Scam Alert: Preston Lord Enterprises
I received a direct mail letter about an income opportunity with Preston Lord Enterprises to “Get Paid For Mailing Our Special Letters From Home!” It says I can earn up to $5,000 per week. That’s pretty enticing. There are five “income groups” from which to choose: 1) earn $490 2) $690 3) $990 4) $2,900 and 5) $5,0000. The only catch? You have to pay. The first income group costs $99 while the fifth costs $399.
Are the red flags waving? I hope so, because this program has several.
First, you never pay money to get hired. The letter gives the same mumbo jumbo about the money being a fee to “insure that you’re serious” and “for our accountant to set up a payroll plan”. This is ridiculous. Think about all the other jobs you’ve held. Were you ever asked to pay money to prove you want a job or to put you on payroll? Not if the job was legitimate.
Second, envelop stuffing is a known scam. Odds are what you get for your money is the same letter you received that you send out to dupe other people into sending money and duping more people.
I did a little research and could only find one person who said the program was legit, but she was so rude to the people who had a bad experience, you couldn’t help but think she was with the company or a shill (someone paid to say nice things).
My research indicates that this program was once known as Maxwell Gates Enterprises, which the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General and the Division of Consumer Affairs filed suit against “alleging that they defrauded consumers through offers to earn income by stuffing envelopes or assembling booklets.” This is typical of scammers. Shut down the scam when the heat is on and start up under a new name.
Here’s what’s important for you to know regarding these types of scams:
1) Envelop stuffing is never legit. Companies aren’t going to pay $10 an envelope to get stuffed when they can pay someone minimum wage or use a machine.
2) Employers are never going to ask you to give money to prove you’re serious about a job or to get on payroll.
Programs like this take advantage of people’s desperation that often leaves them gullible. The letter says all the right things, like a a money-back guarantee, but scammers will say anything to dupe you. And they try to make it seem like all you have to do is sign-up to do menial work. But since starting Work-At-Home Success in 1998, I’ve met many successful home-based workers and NOT ONE is stuffing envelopes. Instead, they are using skills, experiences and interests they have to make a living.
Leslie Truex is an ideaphoric writer, speaker, entrepreneur, social worker and mom trying to do it all from the comfort of her home. Since 1998, she's been helping others create careers they love by providing work-at-home information and resources through Work-At-Home Success.
Facebook • Twitter • Linkedin • Google • Youtube • Pinterest • Instagram •
Note: Work-At-Home Success contains advertising as well as screened work-at-home jobs and resources. Some posts may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive compensation if you register or buy using the link. Occasionally, WAHS publishes "Supporting Contributor" posts or paid reviews for which compensation is paid. These posts are marked as such. All opinions are my own. Click here for full details and disclosures.
March 25, 2014 @ 5:26 pm
Wow this company must think people don’t research things like this that comes out of the blue. Of course there are those who are that desperate. If they have the money to give them then they have to have the money for internet access. I got two letters in one day with different figures in both envelopes. That’s when I really knew that it was a scam. Of course I had to check to make sure. People use your brains and not the dollar signs in your eyes. Thanks for all the posts I did enjoy reading them.
March 26, 2014 @ 8:37 am
Unfortunately Jessica, I imagine many people are duped. You’re right that many get taking in by the hype and forget to use their common sense. Thank you for leaving your comment!!
April 3, 2014 @ 12:07 pm
Another idea might be to report them to the United States Postal Service Inspection Service that will investigate Fraud.
April 4, 2014 @ 8:19 am
Good point Fred. Since it uses the US postal to deliver its scam, it can be reported to the postal service for fraud.
April 15, 2014 @ 5:41 pm
hi am Kathy I believe I have been scanned with this so called company, what should I do to report this ploblem?????
April 16, 2014 @ 10:00 am
Hi Kathy, You can let the Attorney General of the stat the scammer is doing business in know. Preston Lord is in New Jersey (NJ Consumer Affairs). You can also let the Federal Trade Commission know. Neither of these will get your money back, but hopefully if enough people complain, they’ll investigate.
May 2, 2014 @ 6:28 pm
I have been online most of the day researching Preston Lord Enterprises. the address can be found online and seems to be ok. But there was no way I could find a phone number listed for this business..
I only found 2 or 3 positive comments on the company on utube… the one that almost convinced me was from Stanley Masterson….I’m glad I spent the time researching
I’m really sorry, but it does seem that they do not want to be reached by phone, at least until after they receive your Money…..
I’m afraid to risk it.
thanks for your service.
May 5, 2014 @ 9:15 am
Hi Ron, You’re right to do your research and find out as much as possible. It’s always best to go with your gut when something doesn’t feel quite right. I’m glad you found the post and it was able to help you.
June 11, 2014 @ 9:32 pm
preston lord enterprise scam me he tells u to go to infousa.com this is who get u your contacts i call also got on internet they are the company that print out contacts for business
June 12, 2014 @ 10:42 am
That makes sense, because the scam is about duping others into spending their hard earned money. But I didn’t realize they made their victims buy their own leads. Sheesh!
July 1, 2015 @ 10:19 pm
I receive about two of these scam letters a year. The last one was from Carson Lord Enterprises, I pretty sure he is also Preston Lord. It said the same as your letter did. He needed me to send him $99.00 to get started. Of course he had other amounts for the different money group I could join. Everyone thank you for posting your comments about this person and I hope that everyone he send this garbage do what I did. Research him and for God sake DO NOT SEND ANY MONEY!!!!!!!
July 2, 2015 @ 9:22 am
So glad to hear you did your research first Allea! And thank you for sharing the new name. Many scammers change their name once the bad news about them gets out. Thank you for commenting!!