Commentary on fraud, scams, scandals, and court cases.
 

MLM Top Earners Make Money Off the Backs of Others

Do you think it’s only the “bad” people who do bad things in multi-level marketing? Those who frontload new recruits, dial for dollars at the end of the month (i.e. get people to order products they don’t need), talk only about their highest commission check, lie about how profitable the …

Avoiding Business Opportunity Frauds and MLM Scams

In a past appearance on CNBC’s On the Money, Tracy Coenen talked about how consumers could protect themselves from business opportunity scams and multi-level marketing (MLM) schemes. MLMs parade themselves around as business opportunities, but they are nothing more than elaborate pyramid schemes that swindle millions of consumers each year.

Almost Everyone Loses Money in MLM

Don’t let your Facebook friends fool you: They’re not making money in the multi-level marketing company they keep pitching to you. And you won’t either. Multi-level marketing is not a business. More than 99% of participants in multi-level marketing (MLM) lose money. Companies like Mary Kay Cosmetics promote the “income …

I’m a Millionaire! I Don’t Pay My Taxes!

In this ongoing saga of one Jennifer McKinney, pyramid topper at the MLM Xyngular, and recipient of millions of dollars of commissions…. I have a minor update in her bankruptcy case. (May I remind you, this is the THIRD time she’s filed for bankruptcy protection.) Just to remind you…. Jennifer …

Multi-Level Marketing Companies are Pyramid Schemes

I often hear: “Pyramid schemes are illegal! If XYZ Company was a pyramid scheme, the government would shut them down!” Yes, pyramid schemes are illegal. No, our government generally doesn’t shut down pyramid schemes masquerading as multi-level marketing. MLM is a type of pyramid scheme that our government allows to …

The Myth of Retail Sales in MLM

Multi-level marketing companies (MLMs) like to refer to themselves as “Direct Sales” companies, because this puts the focus on the sale of the product or service, and takes focus off the business of recruiting. I’ve been researching MLMs for years, and I’ve found that companies use the product or services …