going to pay interest to “use” it. You don’t get to use it for free. The United First Financial Money Merge Account supposedly uses “the bank’s money” to help you pay off your mortgage faster. After paying [...]
Continue reading...Ufirst Money Merge Account: Resistance is futile
26 Aug 2008
One of the most common forms of “training” offered to members of multi-level marketing companies (also known as direct sales, pyramid schemes, dual marketing, networking marketing, etc) is Overcoming Objections. Why is that such a key? Because all of the ones that I’ve seen have overpriced, underperforming products, and consumers are usually pretty quick to [...]
Continue reading...- Is Shop to Earn a scam or a legitimate business?
- More on why ShopToEarn sucks (and so do MyPowerMall and TeamNational)
- MonaVie: Scam or not?
- Mary Kay Cosmetics: Destroying half a million women a year
- Primerica Financial Services a scam?
- Shop To Earn lawyer bullying bloggers
- The Pyramid Scheme aspect of Primerica Financial Services
- The Sarah Palin pregnancy cover-up that wasn't (updated)
- What does Dave Ramsey think about United First Financial
- A new pyramid scheme: United First Financial
- quixtarisacult: Dave… Obviously this IbendOverFORbuddies fellow can not...
- Teresa Botial: who cares if the customer likes the products and it fits their...
- quixtarisacult: Thomas… I am sure you are the kind of reader that Tracy...
- Tabitha: Pet owners are responsible for their pets, just like parents are...
- Duped: Thank you for researching Ms. Palin, a larger than life individual who...
- Thomas: A friend of mine recently got involved with UFF. He gave me a quick...
- David Brear: Since the original police investigation of Amway in Andhra...
- Tracy Coenen: Sorry, Charlie. You still don’t get it. All you have to...
- Mercedes: All I was saying Tracy (I think I understand your sarcasm) is that...
- Charlie: you know, I was following some of the links posted here and some of...
- Searching for Shop to Earn scam
- Debunking Sarah Palin rumors and lies
- Check out the pork in the bailout bill
- The $700 billion bailout should fail on its own merits
- Criminal charges against Amway in India
- The lure of multi-level marketing
- The UFF Money Merge Account money shuffle explained
- Mark Cuban’s idea on a private bailout of the financial sector
- Somebody please check Henry Paulson
- Bailout to include consumer debt?
About the Author
Tracy Coenen is a forensic accountant and fraud examiner who investigates white collar crimes, including cases of financial statement fraud, embezzlement, tax fraud, and insurance fraud. She is the author of Essentials of Corporate Fraud and more than 100 articles on fraud featured in industry publications.
31 Aug 2008
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