Abusing pandemic to get personal gain

Well, since we have all this pandemic thing going on worldwide, many people have decided to abuse it for their own gain.

This post is not a method, but a list of a few examples I have seen so far.

The key thing for each of this examples is that all of the authors are playing the humanity and solidarity card.

Here is how.

1. Certain small influencer:

"Hello my dear followers! Because we are all forced to be at home during these tough times, I decided to share a part of my paid course(already prerecorded) absolutely for free, to make your time during this whole situation more interesting."

Then they put a content locker so you cannot get it without completing an action. It can be anything from leaving your email or phone number, to following some social media profiles or registering at certain sites. That way, they gain your personal data and get you to complete some action. It does not even have to be a part of their course. It can be some other piece of content they would not share otherwise.


2. Certain bigger influencer:

"Hello my dear followers! Me and [insert another influencer here] are teaming up to help our medical workers during this pandemic situation!. We are going to open slots at our course(prerecorded) for 40 new people and all the income is going towards buying ventilators for patients with most severe condition.

That way, they are fishing for people feeling humane, which would never buy their course unless they are helping someone with their purchase. They are gaining exposure and also money, because it cannot be tracked if they are really going to donate all of the income, or any at all.


3. Certain book publisher:

"Because of this pandemic, many of you are self isolating at home and we decided to help you make your time more enjoyable by offering you one free book(from the certain pool of books) on the house! You only need to pay for shipping."

That way, they are getting your personal data and also getting rid of their stock of books that nobody is buying, while gaining exposure, making some money from shipping and making themselves look humane.


4. Certain theatre:

"Because of this pandemic, we cannot conduct plays for live audience, but we will share our plays online on our youtube channel absolutely for free, so you can enjoy them even in self isolation!"

Then, they proceed to reupload plays recorded 20 years ago, with shit video and audio quality, instead of uploading new versions of these plays, which they also have recorded. That way they are getting their youtube channel boosted by many new views and subscribers, while doing nothing but reuploading some really old shit content. They are also getting tons of exposure.


There are even more cases, but most of them are just twists to these 4 I posted.

I understand that everything is permitted in digital marketing, but these people are not some randoms like you and me, hustling to make some money online. They are public figures and companies, pulling a dick move after a dick move just to gain something in all this chaos, while acting very humane doing that.

Mainstream marketing is just as bad. The marketing agencies are paid by *insert any company who advertises on tv or radio here* to get them brand exposure and sell products. Coronavirus is simply the new trending buzz word for them to take advantage off. If it was not around we would be swamped with Easter, Spring sales ads instead.

Realising all that, and seeing how they are making it seem perfectly acceptable to monetise death and panic, these mainstream agencies do make us IM'ers look positively whiter than white in comparison

What is the worst is that people see what they are doing and do not like it at all, but these individuals and companies then become mad about it, accusing these people of not having a sense of compassion, humanity, etc... Total hypocrites.

I'd do the same thing and I don't want to miss a good opportunity anyway. If I have a much bigger influence then I would even play it better such as adding [proof of donation+ compassionate pictures] which will make it even more convincing.

I don't mind donating some cash if that will make me gain a good reputation + revenue. Does it make me a bad person? Hypocrite? Sure, why not.

Lol you realize everything have positive side and bad side on it, depend on your point of view. And basicly everyone will do things not at their loss.
Now will anyone donate all their profit, wealth for the pandemic anonymously? And then they own need got neglected. No no one will do that. I dont believe anyone sane will let their own family at loss for stranger that won't even help him/her.

Btw in every crisis there is opportunity, it all depend what you choose to do.

It is not about if they should donate anything or not. Im not donating anything. But do not disguise self promotion as a humanitarian act. That is the ultimate dick move, even in black hat waters.

But, lets not make a further discussion about that. You can use these examples as an inspiration if you are up to stuff they are doing. That is why I posted them in Making Money subforum.

Those really taking advantage of the coronavirus situation. Later very likely karma might come after them

cindyrose888 said:

Those really taking advantage of the coronavirus situation. Later very likely karma might come after them

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I agree. Black hat is one thing but lying anytime is wrong and especially when people are dying. You have to draw the line somewhere.

cindyrose888 said:

Those really taking advantage of the coronavirus situation. Later very likely karma might come after them

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Ethically, it's wrong but do you think the IM atheists/terrorists out there give a sh*t about Karma, nor do they even believe in that? There are a lot of opportunists out there with a dead conscience.

mcheinrix said:

Ethically, it's wrong but do you think the IM atheists/terrorists out there give a sh*t about Karma, nor do they even believe in that? There are a lot of opportunists out there with a dead conscience.

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They don't believe it is their problem. Later they WILL believe and REGRET

As long as your conscience is clear, NOT taking advantage of ANY PERSON. Then go ahead.

Not the best forum to talk about it...

If you check BHW homepage - you'll end up finding many threads asking how to make quick bucks out of this epidemic situation.