1994 Fools: 'Make Money Fast' Scam

[ Archive note:  These are 2 consecutive postings ]


From purvis@hoover.fbi.gov Fri Apr  1 23:09:17 EST 1994
Article: 2 of news.announce.important
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From: purvis@hoover.fbi.gov (Melvin Purvis)
Subject: 'Make Money Fast' Scam
Message-ID: <040194aa-purvis@nntp.fbi.gov>
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Date: Fri, 1 Apr 1994 04:52:38 GMT
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[Moderator's note: this posting is approved on behalf of the FBI,
which has stepped in to investigate the massive spree of fraud
being committed by the MAKE.MONEY.FAST posters.]

To the USENET Community:

You may be familiar with a rash of postings to various newsgroups
by various entities purporting to describe a scheme by Mr. David
Rhodes of Oxford, Kentucky on the subject of "Make Money Fast."  
These schemes have as their theme a list of people to whom you,
the mark, should send money -- followed by reposting of the
article with your name added to the list.  In this wise, the scam
purports, everyone who participates will become fabulously rich.

The FBI wishes to inform you that under no circumstances should
you:

     1) Believe that this scam will work.  It won't.  It's a
          classic con principle to promise massive returns on
          your meager investment.
     2) Participate in the re-posting of the article.  If you do
          so, you are guilty of a Class IV felony.
     3) Propagate this scam further in any way.

We wish to further inform you that cases are pending in the
federal courts against several individuals who disregarded U.S.
statutes and attempted to defraud their fellow citizens.

Finally, we wish to inform you that David Rhodes himself is in a
Federal Correctional Institution for his part in the origination
of this scam and will not see the light of day until the year
1997, barring parole or pardon from higher authority.

Thank you for doing everything you can to stamp out this scam. 
Confidence men benefit no one but themselves.  Don't fall victim
to schemes like this.

Sincerely,

Melvin Purvis, FBI



----------------------



From Warlord@soda.berkeley.edu Fri Apr  1 23:09:42 EST 1994
Article: 3 of news.announce.important
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From: Warlord@soda.berkeley.edu
Newsgroups: news.announce.important
Subject: 'Make Money Fast' Scam
Date: 1 Apr 1994 10:32:37 GMT
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
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---------------------------------------------------------
Dear Friends,
 
     My name is Dave Rhodes.  In September 1988 my car was
reposessed and the bill collectors were hounding me like
you wouldn't believe.  I was laid off and my unemployment
checks had run out.  The only escape I had from the
pressure of failure was my computer and my modem.  I
longed to turn my advocation into my vocation.
     This January 1989 my family and I went on a ten day
cruise to the tropics.  I bought a Lincoln Town Car for
CASH in Feburary 1989.  I am currently building a home on
the West Coast of Florida, with a private pool, boat slip,
and a beautiful view of the bay from my breakfast room
table and patio.  I will never have to work again. Today I
am rich!  I have earned over $400,000.00 (Four Hundred
Thousand Dollars) to date and will become a millionaire
within 4 or 5 months.  Anyone can do the same.  This money
making program works perfectly every time, 100% of the
time.  I have NEVER failed to earn $50,000.00 or more
whenever I wanted.  Best of all you never have to leave
home except to go to your mailbox or post office.
     In October 1988, I received a letter in the mail
telling me how I could earn $50,000 dollars or more
whenever I wanted.  I was naturally very skeptical and
threw the letter on the desk next to my computer.  It's
funny though, when you are desperate, backed into a
corner, your mind does crazy things.  I spent a frustating
day looking through the want ads for a job with a future.
The pickings were sparse at best.  That night I tried to
unwind by booting up my computer and calling several
bulletin boards.  I read several of the message posts and
than glanced at the letter next to the computer.  All at
once it came to me, I now had the key to my dreams.
      I realized that with the power of the computer I
could expand and enhance this money making formula into
the most unbelievable cash flow generator that has ever
been created.  I substituted the computer bulletin boards
in place of the post office and electronically did by
computer what others were doing 100% by mail.  Now only a
few letters are mailed manually.  Most of the hard work is
speedily downloaded to other bulletin boards throughout
the world.  If you believe that someday you deserve that
lucky break that you have waited for all your life, simply
follow the easy instructions below.  Your dreams will come
true.
 
     Sincerely yours,
 
     Dave Rhodes
 
 
        INSTRUCTIONS
Follow these instructions EXACTLY, and in 20 to 60 days
you will have received well over $50,000.00 cash, all
yours.  This program has remained successful because of
the honesty and integrety of the participants.  Please
continue its success by carefully adhering to the
instructions.
 
Welcome to the world of Mail Order!  This little business
is a little different than most mail order houses.  Your
product is not solid and tangible, but rather a service.
You are in the business of developing Mailing lists.  Many
large corporations are happy to pay big bucks for quality
lists.
 
(The money made from the mailing lists are secondary to
the income which is made from people like yourself
requesting that they be included in that list.)
 
  1)  Immediately mail $1.00 to the first 5 (five) names
listed below starting at number 1 through number 5.  Send
CASH only please (total investment $5.00). Enclose a note
with each letter stating: "Please add my name to your
mailing list." For other countries the equvielent amount
may be sent, e.g. in Hong Kong Send HK$10 as this is the 
lowest denomination note.
 
  (This is a legitimate service that you are requesting
and you are paying $1.00 for this service).
 
  2)  Remove the name that appears number 1 on the list.
Move the other 9 names up one position. (Number 2 will
become number 1 and number 3 will become number 2, etc.)
Place your name, address and zip code in the number 10
position.
 
  3)  Post the new letter with your name in the number 10
position into 10 (Ten) separate bulletin boards in the
message base or to the file section, call the file,
MAKE.MONEY.FAST.
 
  4)  Within 60 days you will receive over $50,000.00 in
CASH.  Keep a copy of this file for yourself so that you
can use it again and again whenever you need money. As
soon as you mail out these letters you are automatically
in the mail order business and people are sending you
$1.00 to be placed on your mailing list. This list can
than be rented to a list broker that can be found in the
Yellow Pages for additional income on a regular basis.
The list will become more valuable as it grows in size.
This is a service.  This is perfectly legal. If you have
any doubts, refer to Title 18, Sec. 1302 & 1341 of the
postal lottery laws.
 
       NOTE: Make sure you retain EVERY Name and Address
sent to you, either on computer or hard copy, but do not
discard the names and notes they send you.  This is PROOF
that you are truely providing a service and should the IRS
or some other Government Agency question you, you can
provide them with this proof!
 
   Remember as each post is downloaded and the
instructions carefully followed, five members will be
reimbursed for their participation as a List Developer
with one dollar each.  Your name will move up the list
geometrically so that when your name reaches the number
five position you will be receiving thousands of dollars
in cash.
 
  1. John Gibbs
     34 Dundas
     Brantford, Ontario
     Canada  N3R 1R9
    
  2. Dini Man
     P.O. Box 98068, T.S.T.
     Kowloon, Hong Kong
 
  3. Ravi Murjani
     3 Henderson Road
     Jardines Lookout
     Hong Kong
 
  4. Sanjay Purswani
     2-D, Kowloon tong garden,
     No.1 Cambridge rd.,
     Kowloon,
     Hong Kong.
 
  5. Pual Law
     Flat A,11/F Yan Yee bldg.,
     Kin Yip Street,
     Yuen Long,N.T.,
     Hong Kong.
 
  6. Patrick Wong
     9A Fung Yau Street North,
     Grd Flr Shop 19,
     Yuen Long,N.T.,
     Hong Kong
 
  7. Ho Chi Kit
     P.O.Box 428,
     Tuen Mun Central Post Office,
     Tuen Mun,
     NT,
     Hong Kong
     
  8. Robert A. Decker
     307 S. Division #4
     Ann Arbor, MI 48104-2203
  
  9. Olivier Hopp
    3 allie de la Florida
    91800 Brunoy
    FRANCE   
 
  10. Darren Govoni
      13704 Winding Oak Cir #303
      CentreVille, Va. 22020
      USA

The following letters were written by participating
members in this program.
 
To Whom It May Concern:
 
     About six months ago I received the enclosed post in
letter form.  I ignored it.  I received about five more of
the same letter within the next two weeks.  I ignored them
also.  Of course, I was tempted to follow through and
dreamed of making thousands, but I was convinced it was
just another gimmick and could not possibly work.  I was
wrong!  About three weeks later I saw this same letter
posted on a local bulletin board in Montreal.  I liked the
idea of giving it a try with my computer.  I didn't expect
much because I figured, if other people were as skeptical
as I, they wouldn't be too quick to part with Five
Dollars.  But, I buy lottery tickets weekly in my province
and have nothing to show for it but ticket stubs.  This
week I decided to look at this as my weekly lottery
purchase. I addressed the envelopes and mailed out one
dollar in each as directed.  Two weeks went by and I
didn't recieve anything in the mail.  The fourth week
rolled around and I couldn't believe what happened!  I
can't say I received $50,000, but it was definitely well
over $35,000!  For the first time in ten years, I got out
of debt.   It was great.  Of course, it didn't take me
long to go through my earnings so I am using this
excellent money opportunity once again.  Follow the
instructions and get ready to enjoy.
 
     Please send a copy of this letter along with the
enclosed letter so together we can convince people who are
skeptical that it really works!
 
        Good Luck,
 
        Charles Kust
        St Agathe Que.
 
Another letter:
  I tried a similar program in which the cost was $5.00
per response.  In that one the return was about 3%.  Since
I did not have a modem I sent out letters regular mail.  I
created a few mailing labels and printed out all of the
labels on pressure sensitive tape.  The first mailing that
I used the $1.00 dollar per reponse approach I started to
get return mail in just over one week!  I sent out 200
letters instead of 100 that is required if you use the
mail instead of the bulletion boards.  Additionally, I
included as many friends, relatives, classmates, that I
could think of in order to encourage their participation
if they happened to recognize my name, so my percentage of
gain was higher.  I am trying again with 500 letters to
see if I surpass the $141,000 of the last time. You just
won't believe it until you try.
        Best Wishes,
        Mark Garner
        Dallas Texas
 
 
Additional Notes:
 
     This system works equally well if mailed out
manually.  Mind you it takes more effort to hand address
the envelopes and the cost goes up proportionately to
cover the postage and envelopes. You must also photo copy
the instructions, cross out the name in number one
position, write in your name in the number ten slot and
change the rest of the numbers accordingly. (It might be
neater to use white out or paste over the names.) In order
to achieve the same results you must send out the $1.00
dollar to the first five names and then send out another
100 letters with copies of the program enclosed.  It has
been suggested not to put a return address on the outside
of the envelope in order to encourage the recipient to
open it.  The return will approximate that then received
from the posts listed on the bulletin boards.
 
 
     Hello, my name is Steve Prester.  As you may have
noticed I'm the tenth name on this list, so I do not have
a rags-to-riches story to tell here.  However, I did make
a phone call to the 2nd name on this list, Ernest Goyette.
Did he have a rags to riches story to tell? Not exactly,
but then I found out that he did not follow the
instructions precisely.  You see, Ernest lost faith in
the program before he had finished following instructions.
He only uploaded this file on one BBS, which happens to be
operated by Darryl McGinnis, the 3rd name on this list.
Ernest told me that he has received $92.00 to date
(1/6/90).  I realize this is far from the $50,000.00
promised at the first of this file, yet one must keep
two things in mind:
 
 1. $92.00 is almost 10 times his initial investment, and
    it only took about an hour of his time (there's
    nothing to lose).
 
 2. This program works mathematically on an exponential
    scale.  In other words, for every one BBS that this
file is uploaded onto, it should spread to at least ten
other BBSs and possibly a whole lot more. So, if Ernest
had uploaded his file on all ten BBSs, he should have at
least gotten a hundred-fold of what he has, which would
be $9200.00.  Not bad for a few hours work and a $6.25
investment (including postage).
 
Finally, I would like to exhort those who become involved
in this program to maintain its integrity by being honest.
It is the only way that it can possibly pay off.  In other
words, be sure to enter your name at the bottom of the
list and not in one of the top five positions (actually
this would be robbing yourself since it is while your name
is in the lower positions that it gets multiplied
exponentially over hundreds of BBSs).  And, of course,
send your $1.00 off to the first five names.  As I write
this I have not made a penny (that's because I have not
uploaded this yet), but I thought you might like to hear
from someone at the bottom of the list, instead of someone
claiming rags-to-riches.  I hope such is true, and I'm
sure it will be if we all stick with it.  The potential is
definitely here!
 
   P.S. Call me if you get rich.
 
Hello,
I am the current #10 on the list, I too am sceptical.
Well what do we  all have to lose.  It is worth a try
in order to realize some substantial gain.  Don't any of you
out there want to upgrade your PC's.  I certainly do, but
can't afford to.  I hope that this program will make enough
cash in order to buy a super system.
                                   Nua Nicaj
----------------------------------------------------
Hey There! Glad your thinking about this seriously because
I am! If all these people are making money then why not be
included with them and get some also? I'm going to be #10 on
this list, and Im uploading it everywhere! If you have the
access :) then follow through, upload it, and see what happens!
Hey, Imagine earning enough to buy a 486? or one of those high
speed modems that cost hundreds of dollars? What about buying
your OWN BBS ? Who wouldnt want to be the Sys-Op of their VERY
OWN board? I know I wouldnt mind :) What do you have to lose
but 5 bucks compared to the hundreds and thousands you CAN make?
I know Im down.. Will you be the very next to EARN some cash?
                                             Talib Khan
----------------------------------------------------
Hello, I'm Stephanie Kemach and I am now the tenth person on
this list.  I'm trying out this idea in the hopes that it will
pan out, but I've never seen anything like this before.  Still,
for a meager investment of $5.00, what do any of us have to lose?
It's worth a try and I'm trying it out now.  Good luck to everyone
else who uses this great-looking money-making idea.
----------------------------------------------------
This is John Gibbs, call me Gibber.  Stephanie is no longer the
last on this list, hopefully I can say the same soon.  I agree that
the investment is quite meager, let's see if everybody can benefit
from it.  Just a note that Canadians will be happy to accept
American money at par if it is possible.  Good luck to all!  Bon
Chance, Au Revoir.
----------------------------------------------------
Hi this is Jurgen Kreisel, please add my name to the mailing list.
I am the new kid on the block as the last person on this list. I have
always been told that if it sounds to good to be true it probably
 is, but what the hay I can blow 5.00 at the video store and get
nothing for my money either. Well here goes nothing.
----------------------------------------------------
Hi! I guess I'm now No#10. I have never done anything like this before.
I never even reply to chain letters. I guess I am doing this one coz I
think its actually gonna work. If it doesn't I simply lose a bit of 
money (which I probably would have lost at the race meet tommorow 
anyways). Time to find out if this thing really works....
----------------------------------------------------
Well gee shucks! ...i guess i'm now the 10th dude on this list, as always
u might feel that this is NOT going to work and that people are not gonna
start doing this crap and mailing people money, but hey! ...it's only 5
bucks
US isn't it? ...what've u got to lose eh? i'm certainly gonna try since
right
now a bit of money wouldn't be bad while trying to get into a good
university
with all the hassles of school!
..seeya lateR! =)
                              Sanjay Purswani
                                     09/02/94
---------------------------------------------------
Hi! I guess I'm No#10 now.I think it is a interesting game for me and u to
have a money making.I have never heard it before,but,at least,i believed it
can let me to upgrade the computer.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well! This chain letter can give me a hope ,it just cost me $10.
if it is workable,I have many times of this $10.So try this.
It is hoped that the result will be appeared as fast as possible.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Now, I am No.#10.!!!!! I think this chain letter
investment is quite interesting......and worthy...
So..I try it now.....and It can help anyone to upgrade
his computer only by investment of "US$5.00" or "HK$50.00".
        Finally, Anyone see this mail, please join this activity..
and please be honest!!! Don't add your name at the top 5 instead of
the bottom of the mailing list!!!!!!! Furthermore, Please send the
money to the first 5 people!!!!
 
                                        Kit, 13/2/1994
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        Do everyone want to try this!?  It is quite interesting.                
  
 
I try it now.  

                                        Cindy 14/3/1994

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
        I am compelled to investigate this! I'm skeptical but
it's worth a try.

                                        Darren 3/21/1994




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