Thread: Is My Advertising Pays / The Advert Platform A Scam or Ponzi?

So, LRM, let me get this right:-

On the webinar, the Northern sounding bloke is Tony Booth, who is MAPs "Executive Secretary";
We also have Mark Ghobril, bleating on about his "tarnished reputation" although his friends and family know him and he has a good reputation with them (quite amusing that bit!);
We have Duncan Wood, another one saying how he has had some failures online in the past;
And the other American man, is that Mike Deese?
There's also someone whose name I could not catch.
Poor talkers, the lot of them! Blimey, you'd think they'd take public speaking lessons before they launched in.....although, yes, I know, no-one is there for the quality of the speech or information.

Wood and Ghobril do not mention Banners Broker. Please correct me if I am wrong, but I couldn't listen to all the drivel they were spouting, I just skipped through it. They seem to feel very sorry for themselves, oh woe is me! - but no apologies, no explanations, for their involvement in BB.

I just do not get it. Do these people think that they can rewrite the past, and that it does not matter? I would be the first to say that people CAN change, but to change means accepting responsibility for past mistakes, and where possible, seeking to put things right. Yet people like this jump from scheme to scheme, and whether they succeed or fail is seen as immaterial, because you just move on to the next "big thing".

Anyway, none of them impress me and I wouldn't give them so much as the time of day, let alone take their advice on what to do with money!

The whole thing just makes me mad.

the gerbil was told and knew long ago banners broker was a scam and I think he even had the balls to come here and defend it - I could be wrong. Either way, he is a scumbag.

Originally Posted by Della Cate

Do these people think that they can rewrite the past,

You're applying to much logic to the situation, Della.

HYIP Ponzi pimps don't attempt to rewrite history, they just ignore it.

They don't want logical thinkers or those with a sense of history or research abilities, they take up too much time and cause too much trouble.

What they want is people who believe a ROI of 1% per day is possible.

People who believe there is some sort of "secret" out there that will enable them to become rich.

People who believe there are such things as "banners" and it's possible to become involved in the multi billion dollar advertising industry for $10 and there are advertisers willing to pay unknown companies millions of dollars for untargeted ad campaigns on invisible networks

Stepsys is a past master at his craft.

You'll note he doesn't answer his critics, doesn't bother to explain where the money comes from and conveniently ignores his involvement with Banners Broker and his previous pimping activities.

His is simply a numbers game.

Get the promise of riches in front of enough people with an implausible enough story and people will self qualify themselves by virtue of the fact they are still around after reading what is nothing but impossible nonsense to most people.

Stepsys and his fellow ponzi pimps KNOW that if someone is still around after swallowing their B/S story they are ripe for the plucking and will wring their very last dollar from them

Thanks LRM.

That is a very clear and succinct summary you have there. And I KNOW what you say is right. Everything I have read and seen and researched tells me that it is right. I just have great difficulty getting my head round the Alice in Wonderland world view that these people have. What is the quote? "Sometimes I've believed as many as 100 impossible things before breakfast"? Something like that, anyway!

To me, it's all boll*cks, and is so obviously implausible that I struggle to understand why some people are taken in. But the way you put it above helps!

Don't you just love the smell of desperation in the morning ???



Everything else aside, in terms of HYIP ponzi fraud in general, programs HAVE to sign up as many nebies and bring in as much money as is possible before Christmas.

Black December is a very real phenomena.

More HYIPs run out of money and are forced to close in the month before Christmas than at any other time of the year

The reason ????

Simple,

a large percentage of players and newbies have left their "profit" alone to finance their Christmas activities, and when they all try and withdraw at the same time - BOOM - no more HYIP.

Black December this year will be even worse than usual, coming so soon after the very public Zeek Rewards prosecutions and the raids and subsequent closure of Telexfree.

Originally Posted by Whip

the gerbil was told and knew long ago banners broker was a scam and I think he even had the balls to come here and defend it - I could be wrong. Either way, he is a scumbag.

I hope people evaluating garbage like MOPS take this truth under strong advisement.

Gerbil et al. are nothing more than part time thieves. It would not surprise me if he steals lunches from the break room fridge and heads home with a briefcase full of office supplies. At the same time, he sucks so bad as a criminal he can't even pay his families mortgage despite years of "passive income opportunities".

I suppose anyone could have gotten involved with Banners Broker if they were new and thought it was a business. MOPS is just like Banners Broker, right down to well everything. Scambags promoting "just click ads" are complicit in committing fraud, or so bleeping stupid they will never be able to help anyone earn a passive residual income.

The five suckers still considering this farce need only ask, "would I prefer to lose my money to a criminal or an idiot"?

MAPS pretendy Millionaire Hangout, drop by and say hi to the people who are making so much that they need YOUR MONEY. Because they just want to help out and all, like on their last great deal.

Here's something that I spotted in "Private Eye" today. This is a satirical news magazine in the UK; which is very often correct in what it says. It likes having a go at - well just anyone really, but it does a good job having a go at the establishment and unmasking hypocrisy and dodgy deeds in all their forms. I quote from page 15 of issue number 1379:-

"More evidence emerges that online advertising may not be as effective as many of those who spend £6bn a year on it think.

The latest large brand to cast doubt on the value of ad impressions is Kraft, which recently stated that it believes that 75-85% of all online ad impressions offered via real-time ad marketplaces are in fact fraudulent and hence worthless - and that a potentially eye-watering sum of money is being needlessly paid to agencies every year"

Private Eye doesn't appear to have heard of Banners Broker and MAPS (and others) yet.

Originally Posted by Della Cate

"More evidence emerges that online advertising may not be as effective as many of those who spend £6bn a year on it think.

The latest large brand to cast doubt on the value of ad impressions is Kraft, which recently stated that it believes that 75-85% of all online ad impressions offered via real-time ad marketplaces are in fact fraudulent and hence worthless - and that a potentially eye-watering sum of money is being needlessly paid to agencies every year"

It would be interesting to find out how many 'net users have banner and popup blocking programs such as AdBlock Plus as addons to their browsers

Firefox and Internet Explorer with AdBlock Plus enabled means the user simply doesn't see banner ads, popups or, indeed, any form of advertising on websites they visit, fraudulent or otherwise

Meanwhile, can I alert everyone to this......paper adverts stuck up in supermarkets. (I think the US equivalent of Asda is Walmart.)

I don't go to Asda, but if I see any such ads anywhere, I shall complain to the store manager and get them removed!
MAPs 30 Nov 14.jpg

Originally Posted by Della Cate

Here's something that I spotted in "Private Eye" today. This is a satirical news magazine in the UK; which is very often correct in what it says. It likes having a go at - well just anyone really, but it does a good job having a go at the establishment and unmasking hypocrisy and dodgy deeds in all their forms. I quote from page 15 of issue number 1379:-

"More evidence emerges that online advertising may not be as effective as many of those who spend £6bn a year on it think.

The latest large brand to cast doubt on the value of ad impressions is Kraft, which recently stated that it believes that 75-85% of all online ad impressions offered via real-time ad marketplaces are in fact fraudulent and hence worthless - and that a potentially eye-watering sum of money is being needlessly paid to agencies every year"

Private Eye doesn't appear to have heard of Banners Broker and MAPS (and others) yet.

Private Eye is an extremely influential magazine among the "left wing intellectual" strata of British Society. I married into that class but I did not listen to my husband or my in laws when they spouted politics so I get a bit lost with the mind set.

If I had a better idea of how to present the story, I would pop up to the pubs near Fleet Street where budding journalists congregate. A Private Eye journalist would know how to get the National Union of Journalists onto the Stepsys story. The Unions wield a lot more power in UK than US and publicity from either Private Eye Editorial Team or the Legal Department of The National Union of Journalists could stop him in his stride. The Unions brought down the Ted Heath Government. They should have no problems with scum like Stepsys.

Gutter press newspapers would drop Stepsys like a hot brick, if they thought either the NUJ or Private Eye was aware of his activities.

Originally Posted by Della Cate

For those not in the know, The Sun newspaper is a national Uk paper. And oh look, Simon the Virus is placing an advert in the employment section! That's a joke, surely?

Attachment 8642
Attachment 8643

So I complained to the ASA, they replied today.

ASA Enquiry Ref: A14-284606:EH.jpg

it's a start I guess.

Indeed, when it comes down to it Simon Stepsys could not substantiate three off the main claims made in almost all My Advertising Claims promotional media.
Somebody at one of his hotel recruitment drives needs to as him why. (we know why don't we)

Originally Posted by Joe_Shmoe

So I complained to the ASA, they replied today.

ASA Enquiry Ref: A14-284606:EH.jpg

The print is too small for me to read Jo.

Is anybody able to enlarge the image or can somebody copy and paste the reply?

Sorry about that. Hope this is better.


Dear Mr Shmoe

SIMON STEPSYS INTERNATIONAL LTD / GETMEGARICH.COM

Thank you for contacting the Advertising Standards Authority. I’m sorry to learn that this ad has caused you concern.

You may be interested to know that we’ve just recently investigated two ads from this advertiser. In that case the complainant challenged whether:

1. the earnings claims in the ads were misleading and could be substantiated;

2. the claim "Get paid up to 72 times daily in ad (a) and “Get PAID Every 20 Minutes” in ad (b) were misleading and could be substantiated; and

3. the claim "NO SELLING!" in ad (b) was misleading and could be substantiated, because they understood selling was involved.

During this investigation, we received a response from the advertiser and they agreed to remove the earnings claims, the claims relating to how often payments are made, and the ‘no selling’ claims. We therefore considered that this resolved the complaint without referring the matter to the ASA Council, and we consequently closed the file on an informal basis.

For information, basic details about this case will appear on our website, www.asa.org.uk, on 19^th November. As this assurance was received by the Investigations Executive and the case closed on the 7^th November, we believe that this assurance covers the ad that you saw on the 6^th November.

I do hope that this information is helpful to you, and finally I’d like to thank you for taking the time and trouble to raise your concerns with us.

Best regards,


Emily Henwood
Senior Complaints Executive
Direct line 020 7492 2184

Advertising Standards Authority
Mid City Place, 71 High Holborn
London WC1V 6QT
Telephone 020 7492 2222
www.asa.org.uk

Follow us on twitter: @ASA_UK

Legal, decent, honest and truthful

Originally Posted by path2prosperity

The print is too small for me to read Jo.

Is anybody able to enlarge the image or can somebody copy and paste the reply?

If this comes off, is there anyone near / in London who can go along, find the stand, and ask difficult questions? Looks like you can get free online tickets. I'm not near London or I would go myself. Interesting that the selling point is that there will be "guaranteed referrals". What ever happened to clicking on adverts?

Maps 31 Nov 14.jpg

Originally Posted by Joe_Shmoe

Sorry about that. Hope this is better.


Dear Mr Shmoe

SIMON STEPSYS INTERNATIONAL LTD / GETMEGARICH.COM

Thank you for contacting the Advertising Standards Authority. I’m sorry to learn that this ad has caused you concern.

You may be interested to know that we’ve just recently investigated two ads from this advertiser. In that case the complainant challenged whether:

1. the earnings claims in the ads were misleading and could be substantiated;

2. the claim "Get paid up to 72 times daily in ad (a) and “Get PAID Every 20 Minutes” in ad (b) were misleading and could be substantiated; and

3. the claim "NO SELLING!" in ad (b) was misleading and could be substantiated, because they understood selling was involved.

During this investigation, we received a response from the advertiser and they agreed to remove the earnings claims, the claims relating to how often payments are made, and the ‘no selling’ claims. We therefore considered that this resolved the complaint without referring the matter to the ASA Council, and we consequently closed the file on an informal basis.

For information, basic details about this case will appear on our website, www.asa.org.uk, on 19^th November. As this assurance was received by the Investigations Executive and the case closed on the 7^th November, we believe that this assurance covers the ad that you saw on the 6^th November.

I do hope that this information is helpful to you, and finally I’d like to thank you for taking the time and trouble to raise your concerns with us.

Best regards,


Emily Henwood
Senior Complaints Executive
Direct line 020 7492 2184

Advertising Standards Authority
Mid City Place, 71 High Holborn
London WC1V 6QT
Telephone 020 7492 2222
www.asa.org.uk

Follow us on twitter: @ASA_UK

Legal, decent, honest and truthful

Thanks Jo

it looks as if he has had a slap on the wrist. I am not sure if ASA has any real muscle for dealing with scum like Stepsys but Della's suggestion of Private Eye is a very good one and the NUJ do have real strength.

Originally Posted by Whip

I don't know if it was intended to be a dig at my IT skills "whip" or a helpful suggestion but I have a magnifying glass somewhere and it could be worth a try.

Originally Posted by Della Cate

If this comes off, is there anyone near / in London who can go along, find the stand, and ask difficult questions? Looks like you can get free online tickets. I'm not near London or I would go myself. Interesting that the selling point is that there will be "guaranteed referrals". What ever happened to clicking on adverts?

Maps 31 Nov 14.jpg

Sent PM Della.

Originally Posted by path2prosperity

I don't know if it was intended to be a dig at my IT skills "whip" or a helpful suggestion but I have a magnifying glass somewhere and it could be worth a try.

It was just a joke as I have to use one at times myself. I know nothing of your IT skills.

You know, I keep on thinking that nothing these people do will surprise me. Then this happens.

Maps 32 Nov 14.jpg

It's absolutely disgusting. Abhorent. For those not in the know, the CAB exists to help people with their problems, legal and financial. It specifically exists to help people who have nowhere else to go, either because they have exhausted every avenue or because they are too poor and vulnerable to get help elsewhere. It does a lot of good work. To think that MAPs will target people in such circumstances disgusts me. I am going to contact the CAB and let them know about this.

I'm not saying the CAB is in anyway complicit. I am sure they are not. This to me looks like fly posting. But I think they should be warned to look out for such fly posting as it might affect their clients.

Have just contacted the CAB. Will wait to see what, if anything, comes back. In the meantime, I am going to keep a sharp eye open for any of these fly posters and take them down if I see them.

Also, local Councils do not like fly posting, so if I see posters I will report them to the Council as well. Sometimes they take action against flyposters. Worth a shot!

I've also sent a letter (hopefully for publication on the letters page) to Private Eye. With any luck it will get printed, and they may even look a bit further, who knows?

Now I really must go and wash my hair!