Narrator/Denise Chan

Shaina would introduce herself as the HR manager for a hotel company on the search for part-time remote workers. I would then naturally ask her how she got my contact information.

Shaina would introduce herself as the HR manager for a hotel company on the search for part-time remote workers. I would then naturally ask her how she got my contact information.

Oh, a recruiting agency recommended me? Honestly, I'm flattered. Tell me more. What's the job? What's the pay?

Oh, a recruiting agency recommended me? Honestly, I'm flattered. Tell me more. What's the job? What's the pay?

a couple hundred dollars for a few hours of work? That sounds sweet. Shayna would explain that all I'd have to do was rate and review hotels and earn commission for each review. Easy. I'd go through a quick one-hour training. Then Shayna would show me how to set up an account for my earnings, a crypto account that would link directly to my personal bank account.

a couple hundred dollars for a few hours of work? That sounds sweet. Shayna would explain that all I'd have to do was rate and review hotels and earn commission for each review. Easy. I'd go through a quick one-hour training. Then Shayna would show me how to set up an account for my earnings, a crypto account that would link directly to my personal bank account.

Then she would start assigning me hotels to review. But after working through a dozen or so reviews, racking up commissions, my earnings would suddenly drop. I would freak out because what the fuck happened to all my commissions? Why do I now see a negative number in my account?

Then she would start assigning me hotels to review. But after working through a dozen or so reviews, racking up commissions, my earnings would suddenly drop. I would freak out because what the fuck happened to all my commissions? Why do I now see a negative number in my account?

A bonus? And Shaina would tell me, oh no, don't worry. This is a good thing. You can make even more money by booking hotels too.

A bonus? And Shaina would tell me, oh no, don't worry. This is a good thing. You can make even more money by booking hotels too.

The hotel is willing to pay a big commission if I complete the booking because it makes the online reviews more legitimate.

The hotel is willing to pay a big commission if I complete the booking because it makes the online reviews more legitimate.

Shayna tells me to just pay the negative amount displayed on the screen with my own money.

Shayna tells me to just pay the negative amount displayed on the screen with my own money.

At this point, I have doubts. I've never heard of something like this. So I'd ask Shaina, are you sure I need to put my own money in? Are you sure I'll get my money back?

At this point, I have doubts. I've never heard of something like this. So I'd ask Shaina, are you sure I need to put my own money in? Are you sure I'll get my money back?

Wait, wait, wait, wait. If I don't do it, what would happen to all the money I'd already earned? I've already raided a dozen hotels.

Wait, wait, wait, wait. If I don't do it, what would happen to all the money I'd already earned? I've already raided a dozen hotels.

She's like, pay for the hotel booking, don't pay for the hotel booking. It's up to you. But hey, you'd be leaving money on the table if you quit now. Ugh, I'm conflicted. I don't want to lose the money I made raiding these hotels. That's my money. I did the work. I asked Shaina again, are you sure I'm going to make the money back?

She's like, pay for the hotel booking, don't pay for the hotel booking. It's up to you. But hey, you'd be leaving money on the table if you quit now. Ugh, I'm conflicted. I don't want to lose the money I made raiding these hotels. That's my money. I did the work. I asked Shaina again, are you sure I'm going to make the money back?