Want to hear something rich? I was just accused (by a complete stranger) of lying when I posted a Facebook ad stating that a $900 post card I wrote for a client earned him $25,000 in the first two months alone.
Now, I know it’s always good to be skeptical of claims that sound “too good to be true”. I have no problem with skepticism; it’s often wise!
But if anyone ever puts out an ad making a claim, they’d better be ready, willing and able to back it up with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the agency responsible for riding herd on fraudulent claims.
No ad I have ever put out will fail to pass muster with the FTC, because I’m the full meal deal–not a fraud, and not a pretender.
Anyone who visits my testimonials page here or at the freelance websites where I look for additional gigs can see that I have scores of clients who are singing my praises.
I don’t need to lie.
Even when I was starting out–when I had very few client testimonials or reviews/ratings–I never made a claim I couldn’t back up.
Lying just isn’t in my wheelhouse. Lies aren’t helpful except to scoundrels who don’t care how many people they hurt on the way to their success.
The more distance I can put between myself and liars, the better off I feel.
It irked me that a total stranger would even bother to comment on the veracity of my claim using a meme from MISERY with Kathy Bates screaming “LIIIAAAAARRRRR!!!!”
A simple inquiry asking me to prove the claim would have been wiser…not to mention nicer!
But I responded in much the same way I am here, letting him know I “get” why skepticism pops up whenever something sounds too good to be true, and that I am fully able to document to the FTC the name and contact information of the man who wrote it in response to what I was able to do for him.
Being accused of lying hurts. It’s a lie in and of itself–a damnable lie that can cause others to doubt me. It’s potentially liable for legal action, in fact. It’s called libel.
Defined: “Libel is a method of defamation expressed by print, writing, pictures, signs, effigies, or any communication embodied in physical form that is injurious to a person’s reputation, exposes a person to public hatred, contempt or ridicule, or injures a person in his/her business or profession.” — Law, Cornell
Am I going to pursue the matter beyond what I’ve already done? No, of course not. The guy is a wager earner, struggling just to get by, and I’ve seen what suing even an innocent wage-earning person costs when it comes to defending oneself–and it sucks!
I keep my nose clean. I don’t make claims I can’t back up if the FTC ever comes calling.
Accusing me of lying is flying under a false flag. It’s potentially liable.
Warning: Don’t do it. Just don’t!
