# Anyone ever heard of Project Starfish?

Category: Jobs and Employment

## Post 1 by Shadow_Cat (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Sunday, 10-Nov-2013 20:19:47

Hi, all. I've done a search on the boards for this topic, but couldn't find anything. So I apologize in advance if this has ben asked about somewhere else. Has anyone here ever heard of a work-at-home thing called Project Starfish? I'm asking because a good friend of mine has started working for it, and I'm pretty damn sure it's a scam. There are a lot of questions she can't answer about it, and everyone who seems to know anything about it actually works for it. That makes me nervous for her, since of course someone who works for it will tell someone only what they want to hear. So, has anyone heard of this before?

## Post 2 by write away (The Zone's Blunt Object) on Sunday, 10-Nov-2013 22:54:24

Scamn, scam, scam, scam, scam, scam with a capitol S. Stay far, far, far, far, far, far away from it. I've known three poor vulnerable people who were left high and dry from "working" and I put that term loosely, for this starfish thing. And the worst thing is, they brainwash you so well that no one can convince you to quit if you do end up "working," for it.

## Post 3 by KC8PNL (The best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better.) on Sunday, 10-Nov-2013 23:21:31

What are the details of it? I mean, what is the scheme they're using? I know nothing about this really, other than it exists.

## Post 4 by Shadow_Cat (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Monday, 11-Nov-2013 9:10:13

Bernadetta, that's my feeling too. I'm trying to convince my friend of it, but she's not seeming to believe me. Can you tell me more about what you know about it? Any ideas what I can do to convince my friend she's getting scammed before she gets taken to the cleaners with this?
Scott, the idea is that this Starfish company contracts with start-up businesses to make phone calls for them, or do they're social media marketing for them, etc. That concept in itself isn't bad: a lot of businesses do contract that kind of work out. I worked for a teleservices company in high school that took such calls for Western Union. However, that was a very well-established and credible business, unlike Starfish. So businesses do contract that stuff out, but not to this kind of small-time company. A big business who may actually need that kind of work done will go with somewhere more established and reputable, and a small business who is just starting would not have the resources to hire this done for them.
Second, this guy who runs Starfish apparently says he has a passion for working with blind people, but can't seem to say why. Most people don't like to work with us, or are scared to. Those that do want to work with us usually have some reason: they have a friend or family member who is blind, etc. I personally think this guy wants to work with blind people because many are easy pickings, since they're desperate for work and money.
Third, according to this guy's website, only 70 percent of people who work for his company make money off it. When my friend asked him about this, he told her it was a play on words, on the 70 percent unemployment statistic. That, in my mind, is not an answer to the question at all.
Oh, and one more. My friend said she had a meeting today with the owner of a start-up company they're working with. She was told by the Starfish leader that if this business owner started to ask questions about what Starfish did and how it operated, she was to be very vague, and deflect the conversation back to the business owner, not to go into details. You only do that if you have something to hide.
Lastly, neither my friend nor myself can find anyone who knows about this company who doesn't actually work for them. The person who made my friend feel comfortable about it was actually a recruiter for it, so that doesn't count in the slightest: that woman is just doing her job. That's why I decided to put the question out here, in hopes someone could give me more details to pass back to her. Ordinarily she's not the kind of person to get taken in by this kind of thing, but I think they've caught her at the wrong time. Well, right for them, wrong for her. Which again, is their job.
So Bernadetta, any details you have would help.

## Post 5 by write away (The Zone's Blunt Object) on Monday, 11-Nov-2013 9:57:34

Well Alicia, your last post is convincing enough I'd say. just any of that, in and of itself should cause a person to stop and think.
but here. Look at the site again. There's no privacy policy (ok, maybe a very vague one), there's nothing really in the about us section. The site is poorly written. A company who is to manage social media and telecommunications for businesses, shouldn't they at least know how to write a good, solid, professional site? One without errors and typos, etc.? I'd think so.
Also, the fact that it targets blind people is one helll of a tip-off for me. It's reverse discrimination. it's preying upon people like you said.
Guess what else? This site was registered in Antigua. The tropics, where people go to do shady business so that they don't have to register in the states and pay taxes.
Want to know more? This guy is a blind high school drop out who was penniless himself. Not even seventy percent of people actually make money on there, because he only makes money offf of the perimid scheme part of it. and only because he's on the top of the food chain.
Where are the business testimonials. Where are referrals for the great work they supposedly do?
No one I know got paid for it. and they actually ended up putting money into the venture instead, which, in and of itself is super unethical. I'd tell your friend all this and if she's still brainwashed, promise to find her some decent work at home thing that she might be able to do. and I have a few resources if you want me to pass them on. They're not customer service, but theyr'e also not a perimid scheme and not sales either.
But this really should be convincing enough. If someone isn't prompted to stop and think after receiving such compelling evidence, I have to wonder about their despiration and gullibility at this point.
I get that people are vulnerable, but it's not good to stay vulnerable because that's who scams target the most. that's what they're designed for. And your friend is lucky enough to have someone like you around to convince her that this can't be true, and isn't. so hopefully, if you persist and hand her some other reasources, she'll realize she's being shafted.

## Post 6 by Nicky (And I aprove this message.) on Monday, 11-Nov-2013 13:50:20

have you tried to google it? you never know what might come up in google. Also, what about looking them up on BBB Business Boro whatever. I hear if they aren't with that then they can't be safe or something.

## Post 7 by Shadow_Cat (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Monday, 11-Nov-2013 16:08:59

Nicky, I have googled it, and looked at their website. I haven't found any objective information about it. I am planning to check with the Better Business Bureau and see if they know anything, but I'll guarantee you this guy is not registered with them.
Bernadetta, thanks for the info. I did look at the site, and saw it's poor wording, and as you say, that's a tip-off too. But the site made my computer run very sluggishly, so I didn't spend much time there. I was worried about malware, even though I have programs to protect against that. If you wouldn't mind private messaging me your other resources for legitimate work at home stuff, I would like to hear about them. I can pass them on to this particular friend, as well as some other friends who I know are currently looking for work.

## Post 8 by write away (The Zone's Blunt Object) on Monday, 11-Nov-2013 18:40:53

Sure Alicia. I'll do that tonight, as I'm in a bit of a pinch right now taking care of my little one and can only be on here a minute here and a minute there while he's still awake. I'll also post them on domestic goddess's worth a shot board so it'll be there too.

## Post 9 by Smiling Sunshine (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Monday, 11-Nov-2013 23:33:06

The Zone needs a "like" button. lol

## Post 10 by Juliet (move over school!) on Friday, 15-Nov-2013 20:31:11

Oh trust me, doing a google search for these companies will generally bring you to several blogs people right on whether or not these companies are scams. I go on cafe mom.com and look at their boards, and have come across these get rich quick sites all over the place as well, and done google searches on them only to find out several of them were scams.
I'm currently working this business now that I found out about through another user on here that sells gourmet food mixes, that are really easy to make, and are really inexpensive, so if your friend is good in sales, and is good at cooking/sampling, so she can attract customers, and you want more info, just send me a message and I'll tell you more about the company.

## Post 11 by kgs4674forever (Zone BBS is my Life) on Sunday, 12-Jan-2014 19:08:34

why am I not shocked? It seems when something is too good to be true it usually is.

## Post 12 by KC8PNL (The best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better.) on Sunday, 12-Jan-2014 21:40:22

The advantage to running a fraudulent type of business with a generic name like Project Starfish is that there are so many other things with that same name, it's another good way to stay under the radar.

## Post 13 by forereel (Just posting.) on Sunday, 12-Jan-2014 22:27:06

So vary true. I've not heard, but will follow this board for information.

## Post 14 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Tuesday, 14-Jan-2014 18:56:11

I definitely agree that if it sounds too good to be true it more than likely is.