Darren Campbell’s FBA Brand Builder program is pitched as a mentorship packed with straightforward, actionable strategies for crushing it with Amazon FBA. But a closer look at some of the mentorship calls from 2023 raises a few red flags—especially around financial advice. Darren often encouraged participants to "leverage" credit cards, like AMEX, and even suggested bending the truth about income when applying for higher credit limits.
In this piece, we’ll break down what kind of advice was being shared, the risks tied to these tactics, and what it all means for anyone thinking about following this path.
The Financial Advice Given
Encouraging Participants to Stretch the Truth
In a 2023 session, Darren made a comment about filling out credit card applications:
- “What I would say to you as well, make sure and put on the personal income or whatever it is you make in the year.”.
While this statement may seem harmless, it lacks clarity about the ethical and legal implications of misrepresenting income. Participants in the mentorship have interpreted this as advice to inflate their earnings, with some later reporting difficulties managing credit card debt.
Framing AMEX as the Solution to Financial Problems
Darren repeatedly emphasized using AMEX credit cards as a tool to overcome financial challenges. In another session, he elaborated on the perceived benefits:
- “If you order something right now, say you had a credit card of, say, 10 grand... you get 30 days to pay off, and another 20-something days, obviously, grace period to pay off. So you can leverage it.”.
Here, Darren focused on the AMEX grace period, presenting it as a way to fund inventory or PPC campaigns while awaiting sales revenue. However, he failed to address the potential risks of taking on debt, particularly for participants whose products might not perform as expected.
Reassuring Participants About Credit Use
For participants hesitant about leveraging credit due to poor financial standing, Darren offered reassurance:
- “By the way, don’t get too alarmed if your credit’s not great. Don’t worry, you don’t need a credit card as such. But if you can get a credit card for launch and use it purposely for the sole reason of your PPC, it means then you can leverage that credit.”.
This advice simplifies the complexities of managing credit and minimizes the risks of relying on borrowed money for essential business expenses.
Ethical and Legal Concerns
The Ethical Risks of Misrepresentation
Encouraging participants to misrepresent their income on financial applications raises serious ethical questions. Even indirect suggestions, like “make sure and put on the personal income or whatever it is you make in the year,” can lead to participants feeling pressured to inflate their earnings.
Such advice contradicts the principles of transparency and trust expected from a mentorship program. Moreover, this guidance risks fostering a culture where cutting corners becomes normalized, undermining the long-term credibility of the mentorship.
Legal Implications of Misrepresenting Income
Falsifying income on financial applications is considered fraud under most legal systems. Consequences include:
- Denied applications or flagged credit accounts.
- Potential civil or criminal liability.
- Long-term damage to participants’ creditworthiness.
The advice Darren provided may expose participants to these risks, particularly those unaware of the legal ramifications of such actions.
Promoting Risky Financial Behavior
Darren’s emphasis on leveraging credit cards, coupled with his reassurances that these actions are standard practice, creates a dangerous precedent. During a February 2023 session, he stated:
- “Everyone does it. It’s not like they’re going to come knocking if you don’t hit that exact number.”
This advice minimizes the potential legal and financial repercussions of misrepresentation, leaving participants unprepared for worst-case scenarios.
Participant Experiences
Confusion and Disillusionment
Participants who trusted the mentorship program’s financial guidance have faced significant consequences. One individual, in a July 2023 session, reflected on the emotional toll of following advice that led to financial hardship:
- “We’re being told to break the rules just to access credit, but what happens when the rules catch up with us? I feel like we’re being set up to fail.”
Another participant shared their frustrations during an August 2023 session:
- “I followed the advice, but now I’m juggling credit repayments with no way to scale because my product isn’t selling as expected. Where’s the mentorship in that?”
Wrapping It Up: Time to Reassess
When advice includes fudging financial details and lacks safeguards for participants who take on risky debt, it’s a serious red flag for Darren Campbell’s mentorship program. Pushing AMEX and similar credit cards as a fix for financial hurdles without addressing the potential downsides undermines trust in the whole operation.
Here’s the big picture:
- Legal Risks: Lying on financial applications isn’t just risky—it’s fraud, and the consequences are no joke.
- Ethical Issues: Promoting "creative" truth-stretching damages trust and makes shady practices seem normal.
- Financial Strain: Many participants are left drowning in debt, with little support when things don’t go as planned.
If you’re considering mentorship programs, take a hard look at the financial advice being offered. Look for ones that prioritize ethics and participant success over just selling you a dream. As more stories from Darren’s program come to light, it’s becoming clear that the focus may lean more on selling packages than truly setting people up for success.