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| PROTECT YOURSELF FROM SCAMS! Research all business opportunities thoroughly, and never blow off other people's bad experiences. Ask around (and listen!). The Scams101 Message Board is a good place to start. What's that? You've found a Biz Op and you're wondering if it's endorsed by FIB?... Not unless it's listed in MaaMaw's Magnificent Toolbox. |
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FIB - Scams 101
Re: Michael Masterson/AWAI Copywriting Course Scam
Posted By: Katie Yeakle In Response To: Re: Michael Masterson/AWAI Copywriting Course Scam (Jim Wilcox)
Date: Monday, October 8, 2007, at 6:51 p.m.(pst)
Through simple internet research, we were able to identify Jim Wilcox as Charlie Crowell of Boca Raton, FL. We believe that Charlie is behind this string of inflammatory posts about Michael Masterson, American Writers & Artists Inc. and Early to Rise. He and his wife, Maggie, are former employees of either AWAI or ETR. They both profited from their association with AWAI and ETR and benefited from Michael’s tutelage. However, they are both now disgruntled because they are no longer employed by us … a direct result of inadequate job performance.
They have turned to this forum to post their highly inaccurate and malicious rants … under cover of false names … which, ironically, is something they condemn.
Investigation into the other posts here … which are very similar in tone and content to the ones posted by Mr. Crowell posing as Jim Wilcox … lead us to believe he is using multiple names to fan false interest in his unsubstantiated claims.
To learn the truth, I encourage you visit AWAI’s and ETR’s websites … where you will find real reviews from real customers.
Katie Yeakle
AWAI, Executive Director>> I've read the Michael Masterson Copywriting Course. Someone gave me a
>> copy. It's maybe 500 pages in a spiral notebook. Many pages are just blank
>> so you can do your "assignments". Your local bookstore offers
>> better copywriting material than any of the self appointed gurus offer.>> Anyway, because the book isn't very enticing, they add other stuff to
>> make it look more attractive. They throw in some dumb booklets loaded with
>> "secrets" about copywriting. They also offer to have a couple
>> samples "critiqued" but these critiques are done by unqualified
>> copywriter wannabes who are paid $10 to do them.>> All this for about $500. Then they try to sell you the "Masters
>> Program" for another $700. Then they invite you to a 3 day
>> "bootcamp" for $2000 - $3000. Then they want you to buy more
>> homestudy stuff for specific fields like financial, health or non-profit
>> copywriting. It goes on and on.>> At the bootcamp they offer a "job fair" which is nothing
>> more than Michael Masterson's fellow cronies setting up a booth and
>> pretending they are interested in hiring AWAI students.>> The AWAI web site makes a huge deal out of some student getting a
>> "copywriting job" writing a piece for a local Italian restaurant
>> in exchange for a free meal. Good grief what a load. "He's on his
>> way", they'll say. On his way to what? A spaghetti dinner?>> And if you seek a copywriting job and you say you are an AWAI grad,
>> you'll be laughed out of the place. Even if you offer to write copy for
>> free (which is one of their big secrets for getting work) you'll be shown
>> the door in a hurry.>> And why don't the employees at AWAI take their own course and go off
>> to make a six-figure income? They must either be stupid or don't really
>> believe the baloney they are peddling.>> But if you still think it's worth your time you can often buy the
>> whole program on eBay. One sold last week for $132.>> And yes, you can quote me and use my messages in any way.
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FIB - Scams 101 is maintained by Lesley Fountain with WebBBS 5.12.
| PLEASE READ THIS LEGAL NOTICE CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU FILE A LAWSUIT OR EVEN WASTE TIME THINKING ABOUT IT. It has been done before, but never successfully. In fact, the last dodobird who tried it ended up being ordered to pay more than $77,000 in attorney fees ($65,000+ to my attorneys and $12,000+ to my co-defendant's legal advisor).
If your attorney is worth his salt, he's going to tell you that the expense of filing a lawsuit you can't win is a whole lot worse than any "damages" resulting from messages posted on this insignificant little chunk of cyberspace. NEWS FLASH: I didn't just climb down off that ol' turnip truck yesterday. I'm well aware that expressing a negative opinion, relating one's personal experience, and restating provable facts are all legal in this country and do not constitute libel, slander, or defamation -- so you don't want to play games with me, and you sure don't want to start something you aren't prepared to finish. I don't take threats lightly, and I don't accept bribes (or did you call it a "mutually-beneficial arrangement"?). I'll turn you in faster than you can yell, "ARREST ME, I'M SCUM!!" Do yourself a favor and turn your legal team loose in greener pastures. Although we may, from time to time, monitor or review discussions, postings and the like on the Friends In Business (Scams 101) Message Board, we are under no obligation to do so. We are not responsible or liable for any claim arising from the content of any such discussions or postings or for any error, defamation, libel, slander, omission, falsehood, obscenity, pornography, profanity, danger, or inaccuracy contained in any information contained within such locations on the Site. You are prohibited from posting or transmitting any unlawful, threatening, libelous, defamatory, obscene, scandalous, inflammatory, pornographic, or profane materials or any material that could constitute or encourage conduct that would be considered a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability, or otherwise violate any law. You are likewise prohibited from posting any false claims against any company or individual. We will fully cooperate with any law enforcement authorities or court order requesting or directing us to disclose the identity of anyone posting any such information or materials. By posting messages and/or content on the Friends In Business (Scams 101) Message Board, you give permission for Lesley Fountain/Friends In Business/Shoestring Success Publications to display, distribute and use the posting and content for publication, advertising, promotion, excerption or example. You grant Lesley Fountain/Friends In Business/Shoestring Success Publications complete, perpetual, but non-exclusive rights to use, archive, reproduce, adapt, modify, distribute, sub-license, repurpose, rework, compile, or offer for sale or resale the messages, postings or content appearing on this site in whole or in part, throughout the world and universe, on a royalty-free basis without remuneration. If you cannot accept or agree with the terms of service for this website and discussion board, you are advised not to post on this board. In closing, I would like to remind you once again that it is still legal, in this great country of ours, to express a PERSONAL OPINION, as long as it is presented as opinion and not as fact. And finally, all you scammers out there will do well to remember that TRUTH IS AN ABSOLUTE DEFENSE against charges of libel, defamation, and slander... so if you're operating just a hop, skip, and jump ahead of the law, you might want to think twice before doing anything stupid... (AND SHAME ON YOU!!). |