Chapter 1: The Allure of Quick Wealth

I can't be the only one inundated with ads on YouTube and similar platforms promoting online courses that promise to make you rich "quickly." These aren’t traditional college classes (though a serious discussion is warranted regarding the misleading claims often associated with higher education).

This is simply a modern twist on an old scam: use this method to rake in easy cash. However, the formula isn't presented so plainly. They want you to invest a few hundred dollars in a webinar or e-course that outlines a supposedly simple business model they claim has made them wealthy (even though their need to sell a course suggests otherwise).

YouTuber Folding Ideas (Dan Olson) produced a compelling video analyzing one such alleged scam that I find myself revisiting. There’s something captivating about how he deconstructs the tactics of two scammers while also spiraling into a mild frenzy as he attempts to match the grueling schedule of a ghostwriter ensnared in this scheme. Through this analysis, he illustrates the various elements of the scam that ultimately leave victims drained of their resources, despite the false promises of wealth they were led to believe.

The specific scam discussed by Olson involves using Audible (which is touted as a hidden gem in the sales pitch) after hiring a ghostwriter to create a basic nonfiction book filled with trendy topics and buzzwords. Amazon allows you to host the resulting audiobook on Audible, but you must underpay both the audiobook narrator and the ghostwriter. In theory, the book's trendy subject matter will help it gain visibility. Additionally, if you collaborate with others using the same model to review each other's books (a violation of Amazon’s guidelines), you might artificially boost your book’s ranking in Audible’s algorithm.

It's easy to see the flaws in this scheme. I won't belittle anyone desperate enough to pursue this path to support themselves and their families. It's tragic when individuals are scammed while already facing hardships. My ire is reserved for the con artists who exploit the vulnerable with fancy jargon and ill-gotten credibility.

Olson created his video before the emergence of AI in this arena, and perhaps he’s working on a follow-up exploring how these scams have evolved alongside AI, with individuals attempting to use programs that generate text to create books for them. This was a concern, and it continues to be. The online magazine Clarkesworld has revealed on social media that they frequently receive submissions from individuals who, having followed the advice of scammers, send in AI-generated content in hopes of scoring a payday. This led Clarkesworld to temporarily suspend submissions while dealing with an overwhelming influx of unusable material.

No, they genuinely couldn’t do anything with it. While some believe AI can produce compelling narratives, it struggles to create coherent stories that require tracking details, characters, and development. AI might generate names by referencing lists of popular baby names, but it cannot craft a flawed, multi-dimensional character needing growth and evolution—the essence of storytelling is an inherently human endeavor.

With Amazon and other platforms tightening regulations against this behavior due to the ambiguous copyright status of AI-generated work, I felt a glimmer of hope that the worst might be over. Yet, here I am, still bombarded with ads. I refuse to pay a con artist for their e-course, especially for a blog post that won't yield returns anywhere near the $100 to $300 price tag. Unlike Olson, I’m not delving deeply into the hopes of those who take these courses (no judgment on the victims intended). However, from the brief ad, the promised treasure trove appears to be Kindle eBooks, indicating a return to hiring ghostwriters rather than relying on machines.

It's hard to decide whether to feel relieved that at least humans are getting paid for their work, given that, as Olson demonstrated, those individuals are often woefully undercompensated. They might be using platforms that set similar, if not different, pay rates, but at least a human can create something that makes sense without inserting potentially harmful suggestions or ideas.

Regardless, the persistence of these scams frustrates me. I don’t claim ownership over self-publishing nor that I have the authority to judge what books ought to exist. I acknowledge that some titles produced under these dubious pretenses likely outperform my own. However, considering the anguish and challenges involved in the writing process, it’s understandable where my frustrations stem from.

Hiring a ghostwriter is costly, even if they are underpaid. The courses are expensive too, even when one sets aside the fact that they offer little to no value. While there are cheaper options for book covers, the costs can never truly be zero. (And I strongly advise against using images found haphazardly online, as this could lead to intellectual property disputes.) If you feel compelled to jump into whatever money-making scheme the YouTube ads suggest, it’s likely money you cannot afford to lose.

Ultimately, the only one who profits is the individual selling the course, preying on the desperate with false promises. They are the least deserving of any gain.

This scam particularly irks me because it feels like it's encroaching on my own territory. Furthermore, I believe that information about publishing and related guidance should not come with such exorbitant price tags. This field should be more accessible to those who wish to engage with it sincerely, aiming to create books for the joy of creation. After all, the financial rewards in this realm are not as plentiful as many believe.

Chapter 2: The Evolving Landscape of Online Scams

The second video, "Benson Boone - Beautiful Things (Official Lyric Video)," captures the essence of the relentless pursuit of wealth and the emotional turmoil that often accompanies it. In a landscape rife with deceit, this video serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of authenticity in creative endeavors.