Happy Friday, money makers! Today, let’s take a stroll down memory lane, reminiscing about the envelope-stuffing craze that graced the 80s and 90s. And no, it wasn’t the kind of stuffing that involved festive holiday cards, turkeys, or Valentine’s Day love letters – it was the type that had dollar signs dancing in the eyes of unsuspecting victims.
Envelope-Stuffing Era
Now, for those of you who weren’t lucky enough to experience this golden era of financial madness, let me set the scene. The 80s and 90s were a time when neon colors, big hair and flat tops, MC Hammer, Beanie Babies, and, apparently, dubious get-rich-quick schemes ruled the day. Enter the envelope-stuffing scam – a deviously simple plot that promised tons of cash for doing nothing but, you guessed it, stuffing envelopes.
Imagine a charming ad promising you unimaginable riches from the comfort of your own home. All you had to do was send a small fee (because, of course, there’s always a fee) and you’d receive a kit that would unlock the secret to stuffing envelopes with magical money-making powers. Spoiler alert: the only thing that got stuffed was your hard-earned cash into the scammer’s pockets. Also, oddly enough, despite these claims about ballin out, nobody actually knew anyone who “made it.”
New Era, Similar Stuffing
Fast forward to 2024, and you’d think we’d have learned our lesson, right? Wrong! Scams have evolved, my friends, and they’re wearing sleeker disguises than ever before. In an era where information travels at the speed of light, and scams can reach you through the device you’re reading this on, it’s essential to keep those scam-detection antennas finely tuned.
Sure, the envelope-stuffing scam might seem laughable now, but back then, people fell for it like taking candy from a baby. So what is the lesson here? Desperation makes for a lousy financial advisor. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Save your hard-earned money for something more significant, like reducing your debt or contributing towards your retirement – just don’t waste it on some shady scam like this.
Time To Act
As your friendly neighborhood financial wellbeing coach (born in the glorious 80s, mind you), I need to remind you to be on guard against the modern versions of envelope-stuffing scams. The scams have evolved from pyramid schemes to phishing emails and cryptocurrency pump-and-dump schemes, but the essence remains the same: taking your money and leaving you sitting there looking goofy, upset, or sad.
But don’t worry, be happy! I’ve got your back. If you’re seriously looking for ways to make money without risking your financial well-being, look out for my next blog post, where I’ll drop some gems on how to make money like Katt Williams.
Remember, in the world of finance, a healthy dose of skepticism can be your best friend. Stay sharp, stay smart, and most importantly, stay rich (the right way).
