Pyramid Schemes are back apparently

[APW]

I think most of us lived in the 90's when money trees came about and the pyramid scheme hit the UK big time. I haven't seen any attempts at these in many years but now I have just seen one online.

its called the 50quidcar.com, they talk about getting a brand new £50K car plus insurance, tax and repairs etc all for £199 upfront and £50 per month.

Its an obvious scam and talks about pooling friends together to help you get your car etc etc but they are passing it off as Crowdfunder which is of course legal.

Are people still that stupid to stop a scam or will using words like pooling/crowdfunding make people believe its legal?

 

[STDFR33]

You've not seen one for a while? Really?

A few I can think of off the top of my head:

• Forever Living
• Juice Plus
• Wikaniko
• Herbalife

 

[APW]

You've not seen one for a while? Really?

A few I can think of off the top of my head:

• Forever Living
• Juice Plus
• Wikaniko
• Herbalife

Well they are MLM schemes annoying to friends of these people but not actually illegal. But an actual pyramid scheme hiding behind words like crowdfunding will catch a lot of people out I think.

 

[Mark T Jones]

I have seen this particular scam, And addresses it with the person selling it

Like you say, it really is a barely legal pyramid , unlike the legitimate MLMs identified above

 

[Mr R]

I don't know if I'd call any of those schemes "legitimate" - if so, only in a 'technical' sense, a look into them reveals much of the trail of misery behind each. A pyramid by any other name is still what it is. - I certainly regard MLM promoters as beneath what runs in the sewers.

 

[Mark T Jones]

I don't know if I'd call any of those schemes "legitimate" - if so, only in a 'technical' sense, a look into them reveals much of the trail of misery behind each. A pyramid by any other name is still what it is. - I certainly regard MLM promoters as beneath what runs in the sewers.

Each to their own.

I've seen them badly sold, I've also seen them run well and successfully.

I have no involvement or real interest in MLM, but don'yt think we should denigrate people's businesses for no reason

 

[STDFR33]

I don't know if I'd call any of those schemes "legitimate" - if so, only in a 'technical' sense, a look into them reveals much of the trail of misery behind each. A pyramid by any other name is still what it is. - I certainly regard MLM promoters as beneath what runs in the sewers.

I always see people flogging them as a 'job' or 'amazing opportunity to earn thousands from home'.

In reality, the only way people make money at it is by signing others up to the scheme.

 

[Mr R]

I have no involvement or real interest in MLM, but don'yt think we should denigrate people's businesses for no reason

I've known people left with their financial lives wrecked, several suicidal and one sadly successful at taking their own life, as the result of getting involved with some of those names. They prey on the naive and uneducated - mugs, in other words. Ponzy/Pyramid/MLM are all part of the the dark underbelly of business in my experience. No more legitimate than drug dealing or pimping.

 

[SH247]

Pyramid schemes and the like are extremely entertaining to watch... they definitely attract a certain type of person... where has juice plus gone? That was all the rage a year or two ago, you can't tell me all of those stay at home mums failed to make money.....

 

[KAC]

I remember pyramid schemes in the early 70s. Went to a presentation once - invited by our next door neighbour who had joined - and did my best to explain that the maths didn't work.They didn't listen

 

[SH247]

I remember pyramid schemes in the early 70s. Went to a presentation once - invited by our next door neighbour who had joined - and did my best to explain that the maths didn't work.They didn't listen

They never listen These schemes are often so well put together it's almost like the people buying into them are brainwashed.

 

[The next Steve Jobs]

Perhaps such cons should be talked about in schools

There must be some way of inoculating the populous


While one might argue that fools get what they deserve Darwinian style

One can strongly argue that allowing the 'feeding of sharks' hurts everyone



As a kid I read Ripleys believe it or not and learned magic tricks, the upside is that I instinctively learned to spot most cons from a country mile.

... and I Don't take kindly to those defending the indefensible

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

Pyramid schemes and the like are extremely entertaining to watch... they definitely attract a certain type of person... where has juice plus gone? That was all the rage a year or two ago, you can't tell me all of those stay at home mums failed to make money.....

I thought that this was what they were for . ! So that normal people can enjoy watching other people making fools of themselves Then watching them fall big !