The Fine Line Between Legitimate Businesses And Pyramid Schemes

You must have come across such a message in your life and have ignored it. But there are people like mentioned in the above three bulletins, they become victims and eventually clicks on attacking links attached inside the mail content and boom, you’re hacked! With false advertisements and spammy materials, the USA has finally been tagged as ‘pyramid scam’.

While most of the focus has been a battle between hedge fund managers, what is often overlooked is the actual impact on the often low income individuals who were lured into this “business opportunity”. After spending a few thousand dollars to start their business, the distributors are incentivized to recruit new members, and build their “downline”. Upon advancing to higher levels within the pyramid, distributors must continue to buy certain levels of inventory each month. At these levels, it becomes increasingly challenging to sell the product. Eventually, distributors realize how pointless is it to keep throwing money away and it is estimated that 90% quit within one year. The article noted that most distributors lose between $1,000 and $10,000 with the average distributor losing $3,000.

Make sure the product or service offered by the company is something you would buy without the income opportunity and the product or service is competitively priced. Illegal pyramid schemes often sell products at prices well above retail or sell products that are difficult to value, such as health and beauty aids, new inventions or "miracle" cures. MLM companies are designed to make profit for the owners/shareholders of the company and a few individual participants at the top levels of the MLM pyramid of participants. Federal Trade Commission , some MLM companies already constitute illegal pyramid schemes even by the narrower existing legislation, exploiting members of the organization.

It can be done via media like newspapers, flyers, paid ad-campaigns, tv ads, and much more. Ultimately, everyone around the closest group will be directly affected and become prey. When they finally realize what they are up to, then the only thing they can perform will be blaming each other.

Don’t join a company that requires you to keep paying for new inventory of products just to remain active or qualify for bonuses or rewards. Don’t invest with an adviser Anti-MLM or firm that isn’t registered with the SEC or state regulators. When a company is registered, you can access information about its management, products, services and finances. They insisted they offered participants an opportunity for “responsible entrepreneurism” and “a journey towards new freedom in their life”, suggesting failures just hadn’t put in the “required effort”. This often results in vulnerable people being targeted by the allure of making easy money, fitting work around your own schedule and entering a supportive community. But some of these companies have an alarmingly cult-like mentality, encouraging distributors to cut negative influences and naysayers from their lives.

MLM companies have been made illegal in China as a mere variation of the traditional pyramid scheme. MLM companies have been trying to find ways around China's prohibitions, or have been developing other methods, such as direct sales, to take their products to China through retail operations. All distributors also make money through direct sales of products to customers”. Some of the more well-known MLM’s include Avon, MaryKay, Pampered Chef, and Amway. Pyramid schemes may or may not involve the sale of products or distributorships. The trend is to involve sales of products or distributorships in an attempt to show legitimacy.

If the company and its distributors make money primarily from the sale of products to end-users (and not boxes of product accumulating in a distributor's garage), it's OK. Participants are also encouraged to bring in or recruit others into the program as participants. While they may not be pressured to do so, signing up new contractors provides a financial incentive for participants, who receive a percentage of the sales of their recruits. Beware when the products or services are simply vehicles for recruitment.

The entire purpose of a pyramid scheme is to get your money and then use you to recruit other suckers (ahem - distributors). A supposed marketing, business or investment opportunity is predicated on you recruiting others into the program and collecting commissions on them. Again, you do not have to choose to step into leadership but that track is there and paid accordingly if you do decide to do so. I have team mates that make full time salaries that would make people’s jaw drop concentrating on sales ALONE. The product and training is there, it is up to you what you decide to do with the opportunity. As long as you stand behind a product that is trusted, proven, loved, and in demand, you have the perfect ingredients to establishing a reputable business that doesn’t have to push something down people’s throats, so to speak.