Updated Post 2022 – More Added
I hadn’t been public about this too much because I still believed that crazy scammer would someday pay me. Then, after sending her my invoice for my work last year every month since she let us go, she canceled my invoice request through PayPal. This, to me, was a blatant and strong slap in the face. It was merely implied before but now it is personal. SO, this is what I think about Christine and Drew Gilbert and their scam, Almost Fearless, Blog Brilliantly, WeCreate, Build Your Thriving Blog, and whatever brand she creates for her new scam. Unfortunately, I will not allow her to do this again and will try and spread the news to everyone else.
https://medium.com/@hedykay_60346/be-fearless-with-the-baiters-of-life-a026016e559e
be fearless with the BAITERs of life
In 2017, I believed my career was finally taking off when I was accepted as an intern for a new travel magazine for parents, a start-up. Born from a 10-year-old blog called Almost Fearless, by a couple traveling. Christine Gilbert and her husband (An)Drew. They left corporate America a decade ago to travel the world and have babies along the way. I was so excited about the opportunity!
Over a year later, only ONE issue of the magazine was printed and thousands and thousands of dollars in subscribers’ money disappeared. Writers have not been paid, the only ‘staff’ kept are owed money (me included) and the ‘free interns’ were responsible for most of the real work. Once our internship began to wind down and it came time to pay for positions, and print the magazine — the lies began. She and Drew were separating and he took off with all of the money. His timing was impeccable! Unfortunately, nothing but lies and part of her plan.
Christine’s Schemes
She creates courses, sells them, and doesn’t finish the course. She advertises workshops around the world, then cancels the day of and doesn’t refund anyone. The list of their money-making scams is LONG. Basically, she has done this in every business collaboration she has worked on. Sells, sells, sells…then halfway through, she disappears with the money and content.
The woman continued her marketing campaign of selling the same content (the magazine and guidebooks) until the very last moment. She advertised the same content (plus more enticements) for over a year. It didn’t exist and won’t ever. I also see many of her ‘great ideas’ are stolen from other travel bloggers. She just slaps ‘for parents’ on the title and calls it a day.
The Aftermath of Christine’s Scam
I have gone through a range of angry emotions. The red flags that I ignored collected into a huge sleeping dragon. Once the four of us remaining as staff were tossed aside after our usefulness wore out, and she got what freebies she could out of us, the sleeping dragon started to wake. Trying to make peace with how I could be so blind and stupid is hard to reconcile. But the dragon wasn’t alone.
After shaking my fists at the heavens and throwing in the towel (again), I’ve looked to God and my faith for answers. Yet another test on the way to my promotion. I’ve never been one to force faith and belief systems on other people.
However, after this experience with a couple younger than myself, self-proclaimed ‘atheists’, I realize it is easy for people without moral compasses to screw other people over without batting an eye. How people can take, take, and take some more. Victims who believe they deserve to sit on a pile of cash. They have no follow-through on any projects they take on. They rely on the kindness of others and take advantage of them.
The Gilberts Lack Normal Function Skills
One subscriber said they are probably borrowing from Peter to pay off Paul from their last scam. They claim the money ($100K-200K+ and this is on the cheap side of the subscription amounts) disappeared and they are broke. They can’t pay anyone for all their hard work! YET — they announced from the start they were boot-strapping the venture with their OWN funds for the first year.
YET, they have nannies, maids, and tutors for their kids, and live in fancy condos. They keep the traveling going too! Tell me your sob story when you are so broke that you cannot eat in order to feed your kids (my mom has done this).
This isn’t the first time I have allowed someone to take advantage of me, in an attempt to ‘help’ them. I fall for the sad stories, and allow them to manipulate me to help. I have always tried to serve and help others, according to God. I never cared about others’ actions, that is THEIR karma.
What are BAITERS?
But the buck stops here. My friend (who is on the outside looking in and sees this manipulation) caught a Life Class of Oprah with Dr. Phil. I don’t care what other people think of him. He knows his stuff! He calls these spades “BAITERs”:
Backstabbers, Abusers, Imposters, Takers, Exploiters, Reckless
And these are the Evil 8 Traits these people have:
-Arrogant entitlement
-Lack of empathy
-No remorse or guilt
-Irresponsible and self-destructive
-Thrive on drama
-Brag about outsmarting people
-Short-term relationships
-Live in a FANTASY world, delusional
Dr. Phil says quite clearly: You missed the clues! I always give people the benefit of the doubt. I see the goodness in all and believe it is what we are hard-wired with. I won’t change this ideal I have.
Almost Fearless…NOT
I, also, cannot afford to do it anymore. Emotionally or financially. Why? Because I can’t invest more than I can afford to lose. I have nothing more to lose. Game over!
Don’t be #AlmostFearless with these kinds of special folks who have no morals. Be Fearless. Stand up and speak out.
We have been unable to get the authority’s attention on the matter. PLEASE share this post with everyone you know to get the word out!!
It looks like she is resurfacing under the name of Emma Decos (@emmadecos), on Twitter and Tiktok. She calls herself a writer, lesbian, and journalist.