is it a cheap scam? no! it's an email from the Motley Fool

I get a fair amount of spam. Lately it seems I've gotten messages from random made-up addresses, touting the value of some craptastic stock or another that I've never heard of. But you don't expect to get this sort of presentation from an official Motley Fool Stock Advisor email.

What if an unmistakable "signal"
could lead you to PROFITS of
229%, 280%, even 619%?
Forget the "what ifs" -- that signal is flashing now!

Yeah, right. The hilarity continues:

Good Afternoon Fellow Investor,

I called you "fellow investor" just now for a reason.

You see, like you, I'm committed to building wealth, so my family can enjoy a safer, richer, more pleasant and fulfilling life.

And, like you, I don't want to work until I'm 85 unless I choose to.
Instead, I want to make enough money to do
what I want... and I bet you feel the same way!

That's why I'm so eager to share this timely investment opportunity with you today... and tell you about the "unmistakable signal" that is flashing "BUY" right now.

In fact, I have every reason to expect this stock can DOUBLE your original investment (and mine, too), if not even much more than that!

Isn't one of the cardinal rules in selecting who to listen to, to not listen to anyone who promises spectacular returns?

And a bit further down:

I've spent months building up cash in my brokerage account... waiting for this opportunity to present itself. I just wish that I could take advantage of it right now, at today's discount prices.

But here's the rub. I learned of this remarkable opportunity from Tom Gardner. And some of my investing columns are published by The Motley Fool, so I have to sweat out a suitable "blackout" period before I can buy.

So I am supposed to feel sorry for this guy because he can't get in on the ground floor of this guaranteed opportunity? But I bet he doesn't have to pay $150 a year for this information either. In fact, I have a strong suspicion that he is already getting some money out of this deal.. Hm...

Actually, this is a really, really, really long email. It goes on for miles about this company and that company that have done really well, previous Stock Advisor picks, market trends, how terrific the Stock Advisor picks have done, etc etc. And it also tells me that I can lock in a great new member rate by clicking in this email..

You're Buying
Motley Fool Stock Advisor (Annual)
Price: $189.00
Your Price: $149.00
You Save: $40.00 (21.16%)

Wow, so the great new member rate is actually the same damn rate you can get by clicking directly on the website! Hooray!

And one of the last tidbits the author throws at you, in a desperate attempt to make you interested in this product...

P.S. I blew it on Quality Systems. But I did buy Moody's Corp. after Tom recommended it in Stock Advisor. In fact, I put my entire IRA contribution into Moody's on April 21, 2004... as of today, it's up 119.1%. (I can't tell you how AMAZING that feels!) I assure you I'll be buying THIS stock just as soon as I can. I hope you won't delay... join Stock Advisor today!

Wow, that's some great diversification there! Terrific!


I really like most of the personal finance info that is on the Motley Fool, and in fact that's the first site that I visited to begin learning the basics about finance. They've got a really great set of tutorials on IRAs, 401k, insurance, etc, and I've recommended it as a starting point for others. But this email stuff is ridiculous. The sell is never this hard or gimmicky on the website. I think that their stock picking record should really just stand on its own, without all of the stupid late-night-TV methods. I feel like taking a shower.. or wearing a shiny suit. It's difficult to understand.