Books · Personal

Beware of the Book Exchange Pyramid Scheme!

PerfectlyTolerable

Have you seen this post, or one similar?

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Sounds great doesn’t it? When you comment “in” you will be sent instructions along the line of:

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It sounds great doesn’t it? What a simple way to get 25 books! Worst case, you send a single book and only get 1 or 2 books back, right?

WRONG!

This is a pyramid scheme and it is illegal in the United States.  Not only do you run the risk of not getting books you run the risk of getting into legal trouble.

Here are some articles with more information so you don’t have to take my word for it:

I don’t know how “dangerous” it actually is to participate in these.  I doubt the US government is going to crack down on book pyramid schemes, I’m sure they have bigger fish to fry.  But, for me at least, its not worth it to participate.  Plus it probably wouldn’t work anyway.

So before you choose to participate just make sure you gather all the facts.  I am sure different countries have different policies, but it is illegal in the United States.  Just remember:

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

 

 

30 thoughts on “Beware of the Book Exchange Pyramid Scheme!”

    1. The ones that are just chain letters aren’t illegal haha it has to have a monetary value. I knew like big business ones were illegal but I didn’t know that even small ones like books were illegal too!

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  5. I have gotten into this type of thing where you send a favourite recipe. The only cost is postage. I still only got back 3, and that was with people I knew. Not going to do this with strangers even if it is legal. I agree, if it seems to good to be true, it probably is.

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    1. Yea there is also the aspect of sharing your address which I didn’t even think about before! If its with people you know you should just get a big group and everyone sends their recipe to everyone! That would work so much better haha especially since you aren’t paying to send something to everyone!

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  6. Yep, oldest scam in the book. In theory it sounds nice, but when does anything like this ever work “in theory” haha 😀 I did participate in something like this once when I was a kid but that was with something innocent like postcards, and the point was to see how many you end up with from around the world. I didn’t end up getting as many back as I should have, but I did receive some postcards from some very interesting places and countries.

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    1. I did the same thing with letters or something when I was a kid. Luckily letters and postcards aren’t illegal. Its just when you have an item of monetary value! It would be really cool if it worked but like you said, oldest scam in the book!

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  7. Yeah, I took part in something similar to this – but it was just a recipe exchange so cost nothing – but, I only got one recipe back and it still takes time and effort.
    I had no idea these things were illegal though. I’m not a lover of chain letters and these are so similar.
    Lynn 😀

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    1. I don’t think the recipe one is illegal, its just when you have an item of monetary value. But I was shocked to find out that sending a $10 book through one of these schemes is illegal! I hate chain letters too, but this one sounded so good haha I got really excited until I looked it up and realized it was bad!

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