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How to cope with a MLM-programmed sibling?

catfood — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 13:20:01 -0800

My older brother, who has been swindled by MLM (multi-level marketing) scams in the past, has gotten involved in yet another. Have any of you dealt with a family member in this situation? Is there anything I can do, or do any of you have suggestions on how to cope with this? My brother, who has some actual problems that had prevented him from doing well in school and keep him in relatively low level jobs otherwise, has always been convinced that one day he would strike it rich through running "his own" business.

In the past, he has participated in, and thrown a lot of money away on, different MLM schemes. He never makes much (if any) money off of them, but always spends a *lot* of money he does not have on materials and product to get himself started. He's older than me (now 35) and has been doing this since his early 20's. He's also never been financially stable - he has maxed out every credit card he could get his paws on, he still constantly asks my dad for money, and my parents, who now live across the country from all of their kids, get calls from collection agencies trying to get ahold of my brother. His phone is frequently disconnected because he forgets to or is unable to pay the bill. In other words, he cannot afford to spend hundreds of dollars starting up an ultimately doomed MLM business.

He finally seemed to get his act together over the past few years - he had a steady day job and actually started his own side business DJ-ing parties (which I have to admit he did a great job of, and seemed to also enjoy). Our family was really very proud of him, since he seemed to have a real talent at his DJ business.

But now he has signed up for yet another MLM scam selling detoxifying diet products and he has been calling me & e-mailing me to get me to try this wonder product *and* to become an associate under him.

I have challenged him in the past, but he spouts off marketing crap like he's in a cult or something. I reply to his insistance that I try his products or consider becoming an associate with the fact that I'm not interested in any diet products right now, that I don't have the time or inclination to sell anything ever, and that I don't want to talk business with family. Nothing seems to work. He just responds with how much he cares about me and wants me to live to old age, and that it's not a weight loss product, it's a "detox" product that everyone needs to be healthy. And that I am wasting my life working a steady 9-5 job when I could be earning income from a successful home business like him.

On one hand, I feel like I will never be able to change his mind, and that I just have to sit back and let him get burned again and again and hope that at some point he will learn.

But on the other hand, I just feel desperate. My parents have given up on talking any sense into him, and they just keep giving him loans when he's really desperate to pay a bill. There are deprogrammers for cult members. Is there anything like that for people in MLMs? Is there anything I can say or give him to read that might get through to him about how evil these companies are?

Or do I just need to keep telling him I'm not interested in his business or products, and find some way to cope with watching my brother destroy the little bit of stability he had built up for himself?

BurnLounge? Pyramid Scheme?

bilbo baggins — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 17:31:07 -0800

What is BurnLounge? A pyramid scheme? Anyone have any experience with? My sister is about to invest in BurnLounge.com (Sorry I am new and don't know how to add a link). I suspect it being a pyramid scheme. But one of the spokesmen is Rick Dees who to me seems to be too well known to be involved in a pyramid scheme. I dont know does anyone know anything about it?

Debunking Magic Gas Pills

kumazemi — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 15:32:09 -0800

Bio Performance Gas Pill: My parents are being lured into selling/using a gas-saving "gas pill" that is marketed via MLM /Pyramid Scheme tactics. My BS-detector is going off. I'm wary of the marketing method used for this to begin with, but the product itself just screams "scam".

My parents are well-intentioned, SUV driving middle americans who have fallen for a pyramid scheme in the past.

Some google has led me to a couple of long and messy forum threads on the subject, as well as 2 more easily digested articles on gas-saving scams and MLMs.

Aside from this, could you please provide me with any more info on the topic. I simply can't believe this gas pill is for real, but if it is I'll eat my hat.

I'm currently telling them why I feel this is a scam and how they can really save money on gas. However, I'd like to be able to more consisely discuss it with them without giving in to my natural reaction by saying, "You have got to be fucking kidding me." (Which I haven't done.)

They literally just bought a Suburban because they think this gas pill will save them money. Help.

Thanks in advance!

I have some nice waterfront property to sell you for cheap.

ashbury — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 22:37:54 -0800

I was wondering if anybody has any knowledge of Canadian Diamond Traders Inc. They advertise a scheme to join a group of traders for $100 and get an awesome return on your investment, plus a diamond. Is this a pyramid scheme? An Amway system? Some sort of scheme? Legal?
CDT Inc.
google query
CDT program

I ask because my parents are interested and I don't want them to get ripped off, even if it is by a small amount.

Is this a pyramid scheme or a real job?

nebulawindphone — Fri, 23 Sep 2005 14:18:25 -0800

How can I tell a legitimate sales marketing company from a pyramid scheme? I've never sold for commission. A friend of mine started recently, and seems to be making good money doing it. I'm tempted to apply for a job at the same company, but also hesitant — after all, don't lots of these companies turn out to be scams? I trust my friend's judgment, but I'd feel better if I had enough information to make my own judgment.

So how do I know if it's a pyramid scheme, or some other kind of scam? And if it is legit, how can I set my mind at ease about it?

Experiences with Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing?

Eideteker — Sun, 16 Jan 2005 10:36:23 -0800

My aunt just sent me an e-mail linking to a site she set up for "Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing". Before I even brought the home page up, it felt quite a bit like Herbalife and other pyramid schemes just from reading the e-mail. Indeed, one of the first links on Google is a scam.com message board. To save me having to sort through thousands of Fortune Marketing pages on google, does anyone have any personal experience with this company or any information my aunt should be aware of? Pyramid scheme calculator
(for my own reference later)

Does freeipods.com actually work?

anathema — Tue, 31 Aug 2004 13:09:32 -0800

Does anyone have any personal experience with freeipods.com? My brother wants in. I'm more than sceptical. I read this and a bunch of comments on other sites. I understand the concept, but how long can this type of system sustain itself? For what it's worth, some people have definetely received free ipods.

is USANA a scam

ac — Mon, 16 Aug 2004 20:47:03 -0800

What is the lowdown on USANA? A friend of mine swears its great, but seems like a big scam to me... anyone had any experience with this sort of thing? Website is vague and pyramid-scammish.

Recruited by Primerica - should I be insulted or flattered?

circe — Mon, 16 Aug 2004 05:40:17 -0800

The other night at work, I was the only employee to be approached by a recruiter for the pyramid scheme company Primerica. Should I be flattered that he thought I had incredible customer service and sales skills, or insulted that he thought I looked like the biggest sucker?

ACN Scam?

danwalker — Fri, 06 Aug 2004 18:45:34 -0800

My mother has gotten herself involved in this ACN thing, whose 'opportunity' page just stinks of pyramid scheme. (Her current significant other has history with another so-called 'internet business'.) I suppose I don't have a huge problem with this alone, but the pyramid effect has set in, and I'm now receiving calls applying not-so-subtle pressure to join in, help out, save on my bills, make money, the works. On top of this, she's also asking for contact info for friends, an obvious attempt at generating leads. So, two questions - first, I'm certain this ACN thing is a scam, and would like to show my mother this, but am having trouble finding concrete proof online... testimonials, news pieces, et cetera. Can someone assist me with this? And second, how do I tell my mother, in a respectful way, to lay off the frigging marketing already?