Follow a similar approach if you encounter something similar;
Scammer:
https://thinkflow.us/
Are you open to new ideas?
Me:
We are open to new ideas. What kind of ideas do you have in mind?
Scammer:
Thanks for your response.
I’ve analyzed your store and see strong potential to reach $20k+ monthly revenue. To help you get there without the usual risk, I’m proposing a performance-only partnership:
No Service Fees: You pay zero for my labor/expertise upfront.
3% Commission: I only earn when you make sales through my systems.
Revenue Threshold: My commission only kicks in after you hit $3,000/month.
How it works:
You maintain full ownership of your store’s infrastructure. I will identify and implement the high-impact growth systems (SEO, AI-driven CRO, and Klaviyo flows), and you simply cover the costs of the specific apps or tools needed to run them.
I’ve used this Infrastructure + Expert model to scale stores to six figures. I’ve already prepared a custom audit and implementation roadmap for your store.
Are you more comfortable with a performance-based model like this, or do you usually prefer fixed-rate consultants?
Me:
This would benefit both sides more than fixed rate, easier to pay for my side- more money for yours- depending on sale volume.
Let's wait a bit first though.
Scammer:
Hello
Rather than sending a long explanation by email, I'd be happy to put together a quick review and walk you through what I found.
If you're open to it, feel free to share your
WhatsApp number and I'll send it over there.
Me:
As mentioned previously, I would like to wait a bit before moving forward with this. I am not ready to share my WhatsApp number at this time, but I am happy to continue our conversation over email.
If you would like to send over the review and roadmap you prepared, I can take a look at it here when I have a moment.
Scammer:
Alright
Are you available for a quick call now?
Me:
To ensure we are on the same page before jumping on a call, could you please provide a brief summary of your thoughts on the impact of the latest core algorithm update on niche site volatility?
Additionally, I’d be interested to hear your perspective on how the current geopolitical climate might affect global e-commerce logistics over the next quarter.
Scammer:
Regarding the latest core algorithm update, my initial observation is that it appears to be continuing Google's broader trend of rewarding sites that demonstrate stronger topical authority, original value, and clear signals of trustworthiness. Many niche sites seem to be experiencing increased volatility, particularly those that rely heavily on scaled content production or have limited differentiation from competitors. While some fluctuations may settle over time, I think the update reinforces the importance of content quality, user satisfaction metrics, and building a recognizable brand rather than relying solely on traditional SEO tactics.
On the geopolitical side, I expect ongoing regional tensions and trade policy uncertainty to continue creating localized disruptions in global e-commerce logistics over the next quarter. Businesses with diversified supplier networks and flexible fulfillment strategies will likely be better positioned than those dependent on a single region or shipping corridor. That said, I anticipate the impact will vary significantly by product category and market exposure, making supply chain resilience and inventory planning particularly important areas to monitor.
I'd be happy to discuss both topics in more detail during our call and compare observations based on current data and market trends.
Me:
Thank you for providing those insights.
To further ensure our long-term objectives are aligned, I have a more technical question regarding the sustainability of your systems. Once the $3,000 monthly revenue threshold is met and your commission structure kicks in, how do you manage the trade-off between aggressive short-term conversion rate optimization (CRO) and long-term customer lifetime value (LTV)?
Specifically, if the AI-driven systems or Klaviyo flows you implement prioritize immediate sales to secure commissions, what safeguards do you have in place to ensure these tactics don't lead to increased churn or brand fatigue that could negatively impact the store's valuation and health in the long run?
Scammer:
That's a great question, and it's something I think about a lot because short-term revenue gains that hurt long-term customer value ultimately hurt everyone involved, including me.
My approach is to optimize for profitable and sustainable growth rather than simply maximizing immediate conversions. While revenue is one KPI, I also monitor metrics such as [ RPR ] repeat purchase rate, customer lifetime value, unsubscribe rates, spam complaint rates, refund rates, customer acquisition costs, and overall customer retention.
For Klaviyo flows specifically, I avoid tactics that create short-term spikes at the expense of customer trust, such as excessive discounting, overly aggressive email frequency, or constant urgency-based messaging. Instead, I focus on segmentation, personalized customer journeys, post-purchase nurturing, win-back campaigns, and value-driven communication that strengthens the customer relationship over time.
On the AI side, the systems are designed to identify opportunities for relevance and personalization, not to pressure customers into purchases. Any recommendations or automations are evaluated against both conversion performance and retention metrics to ensure they're contributing positively to long-term customer value.
Since my compensation is tied to the store's continued success, our incentives are naturally aligned. A store that experiences higher repeat purchase rates, stronger customer loyalty, and healthy retention will generate significantly more long-term revenue than one that relies on short-term conversion tactics that lead to churn or brand fatigue.
Personally, I've always preferred building for long-term growth rather than chasing short-term gains. In my experience, the most valuable ecommerce brands are built through customer trust, retention, and strong lifetime value not through tactics that generate a temporary spike in sales but weaken the customer relationship over time.
That's why I focus on systems and automations that continue delivering value months and years down the line. If a strategy produces short-term revenue but harms customer satisfaction, retention, or brand perception, I don't consider it a successful strategy...
In practice, if we ever saw a situation where a tactic increased short-term sales but negatively impacted retention, unsubscribe rates, or customer sentiment, I would prioritize adjusting or removing that tactic in favor of protecting the long-term health and valuation of the business.
Me:
I apologize for the confusion regarding WhatsApp; I actually don't use the app.
If you would like to move forward with a direct call , we will need to schedule a specific time to speak, so please let me know when you are available and I will check my calendar.
Scammer:
I messages would be easier then is this your Imessage contact???
So I can message you there and we can discuss and schuel the time that the call will be convenient.......
Me:
I appreciate the detailed breakdown of your strategy regarding long-term customer value and retention. It is helpful to see how you balance immediate revenue with the health of the brand.
I’ve been reviewing our entire conversation, and I noticed a significant shift in the tone and complexity of your messages as we’ve progressed. To ensure we are moving forward transparently, could you please clarify if you are using AI to generate these responses or if multiple people are monitoring this thread?
Given this shift, I would like to see the custom audit and implementation roadmap you mentioned earlier. Please send those documents over via email so I can review the actual data and specific plans you have for the store.
The Scammer Repeats IMessage Jargen.
Me:
I appreciate the detailed breakdown of your philosophy on retention and long-term value. It’s rare to find someone so focused on the granular metrics like RPR and Klaviyo deliverability right out of the gate.
Before we move to the next stage, my legal and operations team requires a quick technical verification for all performance-based partners to ensure system compatibility with our proprietary stack. Could you please provide the specific server-side UUID and the encrypted API handshake protocol you plan to use for the AI-driven CRO implementation? We also need the registered business entity name and the tax identification number associated with the account where the 3% commissions will be routed for our compliance audit.
Once I have those technical specifications and the entity details, I’ll have my team cross-reference them with our internal security parameters so we can finalize the roadmap review.
Scammer (Took a while):
Thank you for your message.
The server-side UUIDs, authentication methods, and API handshake protocols are implementation-specific and can only be defined after reviewing your infrastructure, security requirements, and integration points. My approach is to design around the client's existing stack rather than applying a predetermined framework.
Regarding business entity and tax information, I provide those through formal onboarding and contractual channels once both parties agree to move forward.
My primary focus is ensuring that any AI-driven CRO and retention systems are secure, scalable, and aligned with long-term revenue growth, customer lifetime value, and brand health.
If your team would like to assess technical fit, I'm happy to discuss my implementation methodology and integration approach in more detail.
Me:
Thank you for the information regarding your technical approach.
To clarify our position, we cannot proceed with this partnership without a verified W-9 form. If you are unable to provide this documentation beforehand, we will not be able to move forward with the deal.
Then he stopped replying.
That's a classic scammer, they try to bypass legal requirements to get you to sign a deal before knowing who they are.
Keeping this in mind, please don't interact past a point like this- and block them.
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