Reasons To Hesitate On Zer01's Unlimited Mobile Offer

alphadogg writes with an excerpt from Network World that might save you some money: "Imagine downloading a two-hour HD movie in three minutes to your new cell phone, then plugging the phone into your TV to watch the film. Make unlimited phone calls, surf online as much as you like and send unlimited text messaging for $70 a month, without a contract. Sign up to sell the same service to other people and get $10 a month for each person you sell to. That's what a group of related companies including Zer01 Mobile, Buzzirk, Global Verge and Unified Technologies Group are promoting heavily online and at industry trade shows. The offer is attractive enough to garner coverage in top business and technology publications, at least one positive review from an analyst and even a 'best in show' award from a magazine at the CTIA wireless industry trade show earlier this year. Does it all sound too good to be true? If so, that's because it probably is. What little information is available about the services is technically inconsistent, and doesn't match up with public records."

Phantom phone?

[interkin3tic]

Does this remind anyone else of the phantom. [wikipedia.org] An electronic device that sounds too good to be true gathering investment money, the people who were supposed to be developing the thing have "offices" which are not really there.

Of course in this case, one of the guys involved already has a record. At least with the phantom no one was outed as a known fraudster beforehand.

I'm guessing that in 10 years, Zer01 will come out with a handy device to hold your phone up to your ear for you.

Fraud is a good business model

[Locke2005]

Enzyte [wikipedia.org], despite the conviction of the founder and his mom for fraud, is still in business. They are still heavily advertising on TV, and apparently they are expanding and hiring. So there doing quite well for a company whose business model was proven unlawful in court.

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[account_deleted]

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Re:It's funny, and a bit disturbing...

[Animats]

Why doesn't an attempt to legally incorporate a new business include a "do any of your officers have a background in crime, particularly white collar crime?" check?

That's a real problem. People barred from involvement in the securities industry keep slipping back in. Bar owners barred from holding a liquor license often end up doing some deal as a "silent partner".

I get complaints from "web businesses" who want to operate anonymously, because SiteTruth [sitetruth.com] down-rates them for that. (It's a criminal offense to run a business anonymously in many jurisdictions.)