tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762286463497378104.post5002991018476473266..comments2024-03-27T23:11:38.102+01:00Comments on 'MLM' The American Dream Made Nightmare: 'Forever Living Products (FLP)' is an 'Amway' copy-cat 'MLM Income Opportunity' cultic racket.David Brearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122471861776758998noreply@blogger.comBlogger203125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762286463497378104.post-42168481993804229912016-05-10T13:40:09.891+02:002016-05-10T13:40:09.891+02:00Anonymous - Thanks for the thumbs up. Your story c...Anonymous - Thanks for the thumbs up. Your story corresponds to the overwhelming majority of persons who have been churned through 'MLM' cultic rackets down the decades. You didn't persist and didn't lose very much, so even though you have worked out it's a scam, you have little reason to try to file a complaint. That said, you were defrauded, because the actual catastrophic results of the so-called 'FLP income opportunity' were not disclosed to you at the time you signed up.<br /><br />The 'FLP' racket is currently churning several millions short-term adherents annually (just like yourself), but it's also keeping a significant minority of chronic victims (with access to cash, credit, etc.) enslaved. <br /><br />To date, the worst 'FLP' victim I've discovered, has been enslaved for more than 20 years. According to his ex-wife, he still clings to the delusion that, if he 'exactly duplicates the plan,' eventually he will achieve his dreams. <br /><br />David Brearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11122471861776758998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762286463497378104.post-44606350133103156782016-05-09T23:48:11.970+02:002016-05-09T23:48:11.970+02:00Hi David,
Your article is very informative and I f...Hi David,<br />Your article is very informative and I found it just after deciding to leave FLP after six months as a rep. No, I didn't run out of cash, I didn't extensively piss off my Family and friends, though not everyone was shouting Halelujah. ;) I just woke up and realized I had no passion, no drive, no real opportunity and yes, there definitely is a cultic vibe to the Whole FLP thing. Furthermore, my REAL career has seen a positive shift. So that really helped me exiting the Company. Why I joined in the first Place is because I'm a musician who's blind and I've been struggling to get any jobs to support my career. I come from a Rich country With bad attitudes towards employing someone who's disabled.Despite having 2 degrees and a Nice CV working abroad, I just didn't seem to get anywhere when I was forced to move back to my own country. To use an old cliche, I felt I was hitting my head against a brick wall. I feel somehow stupid that I thought FLP could give me extra Income (I never was big on the recruiting side), but as you said, the most skeptical and intelligent People can fall victim to cults during pressed times. I did some decent sales for the effort I put in, didn't get richer, I don't hate the Products, but neither ado I think they're Magic potions,and I came out of the experience With no substancial Financial losses. So no harm is really done to me. I tried and quit before I got in to deep and this I am happy about. I can now spend time doing Things that are meaningful to me and that will bring in more cash than FLP ever could. So for those of you who have Family members or friends who are just recruited, I'm here to tell you it's possible to quit just because you see sense. <br />Regards from someone who's quitting story isn't all that sensational, but hopefully Level headed and rational.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762286463497378104.post-25351941174112560252016-04-11T11:37:25.318+02:002016-04-11T11:37:25.318+02:00Anonymous - Please feel free to contact me at the ...Anonymous - Please feel free to contact me at the e-mail address given at the head of this article.David Brearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11122471861776758998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762286463497378104.post-77552699879669407632016-04-02T08:43:39.893+02:002016-04-02T08:43:39.893+02:00Anonymous - Your daughter's personality transf...Anonymous - Your daughter's personality transformation is classic of a cult adherent, not just an 'MLM' cult adherent. I'm sure you must have already formed that conclusion.<br /><br />You are not alone and if there is anything I can do to help you, please don't hesitate to contact me via the e-mail address at the head of this article. <br /><br />I'd particularly appreciate any information you can give me about the persons who recruited your daughter and who now control her. Has she mentioned someone called Dave O'Connor?<br /><br />Have you visited the Mumsnet Threads which have been discussing MLM cults and particularly FLP? There are over 16 thousand comments on 17 threads. Perhaps you are already participating in the debate? There are also now various journalists in the UK investigating the 'FLP' racket and with whom I'm in touch.<br /><br />http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/legal_money_matters/2602220-MLM-Bot-Watch-17-chat-about-Utah-based-tragicomic-cultastic-racketeering-scamalangadingdongs-like-Forever-Living-Ariix-Herbalife-Younique-Juiceplus-etc-etc-etc?pg=27David Brearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11122471861776758998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762286463497378104.post-25241198798312529752016-04-02T07:01:10.660+02:002016-04-02T07:01:10.660+02:00I have had a year of hell and fully expect it to c...I have had a year of hell and fully expect it to continue. My daughter was recruited at a very vulnerable stage in her life last year by FLP. She has had a complete personality transformation to the point that I dont recognise her anymore. After several months I discussed with her my fears of FLP and thought it had a "cult" feel to it. I discussed it too late. She was already on the FLP road and I was dismissed and she closed the door on me. The last talk we had about her earnings was in November 2015 (9 months) after she had started and she was talking about taking on a part time job as she was struggling to make ends meet. I tried to talk to her again about research I had done and had grave concerns about this company. I was met with rage and hate and that was the end of our relationship. She has cut me, the rest of her family and her friends out of her life. She now has "new friends". She doesnt see the personality change, she doesnt see the anxiety and stress levels she exhibits, she doesnt feel the hurt her family have, she is just numb. I just hope anyone reading this thinks twice about FLP as a route to "happiness" through huge earnings. I have found no happiness over the last year and she is far from happy or rich (though she perceives to be "the happiest she has ever been" - im her mum and im not blind. You never think it will happen to your family as we are strong and close..... never say neverAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762286463497378104.post-63853836039749712812016-01-21T11:42:30.790+01:002016-01-21T11:42:30.790+01:00Mrs M. Have you visited the Mumsnet threads which ...Mrs M. Have you visited the Mumsnet threads which have been discussing 'FLP?'<br /><br />You will find that many other people have witnessed exactly the same radical personality transformations.<br /><br />http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/legal_money_matters/2545779-MLM-bot-watch-LIGHTHEARTED-continued-discussion-of-Juice-Forever-Living-Younique-etc-as-scams-with-laughing?pg=8David Brearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11122471861776758998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762286463497378104.post-42193658136097191272016-01-04T06:47:25.260+01:002016-01-04T06:47:25.260+01:00I am reading your blog because I have been concern...I am reading your blog because I have been concerned about a former colleague of mine who has just jacked in a decently paid public sector job for FLP (too late to 'save' her now) and has also recruited my best friend into her 'downline' (although I might still have a chance with that one, she doesn't seem to be taking it too seriously!). So much of what you say rings true about the change in her attitude, total faith in the products, cult-like waxing lyrical etc. I tried desperately to talk her out of giving up her job, or at least to give it longer than the barely 6 months it was between starting with FLP and jacking in her job, and gave her lots of information I'd found online about the perils of MLM but, inevitably, I was being 'negative' - of COURSE there was negative info out there but there was FAR more positive stuff online about FLP which, for her, just went to prove that it was a good thing and it IS perfectly legal you know...sigh.. <br /><br />But I'm going off topic a bit here, what is p*ssing me off right now is that other businesses on Facebook HAVE to have a page, not a profile, which is free but FB try to get them to 'promote this page' by charging a fee; it wouldn't surprise me if eventually all pages have to be paid for. People choose whether to 'like' a page and whether to see posts from the page. Yet all these Herbalife/FLP/Juiceplus/Snake Oil peddlers seem to get away with filling up their personal profiles with masses of sales/recruitment drivel, motivational quotes and 'before and after' photos which the rest of us get exposed to unless we stop receiving notifications from them (which is what I've done. However it also means you miss the real-life stuff they occasionally post). <br /><br />Do you know if anyone has complained to Facebook about the proliferation of profiles being used, in many cases, almost solely as business advertising? Over the last year or so it seems to have got out of hand, with MLM peddlers seeing at it as the optimum way to spread the word widely. Does Mark Zuckerberg realise what a golden opportunity he has provided for all these schemes????!<br /><br />PS On the subject of income, just out of interest, my friend who has jacked in her job claims she is making most of her money from selling products through her online shop rather than through recruitment, although I know she frequently posts about 'looking for motivated, driven people to join her team'. She has also told me she is making around £800 a month, which I take to mean that is the income she receives from sales through FLP and which is approximately half of her previous take-home pay, although she has said that she hasn't yet paid any tax on this income and will declare it when she does self-assessment, now that she is a 'self-employed business owner'. She is confident that now that she can devote all her time to FLP she will be raking it in. Just sayin'...<br /><br />PPS Is it just me or is 'amazing' the most overused word in MLM...?!Mrs Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03129632515704252877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762286463497378104.post-1696031717508642152016-01-04T05:03:58.143+01:002016-01-04T05:03:58.143+01:00David I have noticed that pretty much all those wh...David I have noticed that pretty much all those who have criticised you in their comments and defend FLP/MLM seem to have very poor literacy....coincidence?!Mrs Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03129632515704252877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762286463497378104.post-15693245779321064192015-12-13T15:57:59.959+01:002015-12-13T15:57:59.959+01:00Anonymous - Thank-you for your reply, but it doesn...Anonymous - Thank-you for your reply, but it doesn't answer either of my previous questions. If you don't want openly to disclose your identity or the reason for your contacting me about Rachel Brear, then please contact me confidentially via the e-mail address given at the head of this article.David Brearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11122471861776758998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762286463497378104.post-12292104815635457882015-12-13T15:53:15.051+01:002015-12-13T15:53:15.051+01:00I found your blog when searching "Rachel Brea...I found your blog when searching "Rachel Brear Forever Living"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762286463497378104.post-29880486443459781342015-12-13T13:16:53.912+01:002015-12-13T13:16:53.912+01:00Anonymous - This is second time that someone has c...Anonymous - This is second time that someone has contacted me about someone called Brear who is also an adherent of 'FLP.'<br /><br />A quick Google-search reveals that Rachel Brear is from Halifax in Yorkshire (the town where I was born), but she has no connection with me.<br /><br />Might I ask who you are, and why you have asked this question?David Brearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11122471861776758998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762286463497378104.post-65504115584815452182015-12-13T13:08:29.433+01:002015-12-13T13:08:29.433+01:00What's the connection between this blog and Ra...What's the connection between this blog and Rachel Brear?<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6AHE7FRgnI<br /> <br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXtbt4yAlXA<br /> <br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH5iWh5_gZMAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762286463497378104.post-81346974265341414642015-11-09T09:17:08.530+01:002015-11-09T09:17:08.530+01:00Unknown - To whom, or to what, do you suggest comp...Unknown - To whom, or to what, do you suggest complaining in the UK? Currently, there is no anti-racketeering legislation in the UK, whilst the UK police no longer accept complaints directly from the public concerning fraud, because they have been swamped. The British media (controlled by lawyers, accountants and owners/share holders) is too fearful to publish the truth.<br /><br />Complaining about Alan Sugar as a crook in 2015, is essentially the same as complaining about Jimmy Savile as a pervert 25 years ago.<br /><br />Britain is, or rather vulnerable British citizens are, now living with the consequences of law enforcement agencies allowng the 'MLM' phenomenon to go unchallenged for decades.<br /><br />'Tropic Skin Care' has been using an attractive, and innocent looking, tele-reality celebrity (previously promoted by Alan Sugar's television programme) as a front, whilst Sugar himself has played exactly the same role as his US counterpart, Donald Trump, has played for the 'MLM' racket known as 'ACN'. <br /><br />Both Trump and Sugar ought to be facing serious criminal charges, but by the time law enforcement agents get their act together, (again like Jimmy Savile) Trump and Sugar will probably be history.David Brearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11122471861776758998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762286463497378104.post-66807236481175803902015-11-09T00:34:02.711+01:002015-11-09T00:34:02.711+01:00What about Tropic skin care, its partially owned b...What about Tropic skin care, its partially owned by Lord Alan Sugar, its the UK's first home grown MLM... surely you can make well informed complaints against them?Meg Rainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02597269392154863817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762286463497378104.post-19601933235169685792015-10-29T18:37:47.275+01:002015-10-29T18:37:47.275+01:00Anonimouse - I presume you are asking a question -...Anonimouse - I presume you are asking a question - to which the answer is: yes, but only vulnerable people.David Brearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11122471861776758998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762286463497378104.post-17060409709028086732015-10-29T18:12:49.072+01:002015-10-29T18:12:49.072+01:00People actually believe this
https://www.facebook....People actually believe this<br />https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10153666272722673<br />Anonimousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04916384285567580332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762286463497378104.post-44418373673618667242015-10-17T14:04:27.037+02:002015-10-17T14:04:27.037+02:00Anonymous - You already see this very clearly. Far...Anonymous - You already see this very clearly. Far from preventing friends and relatives from fulfilling their 'Dreams', the most gung-ho 'MLM' adherents are unconsciously engaged in a form of psychological, and economic, suicide. In the very worst cases, 'MLM' adherents have lost everything, and ultimately taken their own lives rather than face up to the truth.<br /><br />I remember once talking to a highly-educated older guy in the USA who accepted that 'MLMs' are cults, but he then insisted 'they sell people hope'. At this point I pointed out that all the evidence actually proves that the instigators of 'MLM' cults have been peddling false hope to vulnerable people who need to believe that it's real.<br /><br />Most people find it difficult to look at the wider-picture and are frightened that they will get their fanatical 'MLM' friends or relatives into some sort of trouble, if they complain to the authorities.<br /><br />It's always difficult to offer advice to people about a friends or relatives trapped in a cult, without knowing more about the adherent, and how and why they got involved in the first place. <br /><br />In general, you should keep in mind that cult adherents are always given the illusion that they have made a free-choice to join, when they have, in fact, been duped. Therefore, they need to make a free-choice about leaving. Many commentators have rightly compared cult adherents to persons who have fallen in love with abusive partners. Thus, a subtle approach is to explain to cult adherents that you don't want to interfere with their life, even though you feel that what they are doing is ill-advisd, but that you will always be there for them when they decide to leave their group.<br /><br />The combination of humour and thought-provoking questions can also be an effective approach with 'MLM' cult adherents. It's a good idea to try to pre-empt the subject of the conversation and take cult adherents back to a time before they became involved with their group.<br /><br />The e-mail address - axiombooks@wandoo.fr - will find me directly. <br /><br />Please mark the mail: 'for the attention of David Brear.'David Brearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11122471861776758998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762286463497378104.post-57542591316142598932015-10-17T13:12:23.471+02:002015-10-17T13:12:23.471+02:00(I posted the above)I am one of the lucky ones Dav...(I posted the above)I am one of the lucky ones David To get away early.My 'sponsor' who is a very nice person that is friends with a family member,has asked me to think about it for a few days. I suspect she will contact me next week at some point but I have no intention of going back.Correct me if I am wrong but I feel this may be frustrating for you that knowbody will complain about this racket.I can see why people won't complain as most of the people involved are related to or are friends of the people involved and don't want to be seen as trying to squash someone's "Dreams".I would fall into this category of people not wanting to complain but in the long run I know I would be doing people a favour if I did.My sponsor is doing it almost two years so she is very deep into it and is I would say "completely brainwashed" by the whole thing.Would you advise that I just say that it's not for me and wish her all the best or tell her the truth.I suspect the truth will be turned around that I am too negative and should be more open minded.<br />By what means would you like to communicate further.Thanks for your response. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762286463497378104.post-79824060477560151312015-10-17T09:41:02.681+02:002015-10-17T09:41:02.681+02:00Anonymous- It's quite extraordinary how crimin...Anonymous- It's quite extraordinary how criminogenic cultic groups like 'FLP' can get inside adult minds, shut down our critical and evaluative faculties and, eventually, can dissociate us from external reality.<br /><br />You should not be annoyed with yourself for starting to fall for the 'FLP' fairy story. On the contrary, you should be annoyed with the authorities for allowing these mind-bending rackets to exist in plain sight. Lack of official challenge, is often what gives them credibility in the eyes of victims and casual observers.<br /><br />You should actually be very proud of yourself for confronting external reality so quickly. Cults are maliciously designed to trap human beings via our instinctual desire to protect our self-esteeem/ ego and related psychological function.<br /><br />'The most powerful weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.'<br /><br />Your brave and honest reaction to your brief cult/'FLP' encounter, makes you quite a rare person.<br /><br />Thank-you for contacting me! <br /><br />I am interested to communicate further with you, directly?<br /><br />David Brearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11122471861776758998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762286463497378104.post-46135700220314646372015-10-17T05:28:58.600+02:002015-10-17T05:28:58.600+02:00Hey David,I quit Forever Living a few days ago aft...Hey David,I quit Forever Living a few days ago after only a couple of weeks at it.Reading your blog has just confirmed my decision.I signed up without doing enough research but the relief I got when I quit was incredible.Thinking of it now it was very cult like,with everyone hanging on the leaders every word.After one week myself and some of the other new people were being told that we were to prospect everyone to get them to join.I thought it was a bit much being expected to just go up and proposition a complete stranger to join this" AMAZING" company. .When I questioned this other leaders would frown and say you have to be positive and just run with it.The training did bring me out of my shell a bit but I ended up really feeling that these people as nice as they were,we're trying to change how I think.I even noticed myself after a few days getting a bit annoyed with some of my family for thinking the products were too dear and that's not me.I was to have my big launch party the other night and I rang my sponsor and cancelled.That's how stressed I'd become with the whole thing.It can very easily consume you,I'm annoyed that I was so naive but so glad I copped on in time.So glad I didn't sign anyone in.Thanks for your insight.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762286463497378104.post-50910129336877283002015-10-05T11:15:31.265+02:002015-10-05T11:15:31.265+02:00austin - In the end, events elsewhere might soon o...austin - In the end, events elsewhere might soon overtake Australian civil regulators,<br /><br />Are you aware of what has been going on in the USA regarding another global 'MLM' racket, 'Herbalife?<br /><br />Briefly - 'Herbalife's' bosses have left themselves open to public scrutiny after unlawfully raising billions of $ capital on Wall St. by selling shares in their dissimulated criminal enterprise. When a major Hedge fund manager, Bill Ackman, began to look at 'Herbalife,' he realised its true nature and announced a short position against the company in excess of $ one billion. In simple terms, if and when 'Herbalife' is closed and its shares are rightly deemed valueless, Ackman will make a fortune for his fund. However, to prove his good faith, he's promised to give away any personal share of these profits, to charity.<br /><br />To date, Ackman has pumped over $100 millions into exposing 'Herbalife.' Even though hundreds of victims have come forward and continue to come forward, US regulators are still dragging their feet. However, the FBI is now also involved. If and when 'Herbalife' goes down, then the entire 'MLM' lie will almost certainly follow, so (predictably) a syndicate of wealthy 'MLM' bosses are all fighting to keep their rackets alive.<br /><br />Apart from 'MLM' bosses, the number of persons in whose financial interests it is to keep the 'MLM' lie alive, is almost endless. Various politicians, bankers, accountants, attorneys, academics, Wall St. investors, financial journalists, etc. have all had their noses deep in the stinking 'MLM' trough and have, consequently, sided against Ackman.<br /><br />That said, the net is closing on the 'Herbalife' mob.David Brearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11122471861776758998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762286463497378104.post-27646411009672848942015-10-05T09:56:27.998+02:002015-10-05T09:56:27.998+02:00Hi David - thanks for getting back to me so quickl...Hi David - thanks for getting back to me so quickly, most blogs I post on can take hours or even a day or so to respond (usually because they're getting dozens or hundreds of posts in a short time frame).<br /><br />"Why didn't its employees go to police and/or to the media and/or to legislators, and attempt to put a stop to the 'Amway' thieves?"<br /><br />Well for starters, public servants at the front desk of such a department aren't always empowered to progress things like that on their own bat. They did indicate to me that if I had been scammed, they would (time and resources permitting,) be able to support me, in person, if I had decided to go to the local Magistrate's Court in order to get my money back, but documentary evidence on my part would have to be produced before they could get involved. Signed contract, and/or bank statements showing money going out for goods/services etcetera.<br /><br />The best thing Fair Trading officers can do, is to educate the public about potential and actual scams, so the general public can avoid them. Of course, not everybody is listening when they are talking, so there's bound to be some burnt fingers somewhere.<br /><br />What happens here nowadays, is that federal government departments like our ACCC get involved, particularly if the scam starts to cross state borders. That's what makes it a federal scam - similar in effect to your 'mail fraud' laws, in terms of pursuing and fining, and even jailing the "jailbirds".<br /><br />Sometimes they are able to shut the scam down, and divide the proceeds amongst former victims, or divvy the $ up amongst local or national bona fide charities, if former victims can't be identified (because the scammers deleted or shredded all membership and banking records.)<br /><br />Recently, Origin Energy, a national power grid supplier, was fined two million dollars here in Queensland, for overstating the benefits of annual electricity 'discounts' that were on offer, but no actual resale price on kilowatt hours, or the supply of rental on power lines, was quoted to potential customers. That was a "hatchet job" by the ACCC... Well done, because I'm an Origin customer too!<br /><br />Austinaustinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02369089880860000542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762286463497378104.post-22282947175992553662015-10-05T08:45:50.858+02:002015-10-05T08:45:50.858+02:00Thanks Austin. You make some very good points.
Pe...Thanks Austin. You make some very good points.<br /><br />Perhaps the most astonishing thing you witnessed, was the feeble reaction of your local Office of Fair Trading. Why didn't its employees go to police and/or to the media and/or to legislators, and attempt to put a stop to the 'Amway' thieves? After all, they are paid by taxpayers supposedly to protect taxpayers.<br /><br />The 'Amway Ministry' of Truth has been boasting of the 'approval of governments' around the world for decades. In reality, the morally-bankrupt refusal of government agents around the world to take action against 'Amway,' has enabled the bosses of the 'Amway' racket to pretend that they have 'government approval.'<br /><br />'Amway' shills, like the ones you describe in Australia, have been committing fraud and obstructing justice all over the world, since the pernicious 'Amway / MLM' fairy story was first exported from the USA, back in the 1970s. David Brearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11122471861776758998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762286463497378104.post-12267529967579721132015-10-05T08:16:28.106+02:002015-10-05T08:16:28.106+02:00Hi folks - I bumped into Amway here Downunder duri...Hi folks - I bumped into Amway here Downunder during the mid 1990's. It was wearing the tag of IDA (Interactive Distribution Australia) in a smallish country town of some 30,000 people. The local diamonds sold not one, but two accounting businesses in order to finance their grand entry to IDA and it didn't take them too long to get their 35 person 'down line' either.<br /><br />I was invited to spend a weekend at a couple's home and go to a 'business seminar' at a local casino, and so off I went. Just about everything they used had the IDA signature emblazoned on it - toiletries, dish washing liquid, cosmetics - there were even 'Amway' magazines showing cars, computers, furniture and lots of other stuff.<br /><br />I was even told by this couple (Ken and Barby Amway) that they had made the grand sacrifice of $15.00 in order to 'sponsor' me to the 'seminar'. I felt obliged to go... But at the end of the 'weekend' I told them that this 'business opportunity' wasn't for me.<br /><br />I could see their faces fall, as they thought they had roped in a frail and vulnerable person into their nightmare scam, but I was too smart for that.<br /><br />First thing Monday, I paid a visit to the local state 'Office of Fair Trading' and told them what had happened. They looked at me apprehensively at first, until I told them that I hadn't paid the $100 for the 'starter kit'. They were relieved, and told me that too many people had come their way and that most of them had signed up - and had lived to regret it.<br /><br />If you do the math, you'll soon realise that in a town of only 30000 people, there's only enough potential for a very small amount of people to 'go diamond' and that in order to make it within the down line system outside of the initial intake of 'distributors', you'd have to spread your wings far and wide, just to break even.<br /><br />Do yourselves a favour folks - if the outcomes seem too good to be true, then they probably are. What this couple had done, was to isolate me from my normal family, friends and weekend activities, and had then literally proceeded to 'soft soap' me with Amway products, all the way from the breakfast table, to the bathroom and beyond.<br /><br />Great rewards in this life, come from hard work and ingenuity, not from 'fast buck' scams and pyramid schemes.austinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02369089880860000542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762286463497378104.post-48715222106557602212015-09-14T14:29:33.884+02:002015-09-14T14:29:33.884+02:00Thanks Anonymous - The more people who have the co...Thanks Anonymous - The more people who have the courage to admit that they fell victim to variations of the cultic Utopian lie: the quicker this age-old, virus-like phenomenon might finally be brought under control.<br /><br />Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of victims of 'MLM' cultic rackets still prefer to remain silent.<br /><br />As you have seen first hand, one of the main reasons for this, is because 'MLM' victims are invariably recruited by a person, or persons, whom they love and trust and (in turn) they try to recruit persons who love and trust them.<br /><br />As ever, 'the most powerful weapon in the hands of oppressor, is the mind of the oppressed.'David Brearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11122471861776758998noreply@blogger.com