May 30, 2019 | Economics / Financial, False Profits, Legalities and Laws, Pyramid Scheme Politics
The big story about the MLM, Advocare, dropping out of MLM and adopting a “single-level” system (actual direct selling) supposedly as a result of “confidential talks” with the FTC is highly suspicious on its face. At its website, Advocare states: On May 17, AdvoCare...
Apr 13, 2019 | Economics / Financial, False Profits, Individual / Social Impact, PSA in the Media
News and feature articles on “multi-level marketing” are now a distinct genre in the media. I should know. I am frequently interviewed for them. I and several colleagues play a small (about two sentences usually) but essential part in the MLM-genre....
Oct 22, 2014 | Economics / Financial, False Profits
In the previous (Part I) of this series, it was seen how the fictionalized language that was invented by MLM promoters serves to prevent critical analysis. Terms, which have nothing to do with how MLM actually operates, serve as protective coating, preventing a...
Aug 22, 2014 | Economics / Financial, False Profits, Individual / Social Impact
Normally, a social or economic phenomenon, in which as many as 15 million American households participate year after year and which involves intrusive and sometimes disruptive personal and social interactions in addition to potentially thousands of dollars of lost...
Jul 31, 2013 | Economics / Financial, False Profits, Individual / Social Impact
When pyramid schemes ignite on Main Streets anywhere in the world, the ensuing manias have been compared to a wildfire, a stampede, a mob-like madness. The rallying cries of “get in now, ground-floor opportunity, unlimited income!” are spread virus-like in...
May 12, 2013 | Economics / Financial, False Profits, Individual / Social Impact
After William Ackman of the hedge fund, Pershing Square Capital, made his now famous slide presentation in which he charged that Herbalife is an illegal pyramid scheme that should be prosecuted by the FTC and the SEC, the debate soon shifted away from Herbalife itself...