Group Think: Why Some Gurus Break Internet Laws
If you want to know why some Internet info product marketers break the law and think they can get away with it, take a look at the Eight Symptoms of Group Think.
1. Illusion of Invulnerability. The marketers take unnecessary risks because they’ve never been caught by the government or sued. Combined with the ego stroking of having cult-type followers, there’s a sense that nothing can touch them even when they break Internet laws.
2. Collective Rationalization. Anyone who warns against misconduct is discredited by the Internet marketers and their followers. The attacks are personal and designed to distract from what actually occurred.
3. Illusion of Morality. Morality is based on whether a launch is profitable to the product’s creator and the affiliates. Something is “wrong” only when a launch flops.
4. Excessive Stereotyping. Anyone who doesn’t believe that “money = morality” is stereotyped as unsuccessful, jealous, or a loser regardless of the underlying facts.
5. Pressure for Conformity. Those who don’t go along with deceptive and fraudulent Internet marketing tactics are considered traitors. Pressure is applied by blacklisting or threats of blacklisting. Commonly this takes the form of refusing to do business with those who rock the boat or encouraging those with large e-mail lists not to promote as an affiliate.
6. Self-Censorship. Fear of blacklisting causes some Internet gurus to keep quiet when they see others engaging in unethical or illegal online marketing practices.
7. Illusion of Unanimity. Because no one publicly dissents, some large Internet marketers that promote for each other assume that everyone agrees with hidden continuity, deceptive billing, false earnings claims, and other illegal Internet marketing practices.
8. Mindguards. The big Internet kahunas serve as the filter for the lesser gurus for information as to how things should work pre-launch, launch, and post-launch. As if handing down the 10 Commandments in stone, these gurus define what’s acceptable in online marketing regardless of legality.
The dangers of group think are exposing cracks in the foundation of Internet marketing cliques as Congress, the FTC, and various law enforcement agencies are beginning to take a dim view of Internet scams that hurt consumers, particularly those involving health or biz opp. If you’re practicing group think in your online business, re-evaluate the long-term prospects for your ventures. If you can’t do business legally and ethically, chances are you won’t be around in five years. Whether it is the government or a lawsuit, karma has a way of taking down those who score big at the expense of others.
Perry Belcher: Criminal Records Now Available for Download
Here’s a PDF copy of Internet marketer Perry Belcher’s criminal records (without comment).
It includes:
1. The Criminal Information describing the crimes.
2. Perry’s guilty plea and the court order for it.
3. Belcher’s probation order and the special conditions placed on his probation.
To protect Belcher’s privacy, I redacted his street address and telephone number. Otherwise, the documents are intact.
Here are links to prior posts about his criminal history:
Perry Belcher: Internet Marketer Pleads Guilty and Forfeits Assets
and
Perry Belcher – The Arrest of an Internet Marketer
I will not comment on the criminal records. You can decide for yourself what happened and whether or not Perry has complied with the terms of his probation.
However, a final thought…and a warning.
Perry Belcher’s “partner” reached out to a group of major Internet marketers asking for help to shut me (and others) up on this issue. Pressure was applied by certain group members (who may have been acting on their own) to encourage termination of representation by me as legal counsel for certain clients or to engage in unethical conduct that would trap me into silence.
I will continue to zealously represent those members who are existing clients if they want but I will not be silenced by threats to my personal safety or my law practice.
Please note that the last person who tried this type of intimidation was indicted by the U.S. federal government, now has a criminal record, and owes the IRS about $750,000 in back taxes. If the personal threats and business interference continues, expect a similar response.
-Mike
