If there’s one thing that simultaneously excites and enrages me, it’s emails like this—ones that dangle a dream opportunity just within reach, only to reveal themselves as yet another cut-and-paste scam designed to prey on hopeful professionals.
Take this gem:
“Hey Traci, My team sent your LinkedIn profile over and I was impressed! Would you be interested in doing a $10k-$50k speaking gig this quarter?”
Listen, I would love to believe that some event planner randomly stumbled upon my barely-active LinkedIn profile, saw something remarkable in it, and decided I was the perfect choice for a highly-paid keynote. That would be amazing.
But let’s be real—this screams scam from a mile away.
First, let’s look at the red flags that are practically waving in my face:
- I barely use LinkedIn.
- There’s zero mention of the event, audience, or organization hiring.
- No back-and-forth conversation—just a rushed push to book a Calendly meeting.
- The payment amount is too good to be true.
- The sender is claiming ridiculous numbers—“I’ve booked over $1M in gigs!” (Oh really? For who? From where? Care to provide actual names?)
- Odds are, they’re going to ask for money upfront to “secure bookings.”
It’s lazy. It’s predictable. And it’s disappointing.
Because here’s the worst part—I actually want to share what I know with people. I want to speak, to educate, to connect with the right audiences. The fact that these scams exist means legitimate opportunities are harder to find, buried under waves of junk emails promising big money and zero legitimacy.
This is the real frustration—I don’t know how to get noticed by the right people, but I definitely know this isn’t the way.
Real speaking gigs come from:
- Connections with reputable organizations.
- Proper vetting, clear event details, and actual human conversations.
- Proven credibility, built over time—not a random LinkedIn scrape.
Meanwhile, these scams rely on desperation—on the idea that someone will say, “Oh wow, finally! My big break!” and jump headfirst into whatever vague, shady system they’re peddling.
But here’s the reality: If someone actually wanted me for a $50,000 speaking gig, I’d probably know who they are, what event it is, and why they think I’m qualified before they shoved a Calendly link in my face.
The lesson here? If it seems too good to be true, it is.
I’m all for putting myself out there, making connections, and growing opportunities—but I’m not about to fall for a mass-market scam that doesn’t even try to be convincing.
So, to every supposed event coordinator sending out copy-paste emails like this: Do better.
What about you? Ever gotten one of these ridiculous “opportunities”? Pull up a chair—let’s talk about why legitimate chances to speak, teach, and connect are worth finding—but never worth paying for upfront.
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