You’ve seen the ads.
“We’ll build your business for you while you sleep. No experience needed. Just sit back and watch the money roll in.”
Right. And I’ve got a teleporting coffee maker that runs on buzzwords and broken promises.
The pitch is always the same. Slick visuals. Vague success claims. A countdown clock trying to guilt you into clicking before your brain catches up. These DFY systems love to promise the world and deliver… maybe a WordPress theme with clip art. If that.
So how do you know if the shiny object in front of you is a waste of time, money, and whatever’s left of your patience? There are three classic tells. You don’t need a business degree or FBI training to spot them. Just a little common sense and a low tolerance for nonsense.
First: They Show You Everything They Shouldn’t
You’ll notice something weird right away. These people love to “prove” their success with screenshots. Cart totals. Order pages. Account dashboards. All laid out like a PowerPoint presentation for suckers.
Here’s the reality. Real business owners don’t post their books online. They don’t reveal what they sold, how much they made, or which supplier they used. That’s not proof. That’s bait.
Fake operators flaunt that stuff because it’s the only thing they’ve got. They’re counting on big numbers and fake transparency to distract you from the fact that there’s no real business underneath. It’s a smoke show with stock photos.
Second: They Won’t Show You How It Actually Works
Ask for a real demo and watch what happens. If all you get is a glossy explainer video with no actual walkthrough, that’s your cue. You’re not being shown the system because the system is either broken or doesn’t exist.
A real business process is messy. It’s not a three-click fantasy. It’s tools, steps, decisions, and adjustments. If they can’t show you that? You’re not looking at a business. You’re looking at a sales funnel in a Halloween costume.
And no, another PDF doesn’t count. If someone wants your money but can’t give you ten minutes of real screen-sharing to prove the thing runs, don’t walk away. Sprint.
Third: It’s All Flash and Zero Substance
You’ll land on their page and go, “Wow, this looks polished.” The font is just trendy enough. The logo has some kind of rocket in it. The stock photos scream hustle. But after five minutes of reading, you realize something’s off.
There’s nothing concrete being said. No timeline. No tech stack. No clear breakdown of what they’ll actually deliver. It’s all about “lifestyle freedom” and “unlocking your potential.” And maybe a picture of someone typing on a laptop next to a pool, because nothing says serious ecommerce like risking water damage for aesthetics.
If they’re leaning that hard into the visuals, it’s because there’s nothing solid to talk about.
What Actually Works in Real Ecommerce
Look, I’ve been in this space for 30 years. I’ve mentored thousands, built systems, and helped real businesses grow from scratch. I’ve also watched this DFY hype cycle rinse and repeat more times than I can count.
And here’s what I know for sure. The people who win in ecommerce are the ones who actually learn how their business works. Not the ones who hand off the keys to some “agency” and pray it all turns out fine.
Because when the wheels come off, and they always do, you’re the one stuck trying to fix something you didn’t build. And that’s not a business. That’s a blindfolded ride through a minefield.
You want to run a real home-based business? Great. Start simple. Learn the ropes. Build the bones yourself. That way, when something breaks, you know what to do. You’re not chasing a guru in a group chat hoping for tech support from someone who vanishes when the payment clears.
Here Are Five Things You Can Do to Spot a DFY Scam Before It Starts
Ask to see it live
Not a demo reel. Not a pitch video. A real-time walkthrough. If they can’t show you what they’re selling in action, it probably doesn’t work.
Watch for fake “proof”
When someone brags about exact earnings or product niches, that’s not transparency. It’s bait. Real sellers keep that info private for a reason.
Check how they handle questions
Ask hard ones. What happens when something fails? Who maintains the system? If the answers are vague or change every time you ask, that’s a red flag with LED lighting.
Look for who’s actually behind it
Dig deep. Google the names. Find out if the person pitching it has ever run a real store themselves. Not a brand. Not an agency. An actual ecommerce business.
Trust your gut, but verify with research
If it smells weird, it probably is. Back up your gut with a good hour of online sleuthing. Forums, Reddit, business groups. People talk. Pay attention.
The only DFY system that works is the one you build piece by piece with your own two hands. Yes, it’s harder. Yes, it takes time. But it also gives you something no cookie-cutter scheme ever will. Control.
And when the market shifts, the tools glitch, or the platform changes, you’ll still be standing. Because you won’t need someone else to keep your business alive. You’ll already know how to do it yourself.
FREE – get my 
