# Too good to be true TV ads... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 3, 2006, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-good-to-be-true-tv-ads/342795 "2006-02-03T04:25:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![squeekster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/779978/32.png) [@squeekster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeekster)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-good-to-be-true-tv-ads/342795/1 "2006-02-03T04:25:37Z")
Recently there have been ads on TV telling the viewer to log on to such and such website to start making lots of money. Then they have “testimonials” of people that make upwards of $7,000 or more per month. Of course, the usual disclaimer is there that says something along the lines of “your results may vary”. I realize that if something sounds to good to be true, it usually always is. But my question is, has anyone ever looked into this and if so, what is it a person has to do to make all that money? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-good-to-be-true-tv-ads/342795/2 "2006-02-03T04:27:45Z")
> [@squeekster](#): > > what is it a person has to do to make all that money? Send me $20 and I’ll tell you. ---
**Author:** ![Tikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5daacb/32.png) [@Tikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tikki)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-good-to-be-true-tv-ads/342795/3 "2006-02-03T04:28:32Z")
Come on! _ **All** _ TV ads are too good to be true! But I get your point. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-good-to-be-true-tv-ads/342795/4 "2006-02-03T17:47:04Z")
The sad thing about this is that some where out there is a website that will actually make you lots of money. The odds of finding such a place are so rare that people won’t even bother looking. It is sort of like playing the lottery, except that if you are smart, you will loose more time than money. I once read an article about a safety freak who wanted to help New Yorkers correctly install their baby car seats. She started out for free, but then she had to start charging because people kept telling her that they didn’t trust things that were free. And back when 60 minutes II was on, I forget his name but the guy that is on in the same time slot Andy Rooney is at on 60 minutes tried to give away a free $20 bill by calling people up. He was very straightforward about the offer and had a number of people turn him down before one person finally accepted. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-good-to-be-true-tv-ads/342795/5 "2006-02-03T18:56:30Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Send me $20 and I’ll tell you. Or send me just $19.95 and I sell you the new improved system, and as a bonus to you, if you respond in the next 10 minutes, I’ll send you at no additional charge, the OrangeChamoisBlendingRachetOxyOven. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-good-to-be-true-tv-ads/342795/6 "2006-02-03T19:23:48Z")
Get up to 2 cellphones for just $9.97 each a month. Oh, wait. You have to already have 2 cellphones on the same account at $59.97 a month each. So you really have to spend $140 each month to get a 3rd and 4th phone. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-good-to-be-true-tv-ads/342795/7 "2006-02-03T21:03:10Z")
> [@squeekster](#): > > I realize that if something sounds to good to be true, it usually always is. But my question is, has anyone ever looked into this and if so, what is it a person has to do to make all that money? Be the one who makes the ad. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-good-to-be-true-tv-ads/342795/8 "2006-02-03T22:23:15Z")
Hot! Girls! Want! You!!! Call now!!! You wouldn’t be calling if Hot Girls Wanted You. ---
**Author:** ![LiveOnAPlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-good-to-be-true-tv-ads/342795/9 "2006-02-03T22:46:19Z")
And, the Psychic Hotline! Call Now!! Who was, George Carlin (or someone) who said if they were really psychic, they’d know you wanted to talk and they’d call you!