You’ve probably seen those videos. Someone is standing in front of a Lamborghini or on a tropical beach. They promise you can earn $10,000 a month working just two hours a day from your laptop.

Welcome to the world of the fake gurus.

This phenomenon isn’t new. TV has always featured people selling miracle cures, magic pills, and formulas for success. But with the internet—especially after the pandemic—this machine has exploded. Now anyone with a smartphone can pretend to be a guru. With a bit of marketing, they sell shortcuts to financial freedom.

How Fake Gurus Work

It all starts with a common strategy: they create a problem.

They remind you that you work 8 hours a day, 6 or 7 days a week. You have only four weeks of vacation per year. Your salary is just enough to pay bills and maybe grab a pizza on the weekend.

Then they offer the magical solution: a $997 course promising freedom, fast income, and a dream life. You’ll work wherever and whenever you want. Just “follow the method.” And of course, they say it’s “easy—even if you start from zero.”

One of their favorite lines? “You’ll be capable of work from home or while on vacation.” That contradiction alone should be a red flag: work and vacation don’t belong in the same sentence. Whether you’re in Bali or in your bedroom, if you’re working, you’re working. You’re not on vacation.

The Real Secret of Fake Gurus

The truth? Many of their courses don’t teach you how to build something meaningful. Instead, they teach you how to become like them—selling courses to others on how to make money. It’s a closed loop.

Yes, it’s a pyramid.

The “secret method” for making quick money? Selling courses on how to make quick money. That’s the only business that pays instantly: selling hope to those who are desperate.

“I spent €500 on a dropshipping course… and I didn’t even know what to sell.”

“I paid €297 for a course that promised to teach me how to make money on Instagram. After four hours of poorly recorded videos, I saw a half-dead community. I realized the only person who had made money was the one who sold the course.”

But Is It Possible to Work Online?

Of course it is. Thousands of people work online ethically and honestly.

But saying “I want to work online” is like saying “I want to work offline.” It means nothing.

“Working online” is an empty phrase. You need to define what you want to do. What service, what skill, what problem will you solve?

1. Dropshipping

They sell it as a plug-and-play business. Find a product on AliExpress. Slap it on Shopify. Launch Facebook ads. Then, watch the money roll in.

In reality, dropshipping is not a business model, but a shipping method. To do it right, you need advanced knowledge of:

• digital marketing and ad management
• persuasive copywriting for landing pages
• effective customer service
• refunds, logistics, delivery management
• margin improvement, analytics, and scaling
• building and managing a full e-commerce site: hosting, design, UX, checkout, policies, cookies

It’s a demanding activity that takes years of experience, not 10 quick videos.

2. Copywriting

Writing to sell sounds simple. But it requires:

• years of reading and practicing
• deep understanding of psychology
• ongoing A/B testing
• adapting constantly to new formats

With AI on the rise, many basic texts are now written automatically. Only those who master strategy and empathy can stay competitive.

3. Trading

Trading from a beach sounds nice, but it’s one of the most stressful and high-risk professions out there. It requires:

• large capital (often tens of thousands of euros)
• years of technical training
• cold mental control
• emotional regulation and discipline

Most pro traders use other people’s money. If someone is selling a $99 course to become a trader, they probably make money from courses—not trading.

4. Affiliate Marketing

It seems easy: promote a product, earn a commission. But starting from zero is a different story:

• No audience
• No trust
• No real strategy

The result? Many end up promoting scams or trash products, just to earn quick cash.

Affiliate marketing works—with ethics, time, and community. If someone tells you “just drop a link,” they’re lying.

Freelancers, Entrepreneurs, and Employees

Working for a boss offers stability: paychecks, benefits, vacations. But it also means rules, limits, and low income.

Freelancing is tough: no guarantees, unpredictable income, full responsibility. And entrepreneurship? Even harder. You’re building everything from scratch. No safety net. It takes years before it becomes sustainable—if ever.

Fake gurus will tell you freelancing or entrepreneurship is the only way to “work less, earn more.” The truth? It’s usually the opposite—especially at the beginning.

How They Trap You

“If it didn’t work, it’s because you didn’t focus enough.” This is their line. The blame is always on the student. Not the method.

But the truth is: most of these courses sell dreams, not tools.

Are There Legit Courses?

Yes—some. But you must vet the creator. If they show wins and failures, real numbers, and don’t just hype things up—they might be worth pursuing.

Mini-Checklist: How to Spot a Fake Guru

• ✅ Promises fast, guaranteed results (from zero)
• ✅ Shares only success—no struggles, no data
• ✅ Their only income comes from selling courses

The Real Key: Create Value

Whether online or offline, your mission should be to create value. Help, solve, improve.

If your only goal is money, you’ll sell hot air. If your goal is to help—money will follow.

Next post: How to spot a fake guru before they even open their mouth.

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