RELATED: YTB / Zamzuu about to go under, settled lawsuit

Your Travel Biz, i.e. YTB, was a pyramid scheme that actually predates TVI Express. Unlike TVI Express, it actually tries to sell things by making the individual associates BUY an online travel biz in order to really sell travel. However, it paid out too much for recruiting, and first California then Illinois sued it (and other states as well) as a pyramid scheme. This was when Jerry Brown was still attorney general of California (now he's governor.)

It reorganized and renamed itself into Zamzuu. However, its troubles did not end. Now, Zamzuu finally settled with Illinois Attorney General, and may be soon out of business.

Zamzuu at least APPEAR to be trying to be legit (and failing). TVI Express, on the other hand... is a scam through and through.

http://www.thetelegraph.com/news/company-52791-ytb-settlement.html

TVI Express Fake Explanations Busted, part 2

There are plenty more fake explanations by TVI Express "distributors" offered for one reason or another. Some are to add alleged legitimacy, others to deflect criticism. Previously we covered a few. Here are a few more. Again, a lie can be detected by a) show you fact(s) that contradict their lies, or b) show you that their statement is a logical fallacy (of relevancy, equivocation, presumption). Sometimes, I'll do both.

Lie #5: TVI Express is not MLM

This lie is often seen in Indonesia where multi-level marketing (MLM) or network marketing companies are required to get a special "multi-tier" license called the SIUP, instead of the general business license. It can also been seen in countries where MLM requires special registration with certain agencies and thus is subject to more regulations. TVI Express distributors in those countries, when challenged on why they do not have a MLM license, will claim that they are not MLM, and thus is not subject to MLM.

Their "evidence" generally falls into two types:

a) TVI Express is really a franchise that is very cheap to buy into
or
b) TVI Express is really a club with a referral program

The evidence they gave varies, but usually they involve their own explanations and interpretations on what they think a "franchise" or a referral program is.

TVI Express itself claims to be MLM / Direct Selling / Network Marketing

TVI Express refers to itself as network marketing / multi-level marketing, and indeed, have a section called "expert watch" on network marketing. Just a search for "network marketing" within TVIexpress.com shows at least ten places where "network marketing" was referred. If you add similar terms like "direct selling" or "multi-level marketing" the the conclusion is inevitable: TVI Express itself says it is MLM.  

Network Marketing — also Direct Selling or Multi Level Marketing is the most powerful system of free enterprise in our modern world, and it is the business model that TVI Express chose from the beginning.
--http://www.tviexpress.com/financial.php

That is pretty conclusive, isn't it?


TVI Express is NOT a franchise

In a franchise, you buy the rights to a business system and the name brand. If you buy a Burger King (tm) franchise, you get access to corporate training, ability to use their logos, and more, but you also agree to abide by their laws. There is nothing about "sponsoring people"

Yet there is "sponsoring people" in TVI Express. It is right there in their FAQ #5. Thus, TVI Express cannot be a franchise.

Also, if TVI Express is franchise, WHAT DOES IT SELL? It does not even have a product page!

Finally, it is up to the local branch to be compliant with local laws in a franchise. Burger King (tm) in Hong Kong will have different law compliance than Burger King (tm) in California or Burger King (tm) in Paris. Each must have their business license. If each person in TVI Express is a franchisee, then EACH PERSON MUST APPLY FOR THEIR OWN BUSINESS LICENSE!

This is a fallacy of equivocation. They are trying to redefine the word "franchise" to fit TVI Express.


TVI Express is NOT a "club" with a referral program

First of all, the logic is already absurd... Who joins a club for an "opportunity" to earn $10000 in weeks?

Second, why are TVI Express participants called DISTRIBUTORS?  It's right there on the homepage, lower right hand corner. What do they distribute?

Third, where did the word "club" appear in TVI Express at all? Here's official language from the website:

At TVI Express, we provide exciting holiday packages, vacation club memberships, and fun-filled adventures to customers just like you. Through our exclusive club, we strive to give our members a world of choices through an attention to detail and impeccable customer service.-- http://www.tviexpress.com/overview.php

The language is unclear. Is TVI Express itself a club? Or is it providing OTHER club memberships to members? Why would it refer to itself as "network marketing" elsewhere in the same website? And why would it be promising its members/distributors opportunity to earn thousands of dollars on the front-page?

Do you see the devilry here? TVI Express throws in so many different explanations that different people will find what they want and invent their own explanations. However, if you take the overall picture, you'll find that it is a confusing jumbled mess offering inconsistent explanations of what it is. It has referred to itself as "travel club", "network marketing", "income opportunity", "event company", "home-based business", and more. Some of those may fit together, but ALL of them?

Some "Classic" TVI Express Member Lies

Image via WikipediaNOTE: This was written a while back, so its accuracy may have changed.

Introduction

This hub is number three in a series that collects lies and untruths told by various TVI Express distributors in support of TVI Express elsewhere on the Internet.

If you need some background on the TVI Express scam, please read TVI Express: an international scam first.

Is TVIscam.net trustworthy?

Based on the domain name tviscam.net, you would expect this website is about a scam called TVI. However, it is actually another recruiting site by a TVI Express Member. Why? The author states so

"If you can introduce two members then I highly recommend this business.... I do have multiple accounts in TVI Express business."

So if you recommend this business, why did you name the website "tviscam.net"? Shouldn't it be "tvinotscam.net"? Or is this intentional, just to capture some website traffic? You should already be weary, as it is sending a mixed message.

First Section = irrelevant

The first section is irrelevant to whether TVI Express is a scam or not. In fact, the author encourages you to download a TVI Express powerpoint presentation for some background info. That is not wrong, or right, it is background info. Just keep in mind the source... Remember, you are supposed to be skeptical of anything that is new. It's called "due diligence".

You should also be weary because this website is called TVIscam, yet the first thing they tell you is to have you read some TVI Express promotional material i.e. propaganda, that's a weird way to talk about a scam.
Then the author claimed he joined TVI Express because he believes it is not a scam, but provided no evidence. Not a very effective argument there.

Second section = fair, but a bit short

 

The second section, which discusses the parts author did NOT like about TVI Express, The three reasons listed, are valid, if a bit under-emphasized. The vacation redemption problem is actually much much worse than the author stated, but that is for another article.

This section is more guilty of omission than outright lie.

Third section = big problems

The third section is where it all falls apart, as the "good things" about TVI Express simply don't add up when you actually think about them.

1. They pay on time every time.

They do? Is this based on your personal experience, or word of your upline / team members? Is that "paid" into your eWallet, or actually into your bank account? (ANSWER: It's into an eWallet, which is not guaranteed by anybody)

2. No ongoing fee. Only the initial $250 joining fee.

This is valid, but it could also be a sign of pyramid scheme.

3. Truly receiving benefits from the sales done by up-line members. I am constantly moving up thanks to sales done by others.

It says in the TVI Express FAQ that "you don't need to sell any product". The only thing required to sell is membership, which is recruiting. So if you are moving up the board by other people recruiting for you... that makes this a PYRAMID SCHEME.

4. Easy to promote.

But what are you telling the people? That it's easy to make $10000 by recruiting people? Hmmm...

5. The best compensation plan I have ever come-across. There is an opportunity to earn $10,000 or more a week.

Ah, the "hardsell", by dangling the dollar signs in front of you. Just HOW do you earn that $10000? By recruiting, and teaching others to recruit, not by any sale of product or service. That's a pyramid scheme.
I don't need to quote the pyramid scheme definition again, do I?

Final Section = another warning sign

he final section is an endorsement with an explanation, but actually provided the proof that the whole thing is a pyramid scheme:

If you can introduce two members then I highly recommend this business. Two members means you will receive $250 cash and a new-member voucher (worth $250) for you to join as another member or you can sell it to another person who is willing to join the business. I do have multiple accounts in TVI Express business.

What the author did NOT explain is when you introduce two people, that's actually NOT it. They actually have to put 12 more people under themselves for you to get your $250 + $250 eVoucher.

Furthermore, that $250 is NOT cash, but an amount in your "eWallet" which is just a number on the TVI Express website.

One more item... that $250+$250 eVoucher proves the whole thing is a pyramid scheme, also known as "endless chain". Let me illustrate this by using the Endless Chain law as defined by California Penal Code (other laws are similar)

CA Penal Code 327: Endless Chain Scheme

"Every person who contrives, prepares, sets up, proposes, operates any endless chain is guilty of a misdemeanor. As used in this section, an 'endless chain' means any scheme for the disposal or distribution of property whereby a participant pays a valuable consideration for the chance to receive compensation for introducing one or more additional persons into participation in the scheme or for the chance to receive compensation when a person introduced by the participant introduces a new participant. Compensation, as used in this section, does not mean or include payment based upon sales made to persons who are not participants in the scheme and who are not purchasing in order to participate in the scheme."

Or to restate it in easier to understand form...

if a scheme has
1) Participant pay a joining fee, in order to qualify for future compensation
2) The future compensation is "earned" by recruiting more participants, or when those participants recruit even more participants
then
3) It is an "endless chain" scam

TVI Express members earn $250 and $250 eVoucher by recruiting two people, and teach each of them to recruit more people, until the participant got 14 downlines. This makes the participant "cycle out" of the board, getting him that $250 / $250. This fits the endless chain scam definition because the participant have to pay $250 to get in, and is paid $250+$250 eVoucher when the 1-2-4-8 pyramid, or 2x3 "matrix" is filled.
So essentially, the author presented all the elements of a pyramid scheme: pay to join, recruit at least two more, get paid when enough people have joined (beyond the two), yet told you it is not scam.

Conclusion = FAIL

The author at least made an attempt to sound fair, but that only make the result even MORE unethical, as he basically completely ignored the facts that pointed at a pyramid scheme, because it was separated, but if you put them in order as follows:

a) $250 one-time fee
b) recruit two people
c) move up the board while people you recruited recruit some more people
d) get paid $250+$250 (when the pyramid fills) then get qualified for $10000 (fill another pyramid)

That is a pyramid scheme, no doubt about it.

The author also failed to consider the fact that there is no sales, just recruiting.He referred to sales, but cannot even point out the product, and the only product TVI Express requires member to sell is itself.

Thus, this article, while sounding somewhat fair, is actually evidence for a pyramid scheme. Yet the author failed to recognize the signs, and cheerily tell you to join in, which just makes the whole thing even MORE ironic, and devious.

Some Classic TVI Express Weasel Reviews

Image via WikipediaWhen TVI Express was red hot, people write all sorts of reviews about TVI Express, using whatever contrived excuses they can find to somehow convince you that they should be your upline into TVI Express (so you can make him or her rich). Some marketing coach (often with fancy names, like "law of attraction trainer") also used TVI Express to attract "trainees".

Welcome to another episode of TVI Express Weasel Reviews, where we track down marketing weasels who claims to "review" TVI Express, but instead want to sell you their "secrets to success".

Today's highlight is on http://www.zingarticles.com/Art/99986/24/TVI-Express-Review-Ground-Floor-Opportunity-or-Scam.html by Anita Koch. Does it review TVI Express and give you an informed opinion backed by facts? Let us find out.

Beginning: not very good

Ms. Koch started by comparing TVI Express with Your Travel Biz (YTB).

YTB was proven to be a pyramid scheme by California's Attorney General Jerry Brown, successfully sued, and forced to revamp its operations, in 2009. Thus, citing YTB as a successful MLM in the travel biz raises two questions: does Ms. Koch even KNOW about YTB's problems? Or did she deliberately neglect to mention it?

As this article was posted March 2010, well after YTB's problem came to light, one must conclude that Ms. Koch either did not do any research and relied on some marketing material, or she deliberately left out this "problem".

Makes you wonder what else she will neglect to mention...

Middle: Factual, but no conclusion drawn

Ms. Koch then explained the compensation structure, but instead of relying on company line, she actually did some math and shows you how much money TVI Express takes in, and how much it pays back out.
Ms. Koch even admits that two items makes no sense: residual income, and "commission pay till infinity".
She concludes with the following paragraph:

Since Travel Ventures International is a travel company, where does the travel part come in? You don''t get paid for helping people to go on trips. Although the TVI website shows pictures of exotic locations, there is no description of how the travel services actually come into play other than travel vouchers.

So even she admits there seems to be no product.

Ending: disappointing half-weasel answer

Ms. Koch was doing so well with her analysis. Unfortunately, she decided to weasel out at the end and gave a less than definite answer. She cited Wikipedia on Ponzi scheme twice, but stopped short of called TVI Express a scam. Instead, she gave this answer:

You have to make your own decision as to what MLM company you want to be associated with. Wikipedia defines Network Marketing as a "structure designed to create a marketing and sales force by compensating promoters of company products not only for sales they personally generate, but also for sales of other promoters they introduce to the company." Is it honestly Network Marketing if there is no product or service?

She clearly wants to IMPLY that TVI Express is a shady operation, but she somehow can't say it. Instead, she used the opportunity to segue into her "success coaching" business in the next paragraph.
Well, that is a HALF weasel answer. Not as much weasel as the other examples shown, but definitely "half" weasel.

Rudy Phan makes another TVIExpressdollar.com lie, about jurisdiction of disputes

Image via WikipediaTVIExpressdollar.com, a website by Indonesian TVI Express distributor "Rudy Phan", continue to post bull**** on his website, adding more and more lies hoping to recruit more participants to make himself rich, even though local businesses, governments, and even the Islamic Council have declared TVI Express a "money game" (i.e. SCAM). Rudy Phan, of course, has a comeback for each and every one of those news of "doom"... Everybody else must be mistaken. Only he can be right.

Just recently he posted a blog entry about how TVI Express is not really subject to Indonesia law.

In the entry "Rules of the Game" he posted that...

"And all disputes governed by the laws of Cyprus and India. Platform or online business systems TVI Express builds upon the laws of Cyprus and India, therefore in case of dispute will be settled in accordance with the laws of Cyprus and India. It's not that Indonesian law does not apply. The problems that occurred in Indonesia and it will be completed nationwide by the laws of Indonesia. However, because businesses are global TVI Express (you can have many members in your network who are in the world), if there are problems that are global as well, then the law is the law used Cyprus and India."

First, is Rudy Phan a lawyer? Does he even explain just WHAT laws apply in cases regarding international disputes? No! He simply issues declarations, but he has no evidence that his declaration is true! 


Second, can he explain just exactly WHAT is considered national or International? No. It's a generic "problems that occur in Indonesia is governed by laws of Indonesia". However, he quickly followed with "because the TVI Express is global, if problems are global then you must use Cyprus and India law". 


But what exactly constitutes a "global problem"? Does he mean problems with other members residing in other countries? Or with TVI Express itself? Or something else entirely? I assure you it is NOT covered anywhere in the blog, and in any case he has NO authority to make such an interpretation at all (neither do I, but then I recognize my ignorance when it comes to law, and Rudy Phan does not!)


Third, Rudy Phan claims that if you register with eBay, you are subject to the laws of California, USA. However, there a couple problems with this comparison. Here's the policy in question:

"By using eBay (including eBay.com and its related sites, services and tools), you agree to the following terms with eBay Inc. and the general principles for the websites of our subsidiaries and international affiliates. If you reside outside of the United States, you are contracting with one of our international eBay companies: In countries within the European Union, your contract is with eBay Europe S.à r.l.; in all other countries, your contract is with eBay International AG. If you have any questions, please refer to our help section."

Noticed anything? eBay has at least three offices, and it was very clear on WHICH one you are doing business with. If you are in the US, you are doing business with eBay (USA). If you are in E.U, you are doing busienss with eBay Europe, and in other countries, eBay Intl AG. 


So what this really say is if you sue eBay and you're in the US, THEN you are subject to California law. 


If you are in UK, you are subject to BRITISH COURT JURISDICTION, according to ebay.co.uk  "Any claim, dispute or matter arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall be governed and construed in all respects by the laws of England and Wales. You and eBay both agree to submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts." But your contract is still with eBay International AG (based in Switzerland)

Furthermore, Rudy Phan claims that eBay Indonesia makes you subject to laws of Singapore. So TVI Express can make you be subject to laws of Cyprus and India. That is a false comparison.

If you actually click on the website, id.ebay.com user agreements, it actually takes you to http://pages.ebay.com.sg/help/policies/user-agreement.html?_trksid=m40  (the Singaporean site, which is where eBay has the closest office) 

So this basically proves that Rudy Phan has no f**king clue what he's talking about. If you do business locally, you follow local business laws. You can't just say I do business here but if there's a problem you have to sue me somewhere else.

Furthermore, the bull**** about "disputes subject to India or Cyprus law is just that, bull****.

This is the same sort of bull**** TVI Express distributes claimed in Africa. They claim they have "global license", and local regulators are NOT amused, and it is charged as illegal scams in multiple countries in Africa.

TVI Express: Who is Robert Schroy?

When I looked up information on Pat Dejour, a name appeared next to him: Robert Schroy. Who was that, I wonder? So I searched a bit. Found this list on an Indonesia TVI Express website. It's a list of all terminated TVI Express members, allegedly. It was published in September 2010. Other than a generic "illegal practices" there was no detail on why, or eve the date they were terminated.

What is really interesting is there was no English announcement, except a single post on Facebook (which was mentioned before). The list was kept VERY private. Frankly the only reason to keep the list only to members is to convince the members that it cannot be TVI Express's fault, but that is my opinion.

Any way... So who is Robert Schroy? Mr. Schroy was definitely one of the earlier members of TVI Express. According to some marketing calls he was referred to as the 200K man in late 2009, and 300K earner in Jan 2010. However, it was stated he's based in California, unlike the TVI Express announcement (posted by Facebook) that said he's Florida.

So he definitely was a high-flier in TVI Express. However, he seem to have made no blogs or websites that can be found though Google. There also appears to be no photo of him.

Coincidentally, a "Robert Schroy" of Illinois was charged in both New Jersey and Federal courts for defrauding a church. As there are no photos, proper ID cannot be made.

So what is the conclusion? Insufficient information, other than TVI Express is as secretive as ever. Why keep the list of terminated members "secret"? The whole idea of terminating members is to make it a public spectacle so nobody will try to do whatever it was they did. Keeping the list secret only proves TVI Express does NOT care about its public image at all.

Some more classic "dogma" from TVI Express

Image via Wikipedia
Kim Willis runs a multi-purpose website that includes tips on blogging, branding, MLM, and so on, and is one of the first US MLM coaches to call TVI Express a scam (September 2009). On another website he reports MLM news, and this is some classic "comments" left by TVI Express supporters with "faith" when ACCC in Australia initiated legal action against TVI Team Oz, and MLM News reported it in May 2010.
Comment #1

Tony Wyche wrote 31 May 2010, 7:09 am

You missed the number word in this charge and that word is “alleged”. These people along with TVI Express are innocent until proven guilty and already critics are quick to convict. Make no sense. Everybody knows that sooner or later all new companies are going to be challenged by some Govt entity. It just a matter of time. YTB, Pyxism, are being challenged now in the US. I dont hear nobody sounding the alarm about these companies and there are more of them. I read the accused’s site information and as far as I can see, they haven’t broken any laws other than from what Im reading here. I see 2 flaws so far that might get them in trouble. One is TVI’s membership fee. It’s not $330 to join TVI. It’s a $250 membership fee + $25 intl currency fee which total $275. And 2, you do not purchase a travel voucher when you initially join TVI Express. You are purchasing a membership to the travel program offered by TVI Express. That’s the product that keeps getting left out and people dont seem to understand. From what Im reading, this would make this program a pyramid scheme. But that’s not how we market TVI Express here.

A search through Internet archive shows that Mr. Wyche, based in state of Virginia, had been trying to defend TVI Express for a while. He had done so on Troy Dooly's website as well. However, his statements has many problems.

First, Mr. Wyche basically cannot discredit the ACCC case against TVI Express, and in turn tries to plant "reasonable doubt", such as "Other companies had been challenged before, and will be in the future". He named YTB, but that is indeed a pyramid scheme, declared so in two states, including California. I have not seen any legal challenges to Pyxism, which doesn't mean it's not there, just I haven't seen any. In either case it's NOT relevant. This is known as the "heresy" argument... "We may not be accepted now, but we will be triumphant!" It is FAITH, not based on any facts or logic. It is good for a coach or a leader, but it is not a valid "argument" or even logical.

Second, Mr. Wyche does not seem to understand that this "travel membership" he's selling is promising $10000+$500 USD for recruiting 224 people. THAT IS A PYRAMID SCHEME: you get paid for recruiting people, who will also be paid for recruiting people... It doesn't matter what he's marketing it as. It may have ancillary benefits (which are impossible to redeem or are worth ZERO), but those are irrelevant.

TVI Express owner: Tarun Trikha?

With my investigation of TVI Express, one name that keeps coming up is Tarun Trikha, resident of New Delhi, India.

If you look on TVIexpress.com, under "Advisory Board", you'll see his name under "India". At least one TVI Express "fan" site called him "Asia Pacific Head, TVI Express".

Further digging revealed he used to run an outfit called V2 Global. According to his own profile on MoneyMaker Group website, he specializes in Internet Marketing, and that is what V2 Global does. He had a website called CashYourPassion.com but that expired a while back.

On ConsumerComplaints of India he was named as one of the co-owners of TVI Express. While this is not exactly proof, it is one of the first real NAMES we have that is attached to the company. This item was repeated at an ex-TVI member memorial site. A "letter to editor" in India pointed to him as close to the top, if not THE top of TVI Express.

Then BrokerJones dropped a bombshell... he traced the money of TVI Express to a company called VisionTech in California. And Tarun Trikha, according to BrokerJones, is the head, and had previously ran a similar scheme and made off with a huge amount of dollars. Not quite Madoff, but maybe mini-Madoff. (100K or so).

So what does Mr. Trikha look like? Here's a photo of him: (he's on the right)
http://vishalbudhwar.blogspot.com/2009/12/tvi-express-tarun-trikha-vishal-budhwar.html

And here's another picture, from a TVI Express "fansite" (It's in Thai) -->> It's the same picture as the blog.

And here is the same guy in China, pushing TVI Express and posing with friendly locals:

Definitely the same guy. So what does the blog entry actually say?

六月十號來自全國各地的120余名TVI鑽石會員，齊聚深圳，與代表公司的印度領導人Tarun Trikha共商TVI發展事宜。
June 10th (2009), 120 or so TVI "Diamond Associates" of TVI Express, from all over the country, gather in ShenZheng (Guandong, China), and met with India Leader Tarun Trikha, representing the company, to discuss further developements. 

據悉，自公司1月開始全球運作開始，全球共誕生6位皇冠會員。中國自3月份開始運作，就占了5位皇冠會員。另外一位就是Tarun Trikha。
TVI Express started operating globally in January 2009, and there was a total of six crown associates in the whole world.  TVI Express started operating in China in March 2009, and China has produced 5 of the crown associates. Mr. Trikha is the 6th.


The blog also says that Mr. Trikha already has 36000 downlines.(blog entry was dated June 2009)

Well, isn't that interesting. Based on this information, the only logical conclusion is that Mr. Trikha is the FIRST EVER member of TVI Express! He is "member zero"! Why else would he be "representing TVI Express"? A member don't get to do that, not even one on the advisory board!

So it is logical to assume that he either founded the company, or is very close to the founders. How else would he get to join TVI Express so early,and thus, reap all the benefits?

Now that you've seen "face of the enemy", what is your reaction?

TVI Express: illegal under CA "endless chain" law

Image by Bearman2007 via Flickr

What is endless chain? It's the original name for the Ponzi scheme, but is also related to the Pyramid. Basically, as long as you recruit more than the people leaving, people leaving can enjoy a "profit". In other words, the latercomers are paying the early goers.


So what does the CA Penal code say?

CA Penal Code 327: Endless Chain Scheme

"Every person who contrives, prepares, sets up, proposes, operates any endless chain is guilty of a misdemeanor. As used in this section, an 'endless chain' means any scheme for the disposal or distribution of property whereby a participant pays a valuable consideration for the chance to receive compensation for introducing one or more additional persons into participation in the scheme or for the chance to receive compensation when a person introduced by the participant introduces a new participant. Compensation, as used in this section, does not mean or include payment based upon sales made to persons who are not participants in the scheme and who are not purchasing in order to participate in the scheme."

Let's see, "participant pays valuable consideration ($250 or whatever) for the chance to receive compensation ($250+$250 evoucher, then $10000+whatever evoucher, for 2 separate boards) for introducing one or more additional persons into participation of the scheme (you need to recruit two people) or for the chance to receive compensation when a person itnroduced by the participant introduces a new participant (and teach those two people each to also recruit two people each).

Fits TVI Express to a T, no pun intended! 


So keep that in mind: if you recruit for TVI Express in California, you can be charged with a misdemeanor!

What does YOUR state's laws say about "endless chain" or "pyramid scheme"?

Why is TVI Express NOT an endless chain / pyramid scheme? Can you explain THAT?

Why should you NOT be charged with a misdeameanor, if you're in it?

TVI Express: 8 facts you need to know before you join

TVI Express claims to be a "travel industry opportunity", that is now 1 year old, with over 600000 members worldwide. You buy into this opportunity for $250 (or $275), recruit two others to do the same, then sit back and wait for $10000 (or $10250, or $15000...) to roll in. Is it too good to be true? Here are 8 verified facts you need to know before you join up. I provided the links so you can check for yourself.

FACT #1 -- TVI Express claims to be based in London, England, but is not.

On TVI Express's "about us" webpage, it proudly claims it is based in London, UK.

"Travel Ventures International is a leading multinational conglomerate headquartered in London, United Kingdom."
--http://www.tviexpress.com/aboutus.php

Yet on the bottom of that very page, the address listed is in Cyprus, which is a little island off Greece. (Keep in mind that TVI Express used to list an UK address until end of 2009.)  Even today, it is using a London UK phone number (country code 44).

TVI Express: even LESS legitimate than YTBI, which actually sells something!

Image via Wikipedia

California's Attorney General had ssued YTBI, a "MLM travel business opportunity company".The lawsuit was settled in 2009, forcing the company to thoroughly reorganize the way it does business. So what's the relevance? They sound exactly like TVI Express, even assuming TVI Express is completely legitimate. And we've seen the other warning signs.

"Participants, who pay a $450 set up fee and $50 per month to maintain an "online travel agency" website, can collect commissions for recruiting new participants, utilize the website for their own travel purposes, as well as sell travel packages to others. However, most participants make the majority of their money by recruiting new agents rather than through travel sales of their own."

-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YTB_International

Doesn't this sounds JUST like TVI Express, except for the lower initial payment, and no monthly fees?

When you throw in the FTC test fail, and the striking similarities to another scammer, the Fortuna Alliance, the fact that their "matrix" is a mirror copy of 8-ball scam, and bazillion other problems, any one who don't see that TVI Express as a scam may just be self-delusional, IMHO.