That's me! But not me.
When you look above, you see a picture of me. What you probably might not notice is the sentence above the picture that reads,
“Hi there my name’s Michael Vincent and yes that’s a picture of me below.”
Confused yet? Let me explain. So that you understand, I have to tell the story in two parts for it to all tie in.
First Story
My best friend is a photographer and has taken several “business professional” pics of myself to be used for marketing purposes. You’ve seen much of his work on my blog. I figure he’s saved me thousands for all the work he has done. The trade off for him not charging me is that he is able to submit my pictures on stock photography sites such as I Stock Photo. If you are not familiar, these are sites where photographers can submit pictures that anyone can purchase from across the globe to use for their business marketing purposes. Most anytime that you have seen ad with people in it, most likely the picture was purchased through a stock photography website. Fast forward to modern day.
Second Story
Several days ago an unemployed friend of mine was looking for a job on the Internet. He simply typed the word “Job” into Google and in the right hand column a Google Ad appeared that read “2009 Top 10 Work At Home”. Curious, he clicked on the ad and came to a site www.best10workathome.org. (I have taken out the link because I did not want to have any affiliation with the site. Just copy and paste into your browser if you are curious). This is where it gets good.
On this site, Robert Corum claims to have reviewed several work from home programs and these are the ones that have made him money. (Uh-huh. Sure…..Robert) The number one that he recommends is UCS (Underground Cash Secrets) having the big “#1 Best Pick by Robert himself”. So it has to be legit, right?
Update: I just revisited this page and they changed the #1 Best pick now.
When you click on the site, it takes you to www.undergroundcashsecret.com. Once there you instantly here a voice that says, “Hi there. My name’s Michael Vincent and yes that’s a picture of me.” Wait, I’m confused. That’s not Michael Vincent, because that’s a picture of me! That’s not Michael Vincent who is making $150,000k per year working one hour from home on his computer (that’s his claim, by the way). That’s Jeff Rose, a Certified Financial Planner out of Southern Illinois.
Underground Cash Secrets is a Scam
Obviously, the whole thing is a scam. “For only $49.95 you can unlock the secrets to making millions.” Ha! The best part is when you try and leave the site, they reduce the price to $17.00 for a “family and friends” benefit. What a deal!
I was going to contact them directly to talk to Michael Vincent and ask him about his military background (Hence the American flag on the his bookshelf-which I received for serving in Iraq). I didn’t because I did not want them to change the picture yet.
Seriously, Enough is Enough
To top it off, my wife got an e-mail just by coincidence shortly thereafter. I couldn’t believe it. Here’s the email she received:
Hey
Michael Vincent here, and yes I wanted to let you in on a very special money earning secret of mine.
First of all, I used to work a very bad paying job and I could hardly pay my bills. I was feeling really sad and down.
It was at this point where I was looking for any way possible to earn money. Luckily, a guy named Jason came to my call.
Jason was already rich with a huge mansion and tennis court. I asked him if what he did to earn money was legal.
Jason excitingly answered yes, and if I can earn money then you can too. Jason didn’t feel bad for me, he doesn’t like handouts.
Jason taught me how to not only how to earn money but how to have life more relaxing by working smarter instead of harder.
I asked Jason to help me create a website that would help others in the same type of situation earn money.
Below I would like you to check it out.
For more information follow this link (I have removed permalink)
Your Friend In Success,
Michael Vincent.
I mean seriously? I was appalled. I went searching on the net trying to find others that had encountered this scam and I found some good info at Work at Home Blog. They shared some experiences where others got scammed from the Underground Cash Secret program. And the best thing I learned is that they have the program plastered over many different sites. Here’s the list of them all:
The Underground Cash Secret | Theundergroundcashsecret.org
The Work From Home Program | Theworkfromhomeprogram.com
U Cash Program | www.Ucashprogram.com
U Cash Programs | www.Ucashprograms.com
U Cash System | www.Ucashsystem.com
U Cash Systems | www.Ucashsystems.com
UCS System | www.Ucssystem.com
UCSSystem | www.Ucssystem.net
UCS Work At Home | www.Ucsworkathome.com
UCS Work From Home | www.Ucsworkfromhome.com
Underground Cash Info | www.Undergroundcash.info
Underground Cash | www.Undergroundcash.net
Underground Cash Organization | www.Undergroundcash.org
Underground Cash Secret | www.Undergroundcashsecret.com
Underground cash secrets info | www.Undergroundcashsecrets.info
Underground Cash System | www.Undergroundcashsystem.net
Underground-Cash-System | www.Undergroundcashsystem.org
Underground Cash Systems | www.Undergroundcashsystems.com
Underground Cash Systems Info | www.Undergroundcashsystems.info
Underground Cash Systems Network | www.Undergroundcashsystems.net
Underground Cash Systems Organization | www.Undergroundcashsystems.org
Initially, I thought the whole thing was kind of funny. But now I’m ticked because the website is using my face to rip people off. What would you do?
Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC
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That’s so amazing and awful at the same time!! Busted up laughing reading it.
But those scams are insidious and sad. Too often, they prey on desperation and credulity. Some people are greedy and can afford to learn the lesson, but it seems like a lot of the victims are people already in tight financial situations.
Mrs. Micah’s last blog post..Day 9) Reviewing You Need a Budget
Wow that’s pretty amazing, I’d probably file a complaint with the BBB or some other government agency. It’s through these complaints that government agencies start learning about these scams and start acting. The multi-million dollar ringtone fraud lawsuits were the result of complaints just like this.
I’d be doubly furious if they were using my face to hawk their wares.
jim’s last blog post..How to Strong Arm Your Way to a Better Deal
Wow, well at least take it as a compliment that you are photogenic enough that he picked you!
I agree with Jim… BBB is a good route, and maybe a letter written from a lawyer sent to him, should give him a scare…
ChristianPF’s last blog post..Faith-Based Investing podcast
Thanks for sharing this info, Jeff. Yes, it sucks they are using your face, but it’s good there are people willing to speak out against these fraudulent types of websites.
Patrick’s last blog post..Weekly Roundup – Valentine’s Day Edition
He could be your long lost twin …
Wow, thanks for the heads up. Yeah, the ending,(WAIT, I’ll let you have this for just $17.00 posed a big fat question mark. I guess you’re stuck with your pic on there? …..Or are you? Don’t know all the terms of I Stock You, but know you’re paid a fee for the shoot, and you sign a contractual release. Hope you are able to (get your face off of his scam site.) Best of luck, thanks again for the info.
wow, that’s crazy. You are one photogenic guy – are you surprised they used your image? You look so trustworthy!
Bible Money Matters’s last blog post..Don’t Let Unexpected Stress Be An Excuse For Spending
I remember you mentioning this story and had forgotten about it until now… That sucks! Mrs. Micah is absolutely correct – I’ve had to talk desperate students out of sending money to folks like Mr. Vincent in the past :-O
I think if I were you I wouldn’t worry about any BBB.
Go directly to the FBI, this is a deliberate case of out and out fraud. It is high time this thug was thrown in jail and left to rot. Of course, by now, he is probably down in some central american country which has no extradition treaty with the US. But give it a go anyway.
And good luck.
There is nothing in your post that shows the UCS system to be a scam, apart from the fact that they used your photo. Many “gurus” use stock photos on their websites and I have personally used one system that worked for me ( somewhat
) and am sure that the system had some stock photos to show the “riches” obtained using the system. Am not saying that UCS is NOT a scam. I dont know anything about it, but is it really a scam? I would like someone who has tried it to comment on that.
manojlds:
Whether or not the system is a scam or not – which I believe it to be – the entire sales page is one lie after another. There is major discussion about this on several scam sites, and you wouldn’t believe some of the stuff they have come up with. There are several different versions of the Jason BS story, using different names and so forth. I dislike people who have to lie in order to deceive you out of money, and Mr. Vincent and company is at the top of the list. He is STILL sending me 6 emails daily.
IMO, Underground Cash Secret has no secret to offer to making money online.
I purchase all products I promote as an affiliate to make sure it’s legit. Well, Underground Cash Secret doesn’t offer any secrets that can make you lots of money online as they claim. Just same old, same old hashed out info and crap.
This is one program I would NEVER promote for an extra buck. Its a joke. Of course, this is my personal opinion. ^_^
Hi Jeff and boy am I glad I searched the web on this one. It is amazing the number of things people will seemingly do to supposedly help someone make an honest buck with an on-line business. I know because I have been on the losing dead-end for quite some time (part of that 95-98%). Sometimes I think that every marketer who used to publish those little articles in the backs of magazines just opted to drop their cash on-line instead. It is really sad and does ruin it for the rest of us who are serious about running our businesses on-line. It is quite possible that the UCS program did and has worked in the beginning for the creator and followers who pursued it. But just like many other things, the market gets saturated and very few people succeed or even believe that it is possible, due to all kinds of ill success.
The fact that your pic is now being used in a negative way is something I don’t know much about, but clearing it up through truth and this site probably is beneficial for you today.
On the other hand, the use of photos, text, stories, articles, etc. , and just about anything someone else can get their hands on without having to pay or get permission for, is a proliferate subculture that exists in real life and much more so on the Internet, due to lack of awareness or control. Hopefully someday the media industry rules do change a little more to protect the innocent, that just get stuck in the middle of all the crap, with no compensation or recourse whatsoever. It’s just a new economy, governed with antiquated rules, that people can use to their benefit and until the guilty can be found and hammered, well…234rufhhf, the frustration is just going to continue.
Nick Marks, Michael Vincent, Michael Ogden are all tied in together and they push each others “millionaire sites” and they are all bordering on fraud. One such person, Justin Blake finally wound up in jail over internet fraud…now if they would just pursue the rest of the idiots….Here’s a thought though, the government ought to have a division especially to check out these sites and pursue the fraudulent ones and make it a federal crime…watch how fast Google clears out their advertising of these sites.
I’m glad your post was here….I don’t know why I still click on these ridiculous emails that come into my inbox! I am involved in the
most legitimate, simple and honest cash leveraging gifting system on the planet! Sigh. Oh and, P.S. I’m married to a financial planner. He’d laugh at me that I even bother spending a minute checking out these silly emails. Way to go, thanks for the steady head. About your head, and face being on his site; My husband would probably sue the guy for a fraudulent, misrepresentation use of the wrong face! Hey why not? If he’s as rich as he brags about being now…….
I just order the underground cash secret program for $17.00. I was wondering if I should continue with this program. I believe it is a scam because every other sentence asks for money. Money to make your website etc. Is this really a scam? I would like to earn money, not spend money.
birmingham8
Hi Jeff,
I agree with Keith Elliott’s comment concerning using your picture to promote their business. I would go directly to the FBI and file a complaint. Also, I would get a lawyer and sue them for a deliberate case of fraud. Using your picture. That is an absolute case of fraud from the onset.
Hi Jeff and thanks for the info, I was really confused but what I saw and I’m glad you cleared it all up for me. By the way I got the the same e-mail that your wife got just a few days ago and as soon as I read it I deleted it. I’m not the smartest guy in the world but it sure looked like a scam to me and after reading what you had to say I feel like I may be a little smarter than I thought I was, I always respect what ever you have to say and I’m glad that we got to know each other.
Gary H. Adcock
Dear Jeff,
I am an ex Marine. I tried underground cash scam and was bilked for almost $200.00. This is a scam. The only one visiting the site was me hoping to make a buck off of this system. All I got was the shaft! Then he had the gaul to try and get me to pay for commissions that should have already been sent to my paypal account ( if it was really legit. ) I wish I could find out whos behind It i’d give him the Marine Birthday bash of his Life !!!!!
Roger
Man I knew it , I had tried to get my money back around $400AUS and no hope. I really hated you Michael Vincent you know. I am sorry I cannot except your excuse. Keep your pics to yourself. Stuff 2 Checkout as well for having anything to do with them.
Richard´s last blog ..The Rich Jerk Review
OOH NO!!!! What a hell these guys can waste people’s time on net. I was about to subscribe luckly enough, i faild to pick what they were meaning by my Card Number. i tried several times and they could reject it.
Jeff should serously be worked on acordingly. Those are fradurent actions.
Geo.
We thrive on providing excellent customer support here at Underground Cash Secret, and we try to respond to every inquire we get promptly. Our Professional Customer Support Team are always available to answer any questions or concerns that you may have. Please feel free to contact us via e-mail at support@ucssupport.com or by phone at 1 (866) 558-1425.
Thank you,
Customer Support
Underground Cash Secret
Ha! UCS Customer Support comments on my blog…..hilarious! Quote: “Our Professional Customer Support Team are always available to answer any questions or concerns that you may have.” Really? “we try to respond to every inquire we get promptly.” Seriously? That’s funny. It seems that the five attempts at contacting them to tell them to please remover my picture from a scam website got no response is their way of “responding promptly”. UCS, thank you for adding to the corruptness of your operation. I’m sure that the 20 plus negative comments of your scam outfit are all pure coincidence too, right?
if you gave permission to be on a stock photo website i don’t think you can complain legally at least
I too was taken by The Underground Secret Scam (TUSS)! Luckily for me it only cost me $7.00 bucks. They started off by wanting to charge me $49.99 after u click “no” they dropped it in half. I clicked “no” again and the price dropped in half again….so on and so forth until it stopped to $7.00. Shortly after I received a call from the office of so called Michael Vincent. The person on the line at first tries to sound helpful and concerned then starts to ask personal questions such as; how much money do u make, how much credit card debt do u have….and so on. Then they try to get u to invest in money on your credit card by telling u not to worry that it’s not ur money that ur spending “it’s the banks money”. Then of course I started to realize that it was a scam and started to ask him if Michael Vincent or he was going to pay my monthly credit card bills once they arrived. The person on the phone actually got a bit irate and down right rude w/me. He tried a few scare tactics until I finally just hung up the phone with him. I texted back to the number that appeared on my phone and told them never to call me again along w/a few choice curse words and thankfully never heard from them again. Please don’t be take by “TUSS”!!
Do not purchase from Justin Blake. He will debit your card, but he will NOT deliver the goods. I ordered from him early Nov/09. Was told invoice was sent to shipping department. I have sent repeated emails to no avail. I still have not received the product.
Thanks for saving me some money and some heartache. I knew that it was the Lord’s voice telling me to “check this out” and your website was what came up. I’ll delete it from my email.
i fell for that one ad it sucks:( theres 50$ i couldve used for something else. well atleast i learned a lesson: no matter how conving something seems never buy it and alwas google it to see if its a scam. unfortunately this is a week to late
My favorite part is where he says the guy was dressed in cut off shorts …CUT OFF SHORTS! and he was having a hard time decided if he should walk up to him lol It read like a terrible romance novel… from then on lol because all i could do was relate each thing he said to something ….gay related or well related to seeing a grown man in cutoffs..actually I pictured Nickswardson when he plays Terry on Reno911…remember that? .
“He said hes a retired school teacher and does al his work from a website …” lol escort?
I duno I’ve listened to too many of these to have an inquiring mind anymore lol but i was glued to it because every line was unfoldign like he was going up to a prostitute! AWESOME … hows that for a review ? —i try to do the affiliate thing but no luck yet…check out my site to learn how to get tons of traffic atleast thats DEFINATE
(penny a visit (thousand visitors 10 dollars!-go ahead click on mysite &buy -I’ll get a commission and make my first dollar!)
I’m sending this to everyreview on this guy lol so he won’t just be seen as a scam but also synomonous with gay sex…like senators haha that’ll show him.