Sounds Like A Cult The Cult of Digital Marketing Scams (The New MLM)
Aug 12, 2025
Join Maggie Patterson, a marketer advocating for consumer awareness, and Michelle Mazur, a PhD in Communications and marketing expert, as they dive into the murky waters of digital marketing scams. They dissect the cult-like tactics employed by influencers and online courses that promise financial freedom but often lead to deception and financial distress. With personal anecdotes and critical insights, they reveal the red flags in this deceptive landscape and stress the importance of consumer education to combat these predatory practices.
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Digital Marketing As The New MLM
- Amanda Montell frames digital marketing 'girlies' as the 2025 evolution of MLM culture.
- Scams sell courses that teach selling courses, creating a circular scam economy.
Nothing Tangible To Evaluate
- Amanda Montell says many schemes sell non-tangible offerings with nothing to evaluate.
- That vagueness makes accountability and critique nearly impossible.
Scammer Uses 'Avoid Other Courses' Hook
- Amanda Montell reads an IG post that warns against 'wrong courses' then funnels readers to that very seller.
- The tactic co-opts skepticism to position the seller as the only trustworthy option.
