🛑 Don’t Get Fooled: 5 Red Flags to Spot Fake Gurus & Scammers Online

👋 Hey Wealth Digest Family,
I wasn’t planning to write this issue. But something happened recently that I feel morally obligated to share.

A content creator I once admired… turned out to be something else entirely.
Not just fake — but harmful. People who trusted them got misled, lost money, and worse — lost trust in themselves.

They didn’t just sell a bad product. They manipulated trust. People paid, got ghosted, or received almost nothing of value.

This newsletter won’t name names. But it will protect you.

So today’s newsletter isn’t about money tips or market insights.
It’s about self-protection in the digital world.
Because the truth is: some people aren’t here to help. They’re here to use.

🚩 5 Red Flags That You’re Dealing with a Fake Guru

1. Big Promises, Zero Proof
If someone talks endlessly about how rich or successful they are or calls themselves millionaires — but can’t show verified results, real testimonials, or documented wins — it’s a red flag.

Don’t fall for the screenshots of their “wins” showing only the portion of their own portfolio. They will also call themselves millionaires, but they have 80-90% mortgage and no actual assets in their names.

They often talk big — success, freedom, six figures — but can’t show receipts.
No business registrations, no real student results, no credentials. Just vibes.

2. High-Pressure Tactics
“Only 2 spots left!”
“Buy now or miss out forever!”
Urgency like this is used to cloud judgment. Fear-based selling isn’t confidence. It’s manipulation. Real value doesn’t need to rush you.

3. Sketchy or Generic Testimonials
All the reviews sound the same? No specific wins, just vague praise? Likely scripted or fake.

4. Poor After-Sales Behaviour
You ask for a refund — crickets. You raise a concern — they block you. That’s not poor customer service. That’s a deception.

5. Emotional Manipulation Over Real Education
They post rags-to-riches stories, flaunt luxury lifestyles, or pull on your heartstrings — but never offer actual skills or learning. Inspiration is cheap. Real value takes work so be cautious.

6. Lies and more lies

They keep changing the information, they never followed the plans, they lied about their connections. They lied and that questions their integrity! Be careful.

🧠 My Wake-Up Call (No Names, Just the Truth)

I watched as good people were misled by shiny branding and emotional hype.
I saw followers blocked, receipts ignored, and reputations covered up with filters and fast-talking.

It hit me hard — because I bought in, too.

🛡️ How to Stay Safe Online

Here’s your quick checklist before you trust (or buy from) any online coach, creator, or mentor:

✅ Do a background check. Take time to verify their identity and not just vibe!
✅ Look for real customer wins real people who actually know them
✅ Ask questions they should be able to answer
✅ Check refund terms
✅ Trust your gut — if it feels off, walk away

💬 Final Thought

If you’ve ever been scammed, tricked, or pressured into something online — you are not alone.
It doesn’t make you foolish. It makes you human. And it makes you wiser.

Let’s look out for each other in this digital jungle.

📩 Got a story to share or a scam you almost fell for? Hit reply — I read every message.

And if this helped you, forward it to a friend or colleague. One click could save them hundreds.

Stay smart,
Roda Ducommun
Founder of The Shortcuts Hub Wealth Digest