Remembering the time I almost got scammed into MLM pyramid scheme Part 3
The 3rd meet up
This is where my friend brought me to be interviewed with her boss. Once we reached there, I realised it was actually a company event. Everyone came dressed in style.
I was already feeling a little off, but I played along. Had I driven there myself, I probably would have just gone home. But I wanted to “investigate” a little more.
I’m quite good at remembering people’s faces, so during the event, I noticed about 7–8 people whom my friend had been cheerfully talking to at the cafe the other day. Yet at this business event, they simply walked past her as if she were a complete stranger. She didn’t greet them either. Really odd.
She first brought me to a guy who, long story short, asked me to invest $10K into the business. After some persuasion, he said he was joking and that the actual investment was $5K. But apparently, I came on a very lucky day because it had now gone down to only $700.
Doable, right? I mean, from $10K to just $700?
Then she brought me into another room, where the boss was persuading two other people. They looked like they had come from a small town, with so much hope in their eyes. One of them eventually signed up. I could only sit there and watch. And of course, the boss was chanting all kinds of motivational phrases. My mum used to do a few MLMs, so I’ve seen this before.
Seeing how reluctant I was, the boss told me not to worry because they provide training. The training costs around $300, where they teach you how to… MANIPULATE. There it was!
She even told me that my friend would pay for the training because my friend was supposedly making so much money already. My friend just kept quiet. Before leaving the event, suddenly a guy came over and started talking to my friend. I remembered him. He was the so-called “Dubai” lover who had been consistently calling her. But my friend introduced him as her workplace colleague.
So yea.. Everyone was an actor. Every single one. Probably including the two people from the small town who had just signed up.
On the way home, my friend stopped at McDonald’s because she was hungry. Since she was supposedly making so much money, I got myself a burger and a drink too. Then she asked me for a few dollars. I just laughed and told her I’d pay for dinner for both of us. I think she needed it more than I did because she was a victim of the whole thing and trying to get other victims to break even probably.
Her weird accent, the constant bragging, the credit cards, the supposedly luxurious lifestyle… it was all part of the image she was trying to show me.
Soon after, I found out that her BMW had been repossessed by the bank because she couldn’t keep up with the payments.
And then more and more people got sucked by this “business”. I learned how the MLM structure actually worked for this specific company.
To get started, you initially pay around $700. But at that level, you don’t really get much help. No drama, no acting, no teamwork. You’re basically on your own. You will get some products but most of the products are useless (unlike some MLM brands).
Then they push you towards investing $5K, where you’ll get teamwork, assistance and support. So you think, “If I want to make back that $700, I need their help anyway.” And there goes another $5K.
Then comes the next part. They tell you that your current lifestyle doesn’t “scream success” enough. So you’re encouraged to take out a bigger loan ..maybe $10K or more and also to get yourself a luxury car and maintain the appearance of being successful.
That’s why the guy initially told me $10K.Because eventually, that’s where they want you to go.
I thank God I’m not blinded by money. I wonder how do these people sleep peacefully at night knowing they are convincing others to spend money they may not even have?
Of course, I declined the offer. After that, I noticed that all her constant pictures with her “business partners” disappeared. She used to post pictures of them partying, playing tennis and doing all sorts of activities together. Then suddenly… nothing. It all stopped.
I’m glad I experienced it firsthand. Because now I can share what I saw and hopefully, someone else will recognise the red flags before getting pulled in. Of course, I have seen some potential MLMs willth good brands. But nah, MLM is just not for me.
This is where my friend brought me to be interviewed with her boss. Once we reached there, I realised it was actually a company event. Everyone came dressed in style.
I was already feeling a little off, but I played along. Had I driven there myself, I probably would have just gone home. But I wanted to “investigate” a little more.
I’m quite good at remembering people’s faces, so during the event, I noticed about 7–8 people whom my friend had been cheerfully talking to at the cafe the other day. Yet at this business event, they simply walked past her as if she were a complete stranger. She didn’t greet them either. Really odd.
She first brought me to a guy who, long story short, asked me to invest $10K into the business. After some persuasion, he said he was joking and that the actual investment was $5K. But apparently, I came on a very lucky day because it had now gone down to only $700.
Doable, right? I mean, from $10K to just $700?
Then she brought me into another room, where the boss was persuading two other people. They looked like they had come from a small town, with so much hope in their eyes. One of them eventually signed up. I could only sit there and watch. And of course, the boss was chanting all kinds of motivational phrases. My mum used to do a few MLMs, so I’ve seen this before.
Seeing how reluctant I was, the boss told me not to worry because they provide training. The training costs around $300, where they teach you how to… MANIPULATE. There it was!
She even told me that my friend would pay for the training because my friend was supposedly making so much money already. My friend just kept quiet. Before leaving the event, suddenly a guy came over and started talking to my friend. I remembered him. He was the so-called “Dubai” lover who had been consistently calling her. But my friend introduced him as her workplace colleague.
So yea.. Everyone was an actor. Every single one. Probably including the two people from the small town who had just signed up.
On the way home, my friend stopped at McDonald’s because she was hungry. Since she was supposedly making so much money, I got myself a burger and a drink too. Then she asked me for a few dollars. I just laughed and told her I’d pay for dinner for both of us. I think she needed it more than I did because she was a victim of the whole thing and trying to get other victims to break even probably.
Her weird accent, the constant bragging, the credit cards, the supposedly luxurious lifestyle… it was all part of the image she was trying to show me.
Soon after, I found out that her BMW had been repossessed by the bank because she couldn’t keep up with the payments.
And then more and more people got sucked by this “business”. I learned how the MLM structure actually worked for this specific company.
To get started, you initially pay around $700. But at that level, you don’t really get much help. No drama, no acting, no teamwork. You’re basically on your own. You will get some products but most of the products are useless (unlike some MLM brands).
Then they push you towards investing $5K, where you’ll get teamwork, assistance and support. So you think, “If I want to make back that $700, I need their help anyway.” And there goes another $5K.
Then comes the next part. They tell you that your current lifestyle doesn’t “scream success” enough. So you’re encouraged to take out a bigger loan ..maybe $10K or more and also to get yourself a luxury car and maintain the appearance of being successful.
That’s why the guy initially told me $10K.Because eventually, that’s where they want you to go.
I thank God I’m not blinded by money. I wonder how do these people sleep peacefully at night knowing they are convincing others to spend money they may not even have?
Of course, I declined the offer. After that, I noticed that all her constant pictures with her “business partners” disappeared. She used to post pictures of them partying, playing tennis and doing all sorts of activities together. Then suddenly… nothing. It all stopped.
I’m glad I experienced it firsthand. Because now I can share what I saw and hopefully, someone else will recognise the red flags before getting pulled in. Of course, I have seen some potential MLMs willth good brands. But nah, MLM is just not for me.
36-40, F