How legal would this devious scheme be?

I have an idea here which is not the most ethically sound, but it's pretty harmless and massively profitable.

A while ago the topic of how much speakers at conferences get paid came up at work. These guys can make 5 or even 6 digits just to show up and talk for an hour or so.

I could put together a presentation just as good as any of these people could make, but nobody wants to hear it from Some Dude. Without the celebrity the presentation is worthless.

Now what if I were able to construct a fake persona as a tech executive, and create a fake online history and celebrity for this character, and trick some conference into paying me to show up and talk? The attendees would get a presentation as good as any other and I could make a years' income or more in less than a week's work. I could maybe get some friends in on the deal to pose as employees for a cut. So that's a potential expense, and I'd definitely need a phone number and website (edit: Oh and a nice suit and passable watch, might have some stuff that can work already), and I should assume I'd have to pay for my own travel, so those are the expenses.

Activist groups like the Yes Men have been able to do similar things to trick conference organizers into letting them speak before, although I don't know if any of them have been paid for it.

So whaddaya think?

Sounds very con artist scumbag to me.

If this involves you flying conference attending astroturfers to Barbados on your dime, count me in.

nicksta43 wrote: Sounds very con artist scumbag to me.

Aww really? I thought it was pretty low on the scumminess scale. The product is real, just the prestige is fake

Sounds like what the actual speakers do to me, so...

I think if anyone falls for it, they deserve it.

Trade on a fraudulent resume for profit and bribe people to lie for you. What could possibly go wrong?

I'm sure it has been done before and will be done again. I put it in the same league as lying about military service or college degrees on resumes.

Basil Exposition wrote: Trade on a fraudulent resume for profit and bribe people to lie for you. What could possibly go wrong?

Damn, good point, I could have serious trouble finding meaningful employment for the rest of my life.

OH WAIT

Basil Exposition wrote: Trade on a fraudulent resume for profit and bribe people to lie for you. What could possibly go wrong?

This reminds me of a thread I once read started by someone who wanted to do paintings "while on different drugs". Her only worry was how they may interfere with her Anti-seizure medication.

I think it sounds like a fantastic idea! --Matt Foley

You have to self promote to get noticed. A few white lies are probably OK, but a full on BS background will bite you in the ass.

If you are good enough to be a paid speaker, people will pay you.. it's that simple.

Perhaps publish a few youtube videos and see if folks want to hear what you have to say.

Best of luck!

nicksta43 wrote: I put it in the same league as lying about military service or college degrees on resumes.

I could see it that way if I was unqualified, but I'm just as educated as a speaker who could be hired legitimately. I couldn't make as good of a presentation otherwise, could I? Heck some of them probably had an employee write their stuff!

Hey send some money my way and I'll leave an excellent fake review on your fake website and YouTube videos

I vote Kahn Butler for your stage name.

Let me know if I should get my passport in order.

fujioko wrote: You have to self promote to get noticed. A few white lies are probably OK, but a full on BS background will bite you in the ass.

The idea is not about getting noticed or starting a career in speaking at conferences. It's about doing a job under a fake persona. Ideally I would not like to be linked to it at all, I'd disguise myself a bit for the presentation to avoid being discovered.

Datsun1500 wrote:

Basil Exposition wrote: Trade on a fraudulent resume for profit and bribe people to lie for you. What could possibly go wrong?

You could get caught, after you make a pile of $$ and have to give some of it back? At that point just give lectures on how you pulled it off :)

Seriously: If I got caught would there be legal consequences or anything outside of the contract with the conference organizer that would make me have to return the money? I did my job properly, service was delivered, customers were satisfied. I'm just not who I said I was.

Really? You want to do this? Really?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbanWHx5AFQ

First off, if your getting paid, how are you going to do the banking information? Serious problems there.

Its fraud.

Apexcarver wrote: First off, if your getting paid, how are you going to do the banking information? Serious problems there.

What if I set up a shell company (which I should do anyway to make my fake company real on paper) and a bank account for it and have the money deposited to that account?

Apexcarver wrote: Its fraud.

What part specifically? That would be an idea-killer.

Perhaps you should focus on acquiring new skills to make yourself more valuable vs all these crazy ideas you spend time coming up with.

Crazy ideas take minutes and are free, new degrees take years and cost 5 digits

I already have plenty of skills with computers but I don't have many certifications, connections or local opportunities. Frankly I should assume that my IT career is going nowhere from here unless maybe I can somehow start my own company.

Skills alone aren't worth much unfortunately.

GameboyRMH wrote:

Apexcarver wrote: Its fraud.

What part specifically? That would be an idea-killer.

You are accepting money for services under false pretenses. Here you would get charged for Fraud. In Barbados, IDK.....do they chop off limbs/appendages down there?

GameboyRMH wrote: Crazy ideas take minutes and are free, new degrees take years and cost 5 digits I already have plenty of skills with computers but I don't have many certifications, connections or local opportunities. Frankly I should assume that my IT career is going nowhere from here unless maybe I can somehow start my own company. Skills alone aren't worth much unfortunately.

Get your certifications, network, join professional groups, etc.