Did You Sign Up Yet?

Did You Sign Up Yet?

{was the recurring phrase I kept receiving from this person…and after saying NO the third time things took a turn…but I’m getting ahead of the story…so let’s catch you up, shall we}

As I do for every new LinkedIn connection I send a short 15 second video thanking them for connecting and I include the transcript for those who don’t want to or can’t watch the video. Some reply, some don’t. Some even, like the person below, have a lengthy conversation.

But this one seemed hinky from the start.

The person I connected with (I will call them JG) displayed on their profile as working as a Business Development Strategist for Disney and also involved with a crypto investment company.

Being that the first time they replied to my “Thanks For connecting” video was at 4am. Now you might be thinking 4am isn’t odd if they are from another country, but their profile had Florida as their home base. Then 4 hours later they respond again. Oh yeah, now my spidey-sense is tingling.

JG:?(4:03 am) It’s nice to have you also.

{not a common phrase said in the US}

JG:?(8:17 am) Good Morning, Rob!

Me:?(9:03 am) Good morning to you.

JG:?(10:21 am) It’s my pleasure

JG:?(10:35 am) How is your morning and hope you are having a great day.

Me:?(11:13 am) Going good.

JG:?(5:16 pm) Awesome. I see you write books, whats the title to your book so I can check it online.

Me:?(5:24 pm) You can find my books on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/author/robertanspach

{Now pay attention to their next response}

JG:?(5:32 pm) Can I get the books on Amazon?

{I had just stated where the person could go to get the books, ugh}

Me:?(5:33 pm) Yes, the link I posted will take you right to my Amazon author page.

JG:?(5:34 pm) Okay.

JG:?(6:01 pm) You there?

{Then at 7:42pm I get a ping on my WhatsApp account}

JG:?Hi Rob it’s JG

Me:?Hi, I see you found me on WhatsApp

JG:?I hope you don’t mind, I find WhatsApp more secure than LinkedIn.

Me:?Okay

JG:?You going to meeting?

Me:?No it’s like 8pm here - is there something you need?

JG:?Let’s chat tomorrow.

{then the next day at 12:15 pm - my WhatsApp is pinging again}

JG:?Hi Rob, how are you doing today?

Me:?Good.

JG:?I want to buy your book. How much is it sold for?

Me:?They range from $3.99 for the kindle up to $24.95 for the print versions, depends on what books you want.

JG:?Okay, it’s cheap and affordable.

JG:?I will purchase it.

Me:?Which one did you buy?

JG:?I am buying just two.

JG:?Do you have knowledge on Crypto

JG:?Or have you ever invest in cryptocurrency

Me:?Which ones did you buy?

JG:?Rob Versus The Scammers and Rob Versus The Whackadoos

Me:?Awesome. As to your crypto question, my firm did the marketing for a crypto event years ago, but I have not personally invested in it.

JG:?I am a senior account officer in Crypto company, we trade cryptocurrency for our investors in better rate and make better profit for them.

Me:?Is there a website for your crypto company?

JG:?Yes we have a company site to that.

JG:?Always let me know when you write a new inspiring book.

Me:?What’s the site and I’ll check it out.

JG:?Ok

{its now about 2:30 pm}

JG:?{gives URL to the crypto site}

JG:?Here is the link above

JG:?When you make an investment with any amount of money then you buy bitcoin with it with a bitcoin account you will create for yourself then I will help you trade it. When you sign up and your account is verified, you are entitled to $50 on your account balance. After your three weeks of successful trading is completed and you withdraw your profit. You will also have to pay me 10% commission of your profit for helping you trade.

JG:?Send me a screenshot if you have any challenge trying to register

{ 3 hours go by }

JG:?Hey!

Me:?Yes

JG:?Were you able to register with the link yet?

Me:?No been busy all day.

JG:?Oh, okay you working on new book?

Me:?Well I am working on another book, but my firm creates marketing for companies all over the globe.

JG:?What kind of marketing actually?

JG:?Could you do a marketing for me also?

JG:?For the Crypto?

JG:?Are you there?

JG:?I guess you are busy at the moment.

Me:?Calm your jets, I just set my phone down for a minute.

JG:?How much do you charge for marketing?

Me:?It depends on what you need exactly.

JG:?I need social marketing that can bring more people to the company platform for registration and investing, including you.

Me:?Okay let me look over your website and social.

JG:?Okay, kindly look in it and register, SEND me a screenshot to help you if you have any challenge.

Me:?Where are you located?

JG:?Tennessee

{remember their profile said Florida}

Me:?What do you do for Disney?

JG:?Business Development Strategist

Me:?Yes, I read that on your profile, can you elaborate?

JG:?I bring innovation and strategies on it

Me:?What takes you to Tennessee?

JG:?Disney - I do crypto anytime because I work from my laptop and all trading and investment are been monitored by the company accountant.

{I think now she’s suspicious to my questioning}

JG:?Why all this?

Me:?Just curious.

JG:?Nice.

Me:?I try to get to know people before I toss out prices. The more I am familiar the better success of any marketing.

JG:?Okay nice idea.

JG:?What do you have to say yet?

JG:?Have you registered on the site yet?

Me:?I’ll let you know when I do.

JG:?Okay

Me:?Are you originally from London? I see the crypto company is set up there?

JG:?Send me screenshot so I can understand better what you are saying

Me:?{Sends screenshot of London address from site}

JG:?Yes, that’s where we have HQ

JG:?Did you register on site yet?

Me:?No, I’ll let you know when I do.

{I guess 3 times saying NO did it}

JG:?Okay, I think you will have to leave the marketing job for now, I will let you know when I need it again.

{and I was blocked on WhatsApp, unfriended and blocked on LinkedIn}

The reason I share this dialogue with you is to showcase how a typical scam works. Now you might be thinking, they were just trying to get me to register for their crypto service... and that would be a fair assessment. They use small talk and knowledge gleaned from your profile to get you to share information. Then they try to entice you to sign up for their service. However…their crypto portal requires you to give them your name, address, proof of identity, email, phone number and links to your financial institution. And when they have all your credentials it becomes easier for them to scam you of your money.

And being the dialogue was filled with broken english, phrases not common in the US, and the person not aware their company was based in London are all red flags that people need to be aware of when dealing with unknown connections.

Be curious. Ask questions. If the responses given seem odd or out of place or your spidey-sense is tingling it’s a warning to stay away.

Oh, and she never did buy my books, it was just a rouse to help win me over and get me to register on her crypto website.

About Rob

Rob is affectionately known as “Mr Sarcasm” to his friends - to everyone else he’s a Certified Digital Marketing Strategist, a Foremost Expert On Specialized SEO, a Best Selling Author, Podcaster, Speaker and Authority Broadcaster who can help amplify YOU to your audience.

Rob has authored, coauthored or produced over 30 books covering social media, search engine optimization, podcasting, copywriting, personal injury law, weight loss, military law, life lessons, scams, customer service and more. His book clients include lawyers, speakers, doctors, real estate professionals and more.

Rob is also host of The E-Heroes Interview Series available on Apple, Amazon, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify & many other podcast channels. Rob works inside corporations across the globe, helping companies generate new revenue and capture online business. Rob is also available to share talks and give interviews.

To learn more and to get started visit www.AnspachMedia.com or call Anspach Media at (412)267-7224 today.