Professional Marketing Group - PMG Mentors - Private Mentoring Group - Vermotion - Secure Gate - Fortius rip-off! These scam artists target people with credit or cash selling free information available on internet. Class action lawsuit pending. Provo Utah
My husband, in our case, went to PMG Mentors, and signed up after 2 hours of phone discussion. He was told he would be made on of 100 specially selected apprentices of Jay Abraham. My husband was ranked #4 out of the 100 people selected for 2005 as most likely to succeed. Jay Abraham has an outstanding record, and very high credibility, so it is hard for me to tell if this program is really necessary and feasible.
What Jay was going to do was push my husband Tom very hard to get a website up and running within 10 days or so, and get him on an aggressively fast track that would make us a million dollars within 2005. If one of the 100 people selected succeed in making this goal, Jay would use this success as further future promotion for their company, and this summer, the top 6 acheivers would be flown out to NY for some type of promotional event and celebration.
My husband gave them our credit card info with the FTC on the line, verifying that it was indeed an FTC agent (she gave numbers to verify her valid status as an agent) - we would be charged 10,000 to our credit card, and would have 3 days to rescind on our decision. We have since called to rescind because there are so many reports on this website about PMG that it makes us nervous. I do believe they will refund us, because we have not yet done anything with their materials, and we are well within our 3 days, and because Devin Willis said that they would reverse the charges.
I personally am having a hard time balancing the creditability of Jay Abraham and the plan to take 100 people and personally cultivate them with the complaints on this site, even though most have gotten their money back. (that speaks very well for PMG) I can't tell if the people were just expecting something else or there really was a failure on the part of PMG. PMG has made it clear that WE do the work; they are mentoring us, but WE are finding the actual connections, and they are helping and pushing. So people that complain that they thought everything was done for them are not valid complaints I think. PMG made it clear to us that WE do the work - and validated that we already have ideas of our own to start an internet business selling our own inventions. We fit the profile of the type of people they are looking for quite well I think.
Laureen from New York brought up some valid problems that we are concerned about such as - you must use PMG only as your ISP - you must use vermotions templates to build your site (which might be very limiting) - some coaches have been reported to be less than agressive and helpful in really getting you to the point of successful selling.
Most people say that they could do the same thing for a WHOLE lot less cost - I am inclined to believe it - what PMG is selling is their marketing knowledge and expertise and the people to PUSH you and make you keep accountable. If a person is truly motivated, and my husband IS VERY MOTIVATED, then I think someone can make it themselves. I wouldn't mind spending 10K if it was going to make me in the 6 figure mark within a year, hell, even within the 50's or 60's within a year would make my life.
I'm trying to weigh what they offer with the true benefits and am having a hard time. Laureen, I need to talk to you. I am sending a request to ripoff to get us one anothers info.
Thank you,
Jori Lake in the Hills, Illinois
U.S.A.
CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Laureen
Windham,New York,
U.S.A.
Prosper Inc., Prosper, Prosper Learning, PMG, PMG Mentors are on the run!
#5Consumer Comment
Sat, January 08, 2005
Jori,
I had written RipOff to get your contact info and did not hear a reply yet. However, you can visit my page again and read PMG's reply to my posting. http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff123790.htm
I found PMG's program to be very limiting. Everything that is included in their product is owned by them. Then you run into the problem of trying to move it elsewhere. There seems to be much better deals out there. Most of what you are supplied with can be found on the internet for free. Also, hosting costs are usually cheaper anywhere else. There are shopping carts out there that will work on just about any server.
The reason I went with my local bank as my merchant is because I wanted to know who was handling my money. Then I ran into the problem that PMG's server was not secure. Anyone could view everyone's personal credit card information from the back end of their system, that is anyone who works for them. Not only that, when my computer was hacked, the hackers could view everyone's information right from my own computer since I could view it all. It was a good thing I discovered the hack before the store went live! On a secure site, you can only see the last 4 digits of the card, no expiration date, a transaction number, the date and the amount. That secures the purchasers financial and personal information. Only the merchant themselves, such as authorize.net can see all of the information; full account information and expiration date. After I thought about it, I did not like PMG seeing my accounting software for the business on their server. The program I have now transfers order information right into Quickbooks and for a fraction of the price. Therefore, my host does not see any of my expenses or actual checkbook like they did on Vermotion. Therefore, they cannot see the bottom line.
I did not know much about websites and building them or internet stores, but I have sure learned a lot now. This ordeal has taught me not to give in to high pressure sales and to do all the research myself.
I am so thankful this site is here! It is a great tool for people researching a business. They can count on my support.
James
Philadelphia,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
You've withdrawn just in time
#5Consumer Suggestion
Tue, January 04, 2005
Unfortunately, each of us that have signed up with PMG were told that we're "priviledged" to be chosen for this program. That seems to be part of the sales pitch. The rep who signed me up told me that I'd be receiving a personal phone call from Jay Abraham. Later, I found out that it was a conference call, with at least 50 other people calling in! It's a complete misrepresentation. By the way, Devin and his buddies are recent graduates from Brigham Young University. I found their "success story" on the BYU website, with them bragging that they started a multimillion dollar business fresh out of college. Have you visited the PMG website recently? They've changed their name to Prosper.
Reid
Aiea,Hawaii,
U.S.A.
Mentoring Programs Are All Scams.
#5Consumer Suggestion
Mon, January 03, 2005
Hey there Everyone,
I hope that this rebuttal finds you in good spirits and health.
Don't ever purchase money making opportunities featured in "biz op" magazines, newspaper classifieds, and especially off television infomercials.
Fraudulent companies, that spend enormous amounts of money airing infomercials or purchasing ad space in magazines, are really only interested in having people advertise for them.
That is why there are so many "hidden" disclaimers in fraudulent infomercials. Mentoring programs should also be avoided at all costs. They're ALL scams!
Mentoring programs, especially those based in or around Utah should be avoided at all costs.
WARNING: Infomercial money making products (Donkey Lapre, Carlton full of Sheet, Tom asian monkey Vu, etc, etc) are cheap in quality and severely lack the pertinent information, that are claimed in the infomercial.
Money making products are peddled to compile a list of everyone's contact info. The names and contact info of those who purchase biz op garbage, are often sold to fraudulent third party marketing companies.
This is done, so that fraudulent marketing companies may contact you at a later time and sell you on non existant "mentoring", websites, merchant accounts, etc, etc.
Fraudulent businesses are continually able to shovel their $h!t, because they spend enormous amounts of money hiding behind loopholes in FTC regulations.
A LITTLE ABOUT MENTORING SCAMS:
1. The initial start up fee (average cost $39.99) is only an invite and lure into an elaborate credit card scheme.
2. Fraudulent Infomercial companies hide behind many tiny hidden disclaimers, which are often just a mere flash on ones television.
Their contracts contain many clauses, which make it very difficult to near impossible for one to obtain a refund, regardless of whether or not they live up to their bogus claims.
3. The cost of fraudulent mentoring programs are directly proportional to ones "available credit."
WHY LEGITIMATE MENTORING PROGRAMS DO NOT EXIST AND WHY IT WILL NEVER:
1. Mentoring sounds good in theory, thus allows fraudulent businesses to sell many on the theory. Mentoring is comparable to that of envelope stuffing, which thrived in the early eighties and continues to do so today.
2. Most of the so called experts or "gurus" are unknown to the general public and people have a misconception, that if they are on television or featured in a magazine publication, he or she must be legit.
Sorry to say, the exact opposite is very often much more true.
3. The fact that costs of mentoring programs are directly proportional to ones "available credit" is ABSOLUTE proof, that mentoring programs are nothing but scams.
The fact that mentoring companies are so unwilling and unable to come forward in a public forum with PROOF as to the legitimacy of their program is yet more proof, that mentoring programs are fraudulent, have much to hide and are nothing but scams.
4. When approached by dissatisfied customers, fraudulent mentoring businesses will often claim to be in the business of selling "information" and nothing else.
In a nutshell, fraudulent mentoring companies are in the business of selling bags of gold, while actully delivering bags of $h!t.
5. No true successful individual would ever market his or her strategies to total and complete strangers, especially for less than the profit potential.
EXAMPLE: Incestuous Mike Evans from the fraudulent John Beck Mentoring Institute claimed that I would surely be profiting $10,000.00-$15,000.00 a month, if I followed my coaches instructions.
Funny thing is, the fraudulent John Beck Mentoring Institute was willing to mentor me for only $6,400.00, which just so happened to be the amount of "available credit" on my credit card?
Once I realized, that the information I have been receiving was nothing but a joke and far from what have been agreed upon I phoned the company and had been forced into a long and very unecessary dispute.
PMG is without a doubt a scam and the only thing that could PROVE this bold statement false, is ABSOLUTE PROOF to the contrary.
Until next time, take care Everyone cause I care, Aloha from Hawaii and God Bless.
Reid
Aiea,Hawaii,
U.S.A.
PMG Is Just Another Scam Out Of The Scam Capitol Of The World!
#5Consumer Suggestion
Mon, January 03, 2005
Hey there Jori,
I hope that this rebuttal finds you in good spirits and helath.
I've read your report, and I'm really sorry to say, that you are perhaps the most naive person I have ever encountered.
PMG is nothing but a scam and everyone knows it. There is absolutely no one on the face of this planet, who would be willing and or able to "mentor" total strangers to success.
Telephone mentoring DOES NOT exist! Mentoring programs are ALL scams. Ask yourself these few simple questions.
1. If PMG were truly a legitimate company with the ability to "mentor" others, why would they be selling "programs" to complete strangers?
2. Could it be because they're nice people? LOL.
3. Why aren't the people who are peddling this mentoring garbage doing the program themselves?
4. Why is the cost of these fraudulent mentoring programs always directly proportional to ones "available credit?"
EXAMPLE: Mike Evan's from the fraudulent John Beck Mentoring Institute claimed, that I would be making $10,000.00-$15,000.00 per month in less than a year, if I were to follow the instructions of my "coach."
If it were true, that my "coach" had the ability to "mentor" me to a $10,000.00-$15,000.00 monthly income, why in the world would he be willing to do so for only $6,400.00, which also just so happened to be the amount of "available credit" on my credit card? SCAM!
5. Why hasn't even one "success story" come forward with PROOF of his or her monthly income?
If I were promoting a legitimate program, I would have absolutely zero problem providing PROOF.
PAID testimonials, PAID infomercials, PAID Better Business Bureau memberships, PAID merchant accounts, etc, etc, all PROVE nothing about a business.
In closing Jori, would you please provide PROOF of your earnings, if and when you become one of PMG's "success stories"? Something all of these scam companies have been unwilling to do? Until then, I stand correct when I say that PMG is nothing but a scam.
Until next time, take care cause I care, Aloha from Hawaii and God Bless.