No, it's a real scam. If a scam was "phoney," it would be a legitimate business offer

Gil Thorp, 6/3/23

Keri, I'm not really sure that you need preternatural powers of empathy to "sense of jealousy" from a guy whose dad is lavishing so much attention on another kid that he sullenly declares "dad has a new favorite son!" But, more to the point, Coach Luke's Son Whose Name I Forget (is it Luke Jr.? let's say that), could you go to Korea to play baseball and then be making wordplay in Korean after just a few weeks? No? Well, maybe that's why you don't measure up.

Dick Tracy, 6/3/23