Beware of calls from “Today’s Business Report” It is a scam
I got a call today from a guy claiming to be from Today’s Business Report. He told meā€¯Todayā€™s Business Report” is an educational Business television show that is going to air on the FOX business network. I called up and had a long conversation where he leads me to believe that I am being screened to be on the TV show. He asks me all kinds of questions about my business. He finally starts talking about how my company will be featured at the end with a segment. At the end he asks me if I’m ok with a scheduling fee. For a 60 sec spot it costs $5900 to be on their show.
This is basically an infomercial. It is not a real show. They really don’t think you have some great information they just want your money. I did a press release yesterday so I thought somebody at FOX had seen it and wanted to put me on one of their business shows.
Yeah, I’ve heard of this one before, seems to happen a fair bit. You should of gone off at the guy as soon as he mentioned $5900.
I got a call from them as well. I would of liked to do it but i did not have the funds. They informed me that they were not a big television show and that they guaranteed they hit over 200 DMA’s on the Fox Business Network. I don’t think they are a scam, just a tv production company. I was told everything but also i made sure i asked everything such as are you affiliated with Fox Business Network or do you purchase time off the network. I thought it was a great deal, besides they put it all in writing, but i just couldn’t afford it.
I got a call this afternoon from Marlee. Young woman…very nice on the phone. Sounded like she was reading from a script. She told me the show runs during daytime on all the networks’ cable stations – reaches 80 million consumers. The $5900 scheduling fee came last, of course. She asked me if the fee would be an obstacle to my going forward. When I said yes she asked if her manager could get in touch with me to negotiate a fee. I told her not until I do some research and could she please send me an email with the company’s proposal.
She sent me an email with an attached brochure. The link in the brochure doesn’t work and I can’t find out anything about them other than this post. I plan on forwarding what I have to the Florida Attorney General’s office and the FTC.
Sleazebag companies that try to rip off hardworking people need to be held accountable and those of us who are approached have to do our part to prevent this from happening.
I don’t see what the big deal is. I got a call as well but there are a lot of production companies out there. Just because they charge for getting national air time does not mean they are a scam. I was told this was there first episode and they are a new show. You people make me want to puke. David I know you personally and I would of never thought you would of stooped this low. (I am using an alias). And Stacey, when you say sleazebag companies, you need to think twice. You guys are lucky they don’t start a blog about you, or even worse say something on national tv.
Mathew my point is that in the call they presented themselves to be more than they were. it was deceptive. If they were up front about what they were doing I would not consider it a scam. There is nothing wrong with their business just their marketing.
I’ve been approached as well, and as a result of a Press Release I recently pbulished. What I’d like to know is, is it lgetitimate or not? If they charge, so be it. What they charge is minimal if in fact they have affidavits from thier stations indicating 100 Million viewers. They quoted my $4,900 for a 90 sec spot and $14,500 for a 3 min spot. That’s really not all that expensivie IF, they can deliver. any thoughts?
I was called earlier this week.
It really ISN’t a scam. A scam is when someone cons you into pay for something and you get nothing.
You would be suprised that MOST networks charge to be on their shows. A local news station contacted me months ago with the exact same concept but it was on the local news…something about new businesses and of course they wanted money.
It is paid advertising but not an infomercial. Knowing how many viewers they actually have is nearly impossible. Just ask yourself this…do THAT many business owners or business minded people watch TV at 1 in the morning?
@Sean
A scam isn’t just when “someone cons you into paying for something and you get nothing”. It’s where you don’t get what was described. In this case they describe a great opportunity that the business owner thinks is free and once the owner is emotionally invested they do what we call (in marketing terms) a “bait and switch”. So maybe this isn’t a “scam” but it’s certainly unethical.
Has anyone tried it yet? Did you get anything delivered? The fellow told me they are in Boca Raton, FL, so after the call I tried to find the company in 411 in Boca and there’s no listing. So….what’s one to think?
A guy named Peter Tiffen (I guessed on the spelling of the last name) left a voice mail at our company. He mentioned the “show” called Today’s Business Report, the fact it’s broadcast on various large TV networks such as in their list of “partners” on their website, and the fact they’re looking for new and innovative businesses to feature on their program. He said if we were interested we should call back. Never mentioned a production fee, but it makes sense. We were approached by another company offering a similar proposal a few years ago. The “producer” interviewed several of us by phone to get a feel for our company. He never mentioned a production fee until after they had wasted a couple of hours of our time. It seems this guy may have had the same intentions.
It is paid advertising but not an infomercial. Knowing how many viewers they actually have is nearly impossible.
same call here – seems they taylor the call to your business – bottom line – all they want is money, don’t fall for it
i read your weblog occasionally and i own a similar one and i was just wondering
if you get lots of spam comments? If so how do you prevent it, any plugin or anything you can advise?
I get so much lately it is driving me mad so any assistance is really much appreciated.
I use spam karma
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writing this.
It is paid advertising but not an infomercial. Knowing how many viewers they actually have is nearly impossible.