I often travel by train and can't escape these hilariously-weird ads plastered all over the compartment walls. I keep wondering if anyone in their right mind would ever call them up.
But then again, if no one did, 90 per cent of the real estate in the compartment wouldn't be plastered with ads promising part-time jobs, friendship and even a resolution to every human problem, would they?
Being curious, I decided to find out! I made up a fictitious social, demographic and psychographic profile and actually made those phony calls (only for you divas!).
Work from home, earn Rs15-20,000 a month
These ads, probably written by God himself, promise a decent salary, a choice of workplace and flexible working hours minus the qualifications! Too good to be true, right? I called three such places, which some very interesting promises, to find out more.
So it goes like this. You don't need any qualifications or skill sets. You could be anybody or somebody; you just need to be Internet-savvy. You need to fill a registration form, which costs Rs30- 50, after which you have to undergo training for a few hours, at a designated time and place.
I discovered: The people that advertise are sectional trusts like the Maharashtriya Yadav Trust or the Bunts Centre or consultancies tied to American companies. The work is purely online and can be done from wherever you are.
The verdict: The job is somewhere in between phony and genuine.
Earn Rs5 lakh a month/ Rs1 lakh a day
So this guy, who can barely talk English, tells me that I can earn as much as a Rs1 lakh a day. I log on to his website and find details of an ISO 9001: 2008 Chennai-based company that's into multi-level marketing. Certificates of the company being an associate member of FICCI and the Mumbai World Trade Centre are flagged upfront.
Next, I log in as a distributor and check the payments and transactions. I am shocked to see a credit of Rs1,30,000 every week. There is also a list of achievers, details of the targets achieved, customer-care numbers and other details.
I discovered: Hmmm, though these details can be manipulated, it does seem transparent and genuine. However the monies, based on one's network and selling prowess is more a marketing gimmick than a promise of a better future.
The verdict: Genuine
'Koi bhi kaam, 10 ghante mein tamaam'
Wow! Now, that's a tough thing to promise, even if one were God. But the phony baba in Santacruz promises that Rs250 is all he needs to solve all your problems within 10 hours. How he does this? He gives you an amulet/talisman which will alter your life and your destiny.
I discovered: Extremely dangerous and scary!
The verdict: Phony, very phony!
Study, earn, settle in the UK
These are agents who earn their bread and butter through consultancy fees. They do an initial check on your credentials - age, qualifications, salary and bank balance after which, if you qualify they help you migrate, study or get a work visa respectively.
I discovered: It's hilarious - If I'm over 28, I can't settle in UK! (Is 28 the milestone age when you turn from an asset to a liability?)
Verdict: Genuine
For 'frandship', call **********
Despite repeated attempts, this number was not reachable. Anyways, friendship can't be bought by calling a number or sold over the phone, can it?
I discovered: We don't really need to tell you where this could lead.
Verdict: Phony, very phony!
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