Upcoming get-together :o)

Happy Days! Can’t wait to see who will be there!

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New Age Fraud – Effective Lies

You are God

You are a millionaire

The New Age cult organization will seduce you into a sense of superiority over less ‘enlightened’ people by enticing you to believe things that are far out of proportion with reality.

However, as such claims will resonate with what many people wish was true about themselves, they will ignore their better judgment as well as hard evidence to the contrary and believe such claims.

The God example is easy to find in many cult like organizations and self help books and  programs.

The millionaire strategy is perhaps less often seen but equally effective.

One New Age leadership training & consulting & life coaching ‘company’ that I had experience with actively sought investors to purchase private equity shares in the ‘company’.

Why am I putting the word ‘company’ in inverted commas? Because what the ‘company’ claimed to be was far from what it actually was. The reality of its activities had no resemblance to what was described in its business plan.

When soliciting investors, the ‘company’ itself determined the value of the shares for sale, as well as the frequency at which the share price should be adjusted.

So the hook commonly used was to tell potential investors that if they made a purchase, an immediate profit would be realized as the share price was scheduled to increase in a matter of days.

Shares purchased at SGD 16.00 in 2007 were claimed to be worth over SGD 100 the following year, and increase of over 500%!

A very nice gain, HOWEVER:

Such shares can not be sold, and why not?

Savvy investors could see through the inflated claims regarding potential of the ‘company’s’ future plans, as well as the dismal performance of its current operations.

And the millionaire claim?

Particularly employees who had purchased shares at the SGD 1.00 per share price were constantly reminded that they were now worth millions in light of the increased value of their shares.

Emotionally they wanted to see themselves as millionaires, and sadly ignored any evidence to the contrary.

For some, the illusion ceased after months of working with no salary, particularly as their cash reserves were depleted and lines of credit dried up.

For these people, it was then, and only then, that the lie became apparent.

Sadly, there are some who either still believe the lie, and others who consciously use it to defraud naive innocents.

There is a cliché that can protect you from being ensnared by such traps, namely: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Many people lost a lot of money as a result of falling for this lie, and I am one of them.

In a future post I’ll describe the ‘company’s’ exit strategy for investors – another big fat lie.

New Age Fraud – Save thousands of dollars!

All the new age gurus are recycling and selling essentially the same lessons, just using differing packages and vocabulary.

If you want to save between a few dollars for a book or thousands of dollars for coaching or training programs, just remember and try to apply these basic simple steps:

Do what you love doing,

Be grateful for what you have in life, and

Set clear and realistic (achievable) goals for yourself.

That’s pretty much it.

In the meantime, to protect yourself from the new age gurus selling personal development books and programs, leadership training and wealth enhancement programs – please don’t ignore your better judgment!

If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is!!

New Age Fraud – ‘Unique’ Systems

The Gold Zone (and Green, Yellow and Red)

One new age leadership training company based in Singapore that I was involved with was very proud of its ‘unique’ training and coaching technology.

The company informed its clients and staff that the technology had been developed after years of intense study, research, testing, etc. by its two ‘founders’, both of whom claimed to have had noteworthy success in the business world prior to entering the ‘leadership training’ field.

The result of the alleged ‘hard work’ was a scale of color-coded zones, representing the various states of an individual’s state of being.

So you can imagine my surprise to find that a very similar product (‘technology’) was being offered in the United States!

You can read about the US Zones at this link:

http://www.advancedcoachingandleadership.com/faq.htm

As I looked closer at the website of the Advanced Coaching and Leadership Center based in Saint Jo, Texas, I found numerous examples of similarities to the company operating in Singapore. In addition to the uncanny similarities with the ‘zone’ concept, the vocabulary used and the concepts and claims described in many cases were practically identical!

THE DISTURBING LINK

As is the case with most of these programs, there is a disturbing link back to entities such as Scientology or Erhard Seminars Training (EST). In this case, the late Alan Walter was reportedly a Scientology multiple mission holder. In other words, he was involved with providing introductory courses on Scientology to the public.

Once again, the ‘technology’ used is recycled (even when it is claimed to be unique), and it can be traced back to some troubling sources!

BUYER BEWARE!

New Age Fraud – They want you(r money)!

The Secret

What the bleep do we know?

In previous blogs I’ve mentioned that there are many good books out there that provide useful information for people seeking ways to improve their lives, careers and spirituality.

The two products listed above have also certainly helped many people, however, there are reasons for concern.

Did you know that the film “What the Bleep do we know?” is a subtle recruitment device for Ramtha’s School of Enlightment in Washington State. Here followers of J. Z. Knight listen to her channeling the teachings of a 35,000 year old warrior. The ‘school’ has been described by many as being a cult.

Did you know that a School of Ramtha member, Betsy Chasse, who is one of the producers, directors, and screenwriters of the ‘What the bleep do we know” film, was also involved with the production of ‘The Secret’ film?

Did you know that several of the ‘teachers’ featured in The Secret have links with the “Money & You” program, which has its roots in Werner Erhard’s ‘Erhard Seminars Training’ (EST).

So when using such material, it is useful to consider its true nature. Is the goal of the authors to assist you by providing you with motivational and self-improvement teachings, or is it an attempt to recruit you into a ‘movement’ and in so doing, to acquire as much of your hard-earned savings as possible?

BEWARE!

The wolf in sheep’s clothing is alive and well, waiting for you at the bookstore in the self-help section!

New Age Fraud – Mission Statement

To benefit you.

That is the purpose of this blog.

Like many people, I was seduced into a belief that a particular seminar program would help me to achieve enhanced success in many areas of my life, such as: relationships, wealth, health, expressiveness/communication, career, etc. etc.

Once such program seduced me into believing that their ‘new paradigm’ approach to the world and to life would deliver tangible benefits.

After putting about USD 30,000.00 into this ‘company’, in the form of seminar fees, coaching fees and the purchase of shares, it became clear that the new age gurus running the show had only one goal, obtaining as much of my hard-earned cash as possible.

Others lost much more than I did to this company, amounts reaching close to USD 800,000.00.

Today this company, which at one point employed about 35 people (including me!) is reduced to a handful of staff and working out of a serviced office.

The people behind it are ‘proud’ graduates of the Money & You program (more about that in other blogs).

So am I anti-new age as a matter of principle? No. There is a lot of good motivational material out there that is beneficial.

What I want to do here is to enable you to benefit from my experience.

Many new age self improvement and leadership products are harmless, but there are risks.

LOW RISK

The purchase of a book. However, many self help and self improvement books contain subtle advertisements that can lead to the purchase of more books and eventually seminar attendance – in both cases you’ll end up spending more money for a repeat of the same information.

MODERATE RISK

Attending a free or low cost two hour or half-day seminar is safe enough, but these will usually include invitations to register for weekend or week-long programs at a much higher cost. Offers for coaching services involve similarly high costs.

HIGH RISK

Once you are engaged with a coaching program your coach will encourage you to register for the high cost intensive multiple-day programs. The coaching and intense programs will be used to find your weaknesses, and these weaknesses will be exploited to manipulate your decision making and sabotage your better judgement.

EXTREME RISK

At this stage, you may be invited to make exclusive investments with promises of high returns, often in the ‘training’, ‘leadership’ or ‘self-improvement’ company itself. The projected returns on investment may appear too good to be true, even up to 400% in a period of three to five years. Once an initial investment is made, the company will then give you opportunities to ‘top-up’ your investment by purchasing additional shares.

Often a method used to accelerate investments involves the company’s relationship manager informing the client of an imminent increase in the share price, so immediate gains will be realized (as long as the shares are purchased prior to the increase). Sadly the client does not realize that the company is setting the share prices itself, and doing so at its own discretion. There is no independant audit or other valuation of the actual share value. Once purchased, such shares are often impossible to sell at the value claimed by the company.

THE MONEY TRAIL

And where does all that cash end up? That will be the subject of a future installment…

New Age Fraud – Dead Giveaways Part I

If your new age guru claims he can help you to expand your wealth, perhaps you should be suspicious when you find out that he and several staff members are bankrupt.

New Age Fraud – Chapter X

Same stuff, new package

For the most part, the new age self-help books that are flooding bookstores around the world are harmless enough, offering inspirational ideas that make readers feel good about themselves for a few hours, a day or two, maybe even for a week.

For a few lucky souls, perhaps their lives are changed forever (hopefully for the better).

However few consumers realize that the content of the majority of self-help books is recycled, unoriginal trivial feel good advice.

For example, how often does one find this type of ‘enlightened’ advice?

• Know what you want
• Create your vision
• Recognize what might be in your way
• Manifest your intention

Yes – in just about every self-help book and program out there!

So plagarism (or paraphrasing if you prefer) is rampant in this industry, however I discovered an even more troubling aspect, most of these authors and self-help new age gurus use techniques that can be traced back to Scientology and EST (Erhard Seminar Training).

The links are not difficult to trace.

Werner Erhard dabbled with Scientology, and when he left he began to develop his own EST programs.

EST was later renamed Landmark Education – same program, new name, and still going strong.

Simultaneously another company was formed, Excellerated Business Schools, created by Marshall Thurber, protégé of Werner Erhard.

Excellerated Business Schools conducts a program called “Money & You”, using techniques similar to EST.

Many of the authors of self-help books, present and past, as well as many others who are both ‘authors’ as well as seminar organizers, are ‘graduates’ of the “Money & You” program.

Common to them all is the penchant to seduce consumers into purchasing their books and attending their programs.

In most cases the consumer wastes a few dollars on a book.

Beyond that, additional money can be wasted on seminars, coaching and questionable investments.

In the worst case, clients of these new age gurus may end up dead in a sweat lodge.

What puzzles me is that there has been no exposure in the media showing the links between these self-help new age gurus and organizations like Scientology and EST.

More on that later…

The New Age Fraud – Chapter A

The Hook (process)

In the beginning, self-improvement, leadership, wealth enhancement, longevity, etc. new age ‘companies’ will try to get your attention using promotional material promising improvements with relationships, personal wealth, health, longevity, etc.

A free (or very inexpensive) brief (a few hours) introductory seminar will generate additional interest, leading to…

Book sales – at special prices only available on the spot, and

Special prices only available on that very same day for: Two or three day seminars (costing much more than the introductory session) – often like an extended feel-good pep-rally.

If the organizers have got you hooked, often by making you feel like you are part of an exclusive group of specially-talented or insightful tuned-in people, the focus shifts to getting more cash out of you.

Intensive courses, lasting from four days to a week, are offered – with big price tags.

Coaching services are offered (encouraged) also with hefty price tags.

INVESTMENT: Clients may be offered investment opportunities with outstanding potential for return on investment – in some cases 400% of the amount invested – often with the ‘company’ itself. There is no limit on the size of such investments, only the clients’ own limitations.

The New Age Fraud

Over the last five years I learned how a significant number of new age programs are employing similar methods aimed not at helping clients, but rather seek only to enrich themselves – methods that in the worst cases can deplete life savings and endanger mental and physical health. It appears to be an international network, and the money trail could lead to notorious individuals!

More to come…