The internet is drowning in a tidal wave of insufferable online entrepreneurs, peddling get-rich-quick schemes from dropshipping and Amazon FBA to the latest craze: selling AI-generated art on Etsy. These self-proclaimed gurus boast jaw-dropping earnings—$10,000+ a month, they claim—while relentlessly pushing courses, e-books, and coaching programs to “help” others replicate their success. But as their flashy testimonials and polished ads flood social media, skepticism is growing. It’s time for people to wise up and stop supporting these dubious schemes before they drain wallets and dreams.
Take dropshipping, for instance. This e-commerce model, where entrepreneurs sell products without holding inventory, exploded in popularity during the pandemic. Articles on StartupNation paint it as a “passive income goldmine,” with promises of profits while you “sleep.” But dig deeper, and the reality is grim. Success stories often gloss over the high failure rates, razor-thin margins, and reliance on unreliable wholesalers. A 2024 survey by eCommerceBytes found that 70% of dropshippers earn less than $500 a month, far from the six-figure dreams peddled by influencers. Yet, these same “experts” flood Instagram and TikTok with courses costing $500–$2,000, claiming their “proven system” will turn novices into moguls overnight.
Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) follows a similar pattern. Entrepreneurs tout massive earnings by selling private-label products through Amazon’s platform, with JustOneDime and other blogs sharing “success stories” of sellers quitting their day jobs to rake in $500,000 annually. But the space is saturated, and competition is brutal. The Verge reported in 2023 that many FBA sellers struggle with low margins, Amazon’s steep fees, and account suspensions, leaving them in debt. Still, the gurus churn out $1,000+ courses, promising insider secrets while conveniently omitting the risks—and the fact that their own “success” often relies on hyping up their students.
Now, the latest trend: AI-generated art on Etsy. Platforms like Quora and Medium are buzzing with “how-to” guides, where entrepreneurs claim they’re minting $10,000+ monthly by using AI tools like MidJourney or DALL·E to create digital prints, then selling them on Etsy or Redbubble. These posts often feature screenshots of PayPal earnings and slick videos of “passive income streams.” But as Forbes warned in 2024, the market is oversaturated, with thousands of sellers flooding Etsy with generic AI art, driving prices down and profits with them. Many of these entrepreneurs aren’t artists—they’re marketers, leveraging cheap tools and aggressive ads to sell a fantasy. And, unsurprisingly, they’re also hawking courses for $300–$1,500, promising to reveal their “unique strategies” while dodging questions about their actual earnings.
What ties these schemes together is their relentless push to sell courses. These online entrepreneurs flood platforms like LinkedIn, YouTube, and X with polished testimonials, claiming they’ve “cracked the code” to financial freedom. But the numbers don’t add up. A 2025 Consumer Reports investigation found that 85% of course buyers never see the promised returns, with many left with unusable advice and empty bank accounts. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), as noted on Consumer.ftc.gov, has flagged these programs as potential scams, warning that high-pressure sales tactics and vague promises often hide a lack of real value. Yet, the cycle continues: post a flashy success story, sell a course, rinse, and repeat.
The suspicion is warranted. These entrepreneurs thrive on hype, not substance. Their $10,000+ monthly claims are often cherry-picked or exaggerated, relying on selective data, affiliate marketing, or upfront course sales rather than sustainable business models. The Hustle reported in 2024 that many dropshipping and FBA “gurus” make more from coaching than their actual businesses, with some admitting privately that their earnings come from teaching, not selling. On Etsy, AI art sellers face similar scrutiny—many are simply reselling public-domain images or generic AI outputs, banking on novices who don’t know better.
It’s time for people to wise up. Supporting these schemes fuels a predatory ecosystem that preys on ambition and inexperience. Instead of buying into the next $997 course, aspiring entrepreneurs should focus on real skills, due diligence, and sustainable strategies—like building a business based on actual value, not viral promises. Platforms like X and Reddit are buzzing with warnings from former course buyers, with one user lamenting, “I spent $1,500 on a dropshipping course and ended up with $200 in losses—never again.” The FTC’s advice is clear: research thoroughly, check reviews, and beware of “too good to be true” claims.
The online entrepreneur boom has inspired many, but it’s also spawned a culture of insufferable hype and exploitation. From dropshipping disasters to AI art illusions, these gurus’ relentless course-pushing is suspicious at best, fraudulent at worst. It’s time to stop the cycle, protect wallets, and demand transparency—before the dream turns into a nightmare.