Online education has swept the globe. Traditional learning feels slow and outdated, whereas learning at your own pace whenever you want is hip and valuable. Humans, as usual, went from one extreme to the other. So, while some staunchly oppose change and argue that classroom learning is the only viable option, others believe it is a relic of the past.
As you might predict, the truth lies in the middle. Online learning is a fantastic opportunity, and it’s great not having to stick to a strict schedule and commuting. However, some people prefer to learn in person and crave physical contact and face-to-face interactions.
Who is behind the online course?
When considering purchasing an online course, whether it costs Rs 500 or Rs 5,000, consider who is behind the product. Even if the person behind it appears legitimate in this context. there are a few ways to delve deeper into their intentions and assess the potential quality of the course.
As discussed at several educational events, there are so many online learning companies that it can be difficult to tell the difference between the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. Numerous scam training companies on the internet have no intention of teaching anything (other than how to separate a learner from their money!) These companies typically entice students with flashy offers and discounts while overstating their service capabilities. Victims quickly discover that. They will be unable to finish their course, leaving them out of pocket and out of luck.
How do people review the course?
The strategy for determining whether an online course is legitimate is to read the reviews. Of course, hundreds of mini Tiktok videos with people thanking the guru for “changing their lives” will accompany every online masterclass. However, if all the reviews are from seemingly ordinary people who suddenly became wealthy without proof. There is a clear pattern at work. If all of the reviews you find look suspiciously similar, you’ll know that they’ve been manipulated. If you come across an ocean of positive reviews with hundreds of similar stories, no word of criticism, and reviewers who appear average but have suddenly changed their lives, the course may be a scam.
What does the course promise?
The following critical step is to examine the course’s promises. Most online courses promise three things:
- becoming wealthy quickly,
- becoming better at a specific skill (targeted self-improvement), or
- completely changing your life (general self-improvement).
Online courses promise you that you can earn 100k or more in a year or less, usually through cryptocurrencies, magic marketing, or once-in-a-lifetime investment opportunities.
However, as discussed at various educational conferences, such as the Education 2.0 Conference, there are only two ways to get rich as quickly as these people tell you.
You can either build a business and later sell it for a lot of money, or you can win the lottery. Both are perfectly feasible, but one critical point that gurus fail to mention is that building a profitable business is extremely difficult, and not everyone can do it. And winning the lottery is purely by chance. On this basis, if an online course promises you huge wealth without a difficult journey (plus expertise, starting capital, and network building) or insane luck, they are a scam.
Online scams to be aware of:
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Presentation of the cloak and dagger
Online learning can be a thief’s cloak, with the course containing little educational content and value instead of serving as a sales presentation replete with commercial advertising. The course is a ruse to persuade you to buy a sometimes unrelated product or service via advertising and regular email communications.
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Fake qualifications
Scammers who promise professional qualifications are easy to fall for. They entice you by selling you a course but fail to provide the necessary certificate or license.
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Promises of employment
We’ve come across several ‘professional coaching organizations. That promise to refer clients to you once you’ve completed the course, it’s usually very expensive, coaching ‘qualification.’ In this case, it is not the course that is the issue; rather, the clients, business development opportunities, or guaranteed financial guarantees promised at the point of sale do not materialize, leaving people unsure of how to make a living or develop a business using their new skillset.
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Poor quality online courses
This online scam involves a brief overview course for a low fee, followed by heavy promotion and sophisticated digital marketing tricks to entice buyers to purchase a more expensive course. Professional training providers understand the importance of reputation in long-term success and actively encourage. Informed purchasing at all stages, cautioning users to always read reviews before purchasing.
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Free online courses
Not only are many free online learning courses peddled by charlatans a waste of time. But the alleged expertise they provide is also substandard and thus potentially harmful. A lot of people are jumping on the post-COVID education events with little expertise in how to provide quality remote courses and live online sessions.
Here are some red flags to look out for when marketing online courses:
- They portray you as a failure if you have a mediocre job and play with your emotions.
- We Show you another person who was once in a similar situation and miraculously turned their life around thanks to their course.
- They never reveal specifics about the course.
- We tell you that anyone (regardless of current circumstances) can become wealthy or fit.
- They make it appear like their path is the only way to get there.
- Flaunt their apparent success with cars, watches, clothes, and opulent hotels.
- Share insanely high earnings figures and provide screenshots as proof.
We all want to be better versions of ourselves, and taking online courses is a great way to do so. Unfortunately, many unscrupulous people prey on our fantasies. You can also learn more about this topic by attending education conferences in the USA, which will provide more insight into the online courses and emerging concerns in this field.
