How I Almost Got Scammed

I believe I almost got scammed today. If I’m wrong, I just lost a good deal, but if I’m right, I didn’t loose $600.

It was earlier today, when I received a call – from someone called Patrick and he let me talk to his supervisor Mike Cooper. They were trying to sell my advertising as the "realtor of choice" in this super-luxurious printed magazine that will be distributed 4 times a year to 2 (then there were 3) country-clubs in my area and to their homeowners. Total distribution: 10,000 issues/year.

They tried to sell me half page ad, (one year subscription – 4 publications) for $1,200 but I have to make the decision NOW.

(At some point I told Patrick to call me back because I had to take the trash out. He calls me back from a different number).

 Well – after being interested but skeptical, guess what, I was offered back-cover, for $1,200 – by Patrick. They forgot to tell each other so when I talked to Mike, he was trying to "keep" the deal that I was offered at $900 for back cover (WHAAAT? ) . 

Anyway, interested but skeptical – I told them I don't know if they are real (they might be – who knows?). So – Mike trying to convince me to give him payment by phone – oh yes – and that he was in this business for 18 years (then it went down to 7) – he was telling me that I have nothing to worry about, I have 10 days to cancel, that their graphic designer will call me (well, after I pay, right?). He also said a whole lot about how he hates scammers, and how he is a lawyer and his dad a commercial broker (or something like that). And thet I have nothing to worry. 

He actually could run a legit business by the way he talked. 

I told him I can't find his name in connection with this publication – he tells me he is not on the internet – WHAAAT? everybody IS on the internet. 

I can't find any proof that this publication exists in physical form. NONE. My friend who lives in one of those areas – which is indeed 10 minutes away from me, said she never heard or received this supposed magazine at her home. 

Me, still interested but not convinced he's real. I said I will do the deal but cancel in 10 days if I can't put my hands or my eyes on a physical issue of this magazine. Maybe I can find one at the country club. Well – now he said the magazine is not actually distributed to the country club at all. WHAAAT? That was the fist thing Patrick said – it is distributed to the homeowners and country clubs (the 2 of them which during the conversation became 3 country clubs).

Me, still interested  but not convinced they are real and not scammers – I told him that. Well, price went down to $600, full back-cover, 4 issues, graphic designer included. The distribution went up from 10,000 issues/year to 20,000 issues/year.

I told him again I don't believe he's legit. 

The website is eye-catching but weak. No privacy policy, not terms of use – at a closer look is totally superficial.

The publication looks gorgeous, but, if you look at the details it's clearly fake. The presented magazine was never published for physical distribution. Easiest example: page 24 and page 26. There are 2 redundant articles about kitchen Feng Shui. They start with the exact same paragraphs.