Is Bethany Mooradian a Scam?

As my books and website becomes more popular and my name gets a little bit more recognition, the inevitable Google search phrase will start to pop up, as it has for so many others before me: “Is Bethany Mooradian a scam?”

I know that this will be more of a rant than anything else, but figured I might as well address this question head on, so that people can hear it from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. (Insert feigned neighing here.)

Um, no. I’m not a scam. This site is not a scam. We are not going to try and trick you into doing anything you don’t want to do, or spend thousands of dollars on horrible, ineffective, “get rich quick” schemes. We don’t have coaching programs that require a $5,000 investment. We don’t hold weekend seminars in secluded locations to help you figure out your purpose in life. We don’t constantly tell you to buy one thing…and then up-sell you to another thing…and then, oh, wait, no, you need to buy one more thing, because that is really what you need to be successful.

We’re here to educate you, because, let’s face it, there are a TON of horrible, ineffective, “get rich quick” schemes out there.

I write and teach about what I know regarding work at home jobs, entrepreneurship, and scams. Because the Internet changes so rapidly, many times that information changes too. But I never set out to intentionally deceive people. If anything, I’m probably more blunt than my students and readers want me to be, because I don’t sugar-coat anything. Case in point, here are three situations that have lent themselves to calling me, Bethany-in-reality, a scam:

Situation #1: I got no skillz but want lotsa money pleeze!

Imagine this, someone contacts me (either through my classes or my website) and says, “I really want to work at home. I’d be happy with a job that paid $20/hour, but I’m not that good with the computer or Internet.”

No joke. This happens on a regular basis.

I proceed to tell them the truth, that you can’t really get an at-home job for $20/hour when you lack the BASIC skills needed to warrant that pay-rate…some understand this basic principle and vow to get training. Others call me a scam, after all it’s probably easier to blame me.

Situation #2: Is that all you got?

In my classes, I have two types of people: those who are overwhelmed with the amount of information I provide and the seemingly endless ways to make extra money coming from the 700+ examples and companies I lay out in my books. They’re excited and amazed at the opportunities and ideas, and can’t wait to get started. Then there are those who, after I’ve spent three hours of presenting every idea under the sun, look at me point blank and say, “Is that all? This was a waste of money.”

For those who are disappointed, I understand that they may not have found one topic that is interesting enough to pursue. But then I have to ask:

What were you expecting?

“Working at home” isn’t a career in and of itself. No one ever went to college to learn how to “work from home.” It’s a matter of taking your skill set (or learning a new one) and translating that into a way to provide income at home instead of in an office environment. If you don’t have the skills, then it’s pretty hard to get the job.

What I present is pretty much what is out there. The companies may change, the resources may change, and maybe (in extreme cases) the industry dries up. But generally, there isn’t much that I don’t present that doesn’t exist. If you wanted something else, then you should consider taking whatever expertise you have and create a consulting position. That’s what you got…stop looking for some pink unicorn jumping over rainbows, and go with what is out there.

Situation #3: I want authoritative verification that you’re not going to scam me.

On a fairly regular basis, I get emails like these:

Dear Bethany,

I am interested in purchasing your product, however, would like to see your Better Business Bureau rating. What name should I search under? I can’t seem to find your company there.

-Curious Cathy

These emails are always good for a chuckle, because first of all, some businesses have to pay to be listed in the BBB, and apparently you can pay for a good rating, so it’s not like the BBB is the best rating system out there. (Here’s a story regarding the practice: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/business-bureau-best-ratings-money-buy/story?id=12123843)

Second of all, I’m an author and educator. You’re more than welcome to look me up, but I have a feeling it’s kinda like trying to figure out if the ...For Dummy Series is a scam. The BBB (and other organizations like it) rate businesses that provide services, not authors who write books and teach classes. I’m not a job placement agency or employment recruiter, so I don’t quite fall into that genre of business where my services are rate-able.

Read through this site, check me out on social media, or read some of my press. And don’t forget, you can always check out my books from the library before you buy! The information I provide is solid, but it’s up to you to decide whether or not you do anything with it!!!  And don’t blame me if you sign up for companies I have warned you against. Don’t fault me if you haven’t made a bazillion dollars with Amway. That’s not on me…that’s all you, kiddo. I can lead you to the water, I can show you whether it’s polluted, but it’s up to you to bring your own straw and take the first sip. Cool? Cool.

To sum up: NO, I’m not a scam. I provide information based off of my nearly two decades of experience as an Independent Contractor. Most people like the information I provide but some don’t…for whatever reason. It could be that their expectations were not congruent with reality. That’s just the way life goes sometimes.