Is it a scheme? 10 free checks before you pay
checked 2026-10-09
By Tori, last checked 2026-10-09. Where we could not open a source we say so.
The ten checks
- Can you find who runs it, and how to reach them, without joining anything first?
- Is the refund policy written down before you pay, and the same everywhere it appears?
- Does the money come from customers who buy a real product or service, not from recruiting people or from your own payment?
- Does every income figure name its source and date, and not rely on a screenshot or "our members"?
- Can you try or read the core of it before paying?
- Is the price the same every day, with no fake countdown?
- Can you do it within a platform's normal rules, without buying accounts or views?
- Does it avoid asking for passwords, remote access or payment in gift cards or crypto?
- Does it say plainly what can go wrong and when to stop?
- Is the first paid step small enough that you can afford to lose it?
Answer from the seller's own pages, not from a testimonial. Three or more no answers: stop and do not pay.
Then set a stop rule
The most you will spend, the number of weeks you will give it, and the result that means keep going. Write it down. If the date comes and the result is not there, stop.
Why the refund line matters
The US Federal Trade Commission has published cases that involve AI-labelled income packages. They report allegations and proposed orders, not court findings. Details and sources:
Kinds of offer we rate do not start (11)
- Open-source issue bounties and bug bounties
- Buying views or running networks of clip accounts
- Mass-produced AI short-video channels (faceless shorts farms)
- AI trading bots, paid signals and 'copy my bot' communities
- Dropshipping stores driven by paid ads (including done-for-you stores)
- 'AI passive income' courses, coaching and business-in-a-box
- Multi-level marketing and network marketing 'businesses'
- Buying 'aged' or 'warmed-up' social media and platform accounts
- Prediction markets and sports betting as an income
- 'Get paid to complete simple online tasks' offers
- Mass AI listings with scripts or auto-uploaders
Each one has its own page with what we found and the sources. The free PDF explains how each kind hooks people.
Keep reading
- How to tell if a make-money-with-AI offer is a scam
- Reality check: 15 make-money-with-AI schemes
- How we check
- All short answers
Questions
How can I check an online money offer for free?
Answer ten yes or no questions from the seller's own pages. Three or more no answers means do not pay.
What is a red flag in a make-money-online course?
An income figure with no source or date, a refund policy that differs between pages, or a price with a fake countdown.
Should I give a course my password or computer access?
No. Any offer that asks for passwords, remote access to your computer or payment in gift cards or crypto fails the check.
Is the checklist really free?
Yes. The PDF is free to download, copy and share unchanged.
- The 10 checks on one page and a place to write your stop rule
- A do-not-start list with a plain explanation of each kind of offer
- Free to copy and share unchanged
Free, no card needed. Delivered by Gumroad right after checkout. No income promise. Refunds: If this product is not useful to you, ask within 14 days of buying, from your Gumroad receipt or at hello@ticassociation.com, and you get all your money back.