The Cheerful TVI Express Denial-ist

Recently a certain "Bilyonaryo" started posting comments on my TVI Express expose hubs. His IP address traces back to a Korean ISP. He's all nice and positive, "you write good stuff", he goes, but it's clear he didn't read any of them, because he posted this:

Mind you, I already gave him links to my "News Your TVI Express Upline will never tell you", where TVI Express members were arrested, TVI Express denounced as pyramid scheme, and so on and so forth.

Yet he says that only individual members of TVI Express was prosecuted as criminals, not TVI Express itself.

For a moment, I was going to retort "What is the difference?!"  Then I realized he's trying to use the "few bad apples" argument, that a few individuals can abuse the system, but the system itself, he will claim, is innocent. Fortunately, I do have references pointing the other way:

The Australia Federal Court says TVI Express is a pyramid scheme:

...But Justice Nicholas found there was "no evidence" that any member had "obtained the ... vacation or a companion flight". In his judgment he said: "I am satisfied that the TVI Express System was a pyramid-selling scheme".

It's amazing what sort of contrived excuses will TVI Express supporters come up with to "debate" whether TVI Express is a scam... However, this is one of the 13 tricks I've identified earlier: "It's the individual's fault, because it cannot be the system's fault". Seen it before, albeit not to this extent. Usually it's used as post-facto justification, like: blame all my downlines for the failure. However, this one use it to DENY that TVI Express was a scam at all. Hah!

If it's not a scam, then it wouldn't have been banned in China, Namibia, Lesotho, USA, and so on.

OLD NEWS: More TVI Express Scammers Convicted in China

This news actually came out in November, but I had to verify it's not a duplicate:

Be On Guard against "British tourist TVI Express" Network Marketing

2011-11-11 14:55:51 Internet in the thread ( 0 ) Views: 5 [Font: big in small】

---

Yichang Xiling Public Security Bureau announced yesterday, it has destroyed a " British TVI Express Travel company " which was engaging in illegal Internet pyramid scheme activities, a Mr. Liu, suspected of organizing the pyramid scheme has been approved for arrest by the prosecution.

　　October 23, Xiling Public Security Bureau received a public report, that a person participated in the "British tourist TVI Express" e-commerce activities, but can not receive the benefits associated with the promise of service. He suspect he was cheated, and ask for police investigation. Bureau of Economic Investigation Squadron realized this is a clue to an important network of illegal pyramid activity, then developed a "step by step, solid evidence, catch ringleader" detection program.

　　August 26, Xiling police arrested Liu, who was suspected of organizing and leading the "British tourist TVI Express," the so-called new e-commerce activities. Liu confessed to illegal pyramid scheme. Recently, the Xiling District, Yichang City People's Procuratorate, Liu was arrested for sentencing.

　　The investigation, from April last year, Liu (alias: Liu Lu, female, 39, Han nationality, Yichang) was introduced by Lin (male, 27 years old, Zhejiang, fugitive)  Liu invested 1897 yuan in the "British TVI Express Travel Company" network marketing organization. Subsequently, Liu started madly recruiting downline at Huaqiang Building, 603 Yichang Road, and other locations. Just pay 1897 yuan for travel card, "British tourist TVI Express" member, may stay free in the domestic five-star hotel seven days six nights and enjoy global travel discounts. If you sponsor enough downlines you can get 500 U.S. dollars prize money,  15,000 US Dollars, as bait, made herself "gold level member" in two months, the cumulative development of downline members up to 658 recruits and nearly 60000 yuan profit.

　　According to the police, the case involving large number victims of more than 60 years of age or older, in which many victims under the spell of Liu and others, cheated of their life savings, the department have this this case "top pyramid scheme of YiChang".

Related articles

• NEWSFLASH: TVI Express officially convicted as pyramid scheme in Australia (kschang.blogspot.com)
• NEWSFLASH: Lesotho warns Public AGAIN: TVI Express is an illegal scam (kschang.blogspot.com)

Old News Out of China: ANOTHER THREE arrested and convicted in May 2011

Didn't find this news item until now, and checking names and location shows this is a separate news item:

http://court.gmw.cn/html/article/201105/06/70548.shtml

Foreign travel for free is actually scam, three accused jailed for illegal pyramid scheme

Author: Hong Xu Zhen Posted :2011 -05-06 12:29:13

---

    1897 yuan adding "British TVI Travel Express", you can enjoy "free of charge in five-star hotel 7 Days, free to travel abroad" treatment. Free pie does not come from sky, is a trap, which is the beauty of direct sales organization made up lies, cheated more than 30 people. Yesterday, after hearing according to law, the court in Henan Fengqiu organization, leader of pyramid schemes Wen Yu, and the others, convicted and sentenced for the crime.

    Examined, since May 2009, the defendant Wen Yu joined by others, "British tourist TVI Express", the defendant together with Yang Rui, Zheng Zhi in Fengqiu, Changyuan, etc., in order to "stay for free in five-star hotel seven days, six nights, free to travel abroad "and the name, asked participants to 1897 yuan per unit to buy eight memberships and obtained added qualifications; lure others to join the participants to continue to develop, you can cycle out of board and earn 500 dollars, then cycle out of express board can earn $ 10,000; lure others to join the participants to continue to develop and direct the development of the number of persons pay by per head pbasis, obtaining by deception. The investigation, joined the staff in the marketing organization more than 30 people, Wen Yu, Yang Rui, Zheng Zhi were three levels above.

    After the court that the defendant Wen Yu, Yang Rui, Zheng Zhi to promote British tourism Express project in the name of TVI, requiring participants to pay the added cost way to get qualified, and are organized according to a certain level, the number of staff directly to the development of As a rebate capitation basis, to lure participants to continue to participate in the development of others, obtaining by deception, disruption of economic and social order, his behavior constituted organization, leadership pyramid schemes crime. Defendant Wen Yu, Yang Rui, Zheng Zhi together intentionally, pyramid schemes, the temperature plays a major role in jade, culprit, criminal activities in the common Yang Rui, Zheng Zhi played a secondary role, their accomplice, should be lighter or mitigated punishment ; defendant Yang Rui, Zheng Zhi with a good attitude, do show repentance, let the community no longer harm society, sentenced to probation is appropriate.

    Accordingly, the hospital in organization, leadership pyramid schemes crime, sentenced to imprisonment for one year and two months Wen Yu and fined 20,000 yuan; Yang Rui sentenced to one year imprisonment suspended for two years and fined 10,000 yuan; Zheng Zhi sentenced to one year imprisonment suspended for two years and fined 10,000 yuan.

Source: Henan Court Network

Hilarious: Filipino TVI Supporter tries to shoot down MLM lawyer's qualifications!

Folks, when an attorney says something's legal (or illegal), he is putting his reputation on the line. If he's wrong, he can be disbarred (lose his law license) depending on the severity of the mistake. His mistakes can be spread all over the internet nowadays, further damaging his reputation.

Thus, I had an article citing Mr. Gerald Nehra, one of the few attorneys in the US who specialize in MLMs (thus, automatically puts him among the top, yes?)   He previously worked for Amway as their head counsel for 9 years. The only other MLM attornies that readily comes to mind would be Grimes and Reese, and Kevin Thompson.

Any way, the article explains that under Mr. Gerald Nehra's explanation on what makes MLM legal, TVI Express is illegal as per US law.  The article had been published for well over a year, and nobody had tried to attack its validity. So I am very surprised today to find a comment on it.

frankcow10 9 hours ago
You seem to be an expert in twisting facts here and there to serve your purpose.
FACT is : Mr. Gerald Nehra is NOT A TOP MLM Attorney. He wouldn't claim it himself. Instead, his claim states that "He is one of a very few attorneys nationwide whose practice is devoted exclusively to direct selling and multi-level marketing issues."(http://mlmatty.com/09/mlm_attorney_bio.php#nehra)NOT A TOP MLM ATTORNEY.
No, not at all. Ronald J Riley, President and Founder of the Professional Investors Alliance (www.piausa.org) called Gerald Nehra and his office mlmatty.com a "one lawyer operations, with one assistant".
Ronald J Riley has this to say about your said "top MPM attorney" : "It seems we have another attorney from a small Michigan town who may be eking out a living sending cease and desist letters to anyone who dares to criticize his client's MLM business models." (http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesIn closing, I have two questions for you MR. Chang. One, If you have clean motives in your crusade against TVI Express -- something that you have been doing for the past 18 months at least -- why don't you reveal your true identity, address and contact number. And two, why all the hate against TVI Express that you will resort to twisting truths just to discredit the company? I am hoping for answers to this two questions.

Then I noticed the name: frankcow10.

I know a frankcow10... he posts various defenses of TVI Express, esp. on expertmlmreviews.org  He also goes by "frankcow10 caudillo" on the same place. However, his last post on that website was July 2011. The interesting thing is, he NEVER defends TVI Express by refuting the facts posted with his own facts or analysis. Instead, he always goes for attacking the credibility of the facts, even when the credibility is pretty much unassailable, such as a top MLM attorney! Also notice that he did not attack the analysis in article, only on Mr. Nehra's reputation, and his basis is that ONE comment!

I could dismiss this as an "ad hominem" attack, but out of curiosity, what is the SOURCE of the comment?

So I studied that issue, and did some research, and found out that Mr. Nehra had threatened to sue a few websites (run by MLM critics) that published unfavorable views of an MLM he is shepherding. The net folks did not like that and there was a surge of support for those sites fighting this "censorship", and this is one of those comments. It is hardly "neutral commentary".

Clearly, "Frankcow10" did no research.

Frankcow also revealed his true origins... His IP address traced to Makati City, Philippines, where TVI Express is busy recruiting more people. There is was even a "convention" last month with celebrities, dances, and even a sort of fashion show where they paraded "I heart TVI" bags (probably made in China for 49 cents) in 4 colors.

Given that Filipino law is similar to US law, and TVI Express already outlawed in Vietnam, China, and Indonesia, what are the chances TVI Express will last long?

But it didn't have to last long. It just needs to last long enough for Frankcow and the rest of the fraudsters to get in early and get their $10000 USD.

Related articles

• 24-year MLM veteran Marc Barrett claimed TVI Express is legal and profitable, what a joke (kschang.blogspot.com)
• Donna Abreu STILL out there trying to rope others into her schemes (kschang.blogspot.com)
• NEWSFLASH: Another arrest of TVI Express in Indonesia? (kschang.blogspot.com)
• NEWSFLASH: Indonesia to form anti-fraud task group, mentions TVI Express by name (kschang.blogspot.com)
• NEWSFLASH: Even more Indonesians went to police for TVI Express fraud (kschang.blogspot.com)

Did Larry Wells grew a conscience?

Previously we've highlighted LarryWell's spam blog site posting zombie content touting the "benefits" of TVI Express. Guess he doesn't have much of a filter, since he just posted an entry on why TVI Express is a scam:  http://larrywellsreview.com/150fast-tvi-express-illegal-ponzi-watch-my-review-and-be-shocked/

The guy basically reposted MY news back in May 2010 about how China is prosecuting TVI Express scammers, arresting at least two. I've found quite a bit more both before and after that event, in more countries than ever.

Clearly, Larry Wells can't attract any decent content, and he's reposting whatever he can find. Guess he has to hit some REAL content every once in a while...

TVI Wants to Open Office in South Africa AFTER its reps were arrested? Please!

TVI Express (Tarun Trikha) claimed they are opening office in China and Hong Kong. When TVI Express reps were arrested in China, and convicted, TVI Express did nothing. 

TVI Express (through stupid reps) claimed to be opening office in Florida in 2011 back in 2010. Now it's almost half way through 2011, the only we learned is TVI Express was sued in at least one state and is CLEARLY illegal according to interpretations of laws by prominent MLM attorneys. 

TVI Express can't even survive in its native country India without incident. In 2009 it was chased out of Sikkim, India by police when an FIR (initial report) was done. They got an attorney, paid out 6000 participants, and promised never to return. 

Then in 2011, TVI Express office in Hara House, Bangalore, was raided by police and 2 were arrested for defrauding others. 

So can you believe them whey they slapped together some stock photos, made a sign, and claim they are establishing an office in South Africa? This is off a fellow blogger, but the picture and words were copied from official TVI Express announcements:

What's hilarious about this is South Africa had already acted against TVI Express, declaring it illegal in 2010, and actually arrested several people in 2011.

Not only is this an zombie article, it's STUPID zombie.  

The New TVI Express Advisory Board: Who are These People?

TVI Express in May 2011 have made some major revisions to their website in order to cover their tracks against critics, who point to idiotic mistakes, like naming "office bearers" with generic names like "Bill Cooper". Those names are gone, but many have taken their place. (This is captured June 20, 2011)

This board have removed a few names, but raised even more questions.

1) TVI Express is illegal in China, with at least nine documented to have been arrested, tried, and CONVICTED of running pyramid schemes. A lot more have been arrested and released. So how can TVI Express still have two advisory board members for China?

2) Same for South Africa. In April three members were arrested for running TVI Express then released on bail. How can there still be adviser for South Africa?

3) TVI Express in Iran? Shariah law virtually prohibits MLM, and security forces arrested a bunch of fraudsters pushing GoldQuest in 2010. Yet Iran apparently has enough members to warrant an advisory panel member. Hmmm...

Clarissa Calingasan
from her Blogger profile

4) Clarissa Calingasan is a "Bob Proctor certified" motivational speaker, not a part of TVI Express. What makes her "vice admiral" qualified?

This also blows the old idea that "vice admiral = vice president" idea out of the water, a lie that had been repeated by many TVI Express members. Ms. Goernani Goenawan, President of PT TVI Express Indonesia, was referred by TVI Express website as "Vice President" (why?)  Clearly, vice admiral is NOT vice president (unless somehow there are multiple vice presidents).

As far as I can find, the only link between Ms. Calingasan and TVI Express is she's following Tarun Trikha on Twitter, and may have previously spoken at some TVI Express events.

5) Who the heck is this "Adnan" character? Is this same guy as "Aknon" as named by Darren Aikens back in October 2010, this "barrister of marketing"?

6) Are they EVER going to explain why are some members removed and others added? Why was Tarun Trikha's name removed?  How about Khurana?

Clearly this "advisory board" is not a "real" organization.

NEWSFLASH: More TVI Express Fraudsters Sentenced to Jail in China

This news was a bit hard to find, but apparently three more TVI Express fraudsters were sentenced in China at the beginning to May, 2011.

http://www.chinafcx.com/flfg/cxaj/7765.html

免费到国外旅游？原是传销惹的祸

Free travel abroad? Misfortune caused by pyramid scheme

中国反传销网　来源：中国法院网　作者：徐伟 红珍　2011年05月05日

China's anti-MLM Network　Source: China Court Network  Author: Xu Fong Hong Zhen May 5, 2011

1897元加入“英国TVI旅游快车”后，即可享受“免费入住五星级宾馆七天六夜，免费到国外旅游”的待遇，你信吗？天上真的会掉馅饼吗？其实掉下来的不是馅饼是陷阱，是传销组织编造的美丽谎言，30余人被骗上当。昨日，经依法审理，河南省封丘县人民法院以组织、领导传销活动罪对温玉等三人定罪量刑。

　　Join "British TVI Travel Express" for 1897 Yuan, and you can enjoy "free accommodations in five-star hotel 7 Days 6 Nights, free to travel abroad,", do you believe it? Will fortune literally fall in your lap? In fact, there is no falling fortune, but falling trap, a pyramid scheme made ​​up of beautiful lies, with more than 30 people fooled. Yesterday, after trial, Fengqiu County, Henan Province People's Court, convicted and sentenced Wen Yu's group of three for organizing and leading pyramid scheme.

审理查明，2009年5月份以来，被告人温玉通过他人加入“英国TVI旅游快车”后，伙同被告人杨瑞、郑枝在封丘、长垣等地以“免费入住五星级宾馆七天六夜，可以免费到国外旅游”等为名，要求参加者以每单1897元，购买八单后，获得加入资格，引诱参加者继续发展他人加入，就可以到盘主的位置，挣500美元，到了快车盘上之后到盘主位置可以挣1万美元，引诱参加者继续发展他人参加，并直接以发展人员的数量作为返利计酬依据，骗取财物，经查加入该传销组织的人员在三十人以上，温玉、杨瑞、郑枝的层级均在三级以上。
　　Investigations showed that since May 2009, the defendant Wen Yu was recruited by others to join "British TVI Travel Express", then the defendant together with Yang Rui, Zheng Zhi, recruited in Fengqiu, Changyuan, and other places with the slogan "free five-star hotel seven days six nights, free to travel abroad", asked participants to pay 8 shares at 1897 yuan per share, to lure participants to sponsor other people to join, complete the board, earn $500. If he advanced to express board, and also complete the board, he can earn $10000 US Dollars. The reward is directly dependent on amount of people recruited, and thus a financial fraud. Over thirty people were recruited, and Wen Yu, Yang Rui, Zheng Zhi all are level 3 or higher.


法院审理后认为，被告人温玉、杨瑞、郑枝以推销英国TVI旅游快车项目为名，要求参加者以缴纳费用的方式获得加入资格，并按照一定顺序组织层级，直接以发展人员的数量作为返利计酬依据，引诱参加者继续发展他人参加，骗取财物，扰乱经济社会秩序，其行为已构成组织、领导传销活动罪。被告人温玉、杨瑞、郑枝共同故意实施传销活动中，温玉起主要作用，系主犯，在共同犯罪活动中杨瑞、郑枝起次要作用，系从犯，应当从轻或者减轻处罚；被告人杨瑞、郑枝认罪态度较好，确有悔罪表现，放之社会不致再危害社会，以判处缓刑为宜。

　　The court, after investigation, determined that defendant Wen Yu, Yang Rui, Zheng Zhi, used the name of promoting "British TVI Travel Express", requiring participants to pay membership to qualify for payment, organized advancement based pyramid shape, with compensation directly based on sponsoring people to join, to lure participants to continue to sponsor others, is financial fraud, disruption of economic and social order. This behavior constitutes crime of organizing and leading pyramid schemes. Defendant Wen Yu, Yang Rui, Zheng Zhi together intentionally perpetrated pyramid schemes, but Wen Yu is the leader in the scheme, and Yang Rui, Zheng Zhi played a secondary role, and being accomplice, should receive lighter or mitigated punishment ; defendant Yang Rui, Zheng Zhi with a good attitude, do show repentance, should not harm society if released, so sentence of probation is appropriate.


最后，该院以组织、领导传销活动罪，依法判处温玉有期徒刑一年零二个月，并处罚金人民币20000元；判处杨瑞有期徒刑一年缓刑二年，并处罚金人民币10000元；判处郑枝有期徒刑一年缓刑二年，并处罚金人民币10000元。

　　Finally, this court, for organizing and leading a pyramid schemes, sentences to imprisonment for one year and two months Wen Yu, and fined 20,000 yuan; Yang Rui sentenced to one year imprisonment suspended for two years and fined 10,000 yuan; sentenced Zheng Zhi to one year imprisonment suspended for two years and fined 10,000 yuan.

Related articles

• Who the Heck is Tom McMurrain and Why Was He Pushing TVI Express? (kschang.blogspot.com)
• NEWSFLASH: Manila Newspaper named TVI Express and Pacific Destinations as suspect ponzi schemes (kschang.blogspot.com)
• NEWSFLASH: South African Authorities Hire Forensic Accountants to Trace TVI Express Scam Money (kschang.blogspot.com)
• NEWSFLASH: MoneyLife India points to TVI Express as a possible scam (kschang.blogspot.com)

Official News From China: TVI Express is illegal, member arrested

Read this link through Google Translate yourself... and note the URL:  .gov.cn

http://gsj.zj.gov.cn/zjaic/gzfw/zfdt/200908/t20090804_72338.htm

NOTE: this is the official Department of Industry and Commerce, department of Zhejiang, China. The banner is a Flash banner so the screen capture can't see it.

Official News From China: TVI Express is Illegal Pyramid Scheme

Here's official link from Chinese Government Website﹕

As long as pay 271 dollars to register an account and become the so-called "British TVI Travel Express" Member, you can get 7 days and 6 nights hotel accommodation star holiday, free flights, discount travel to participate in online activities, but also may get $ 15,000 in return . Wenzhou seized the foreign network of major distributors in just over three months to more than 1,000 people caught in the whirlpool pyramid schemes, involving up to 200 million.

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://big5.gov.cn/gate/big5/www.gov.cn/gzdt/2009-12/11/content_1484942.htm

It's semi-official: TVI Express is on China's black-list

ZhiXiaoWan, or DirectSalesNet of China, has compiled the semi-official blacklist of China's illegal MLMs, and yes, TVI Express (or "British TVI Travel Express", its Chinese name) is on it!


http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=zh-CN&u=http://www.zhixiaoren.com/blog/blog_news_article.asp%3Fblogid%3D11926%26articleid%3D180674&ei=B0AVTPiLO5O6Ncn-qVA&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CDYQ7gEwATge

Found 3 more in China convicted of running TVI Express

This actually was released in March 2010, which would make these three the first convicted of running TVI Express scam in China. However, the Chinese websites are full of spam by TVI Express members spreading false information, and finding this article took some Google-fu. But here is is (link to original Google Translation). Apparently, only a civil penalty were accessed, which is why it received little notice.

Jincheng City Branch, Industry and Commerce Administration Administrative Penalty Notices
晋城市工商行政管理局城区分局行政处罚公告
 

Time :2010-03-09 11:47 Source: Market Guide Shanxi Shanxi News Net

时 间：2010-03-09 11:47　来源：山西新闻网山西市场导报 

张俊群、吴少娥、吴俊三人非法组织网络传销，本局依法作出没收非法财物和罚款的行政处罚
Zhang Jun Chun, Wushao Er, Wu Junsan illegal organized pyramid schemes, this Administration shall perform confiscation of illegal property and assess civil penalties.

因当事人现无 法联系，本局在作出行政处罚决定之前，依照法定程序在太行日报2009年12月30日公告送达了行政处罚听证告知书，已告知当事人拟作出行政处罚的事实、 理由和依据及其依法享有的权利。 
Because the administration were not able to contact the parties involved (ed: the investigation was done "in absentia") before the decision to assess civil punishment, according to legal procedures, the administration has, as required by law, published their assessment in Taishing Daily News on December 30, 2009, in the public announcement section, to notify all the results and assessment as determined by by administration, including the facts, reasons and basis and their rights under the law.

本局无法采取直接送达或者邮寄送达方式送达行政处罚决定书，根据《工商行政管理机关行政处罚程序规定》 第六十七条的规定，现将行政处罚决定书予以公告送达。 
Council could not make direct delivery or by mail a written decision on administrative penalty, thus, according to "industry and commerce administrative penalty procedures" 67th article, provides a public notification so the subjects can be notified.

行政处罚决定书（晋市工商城石罚字〔2010〕5号）。 
Administrative Penalty (Jin City Industrial and Commerce City, Si-Fa Zhi 〔2010〕 #5). 

经查当事人张 俊群、吴少娥、吴俊三人自2009年4月开始组织开展TVI国际旅游俱乐部网络传销活动，违反了《禁止传销条例》第七条之规定，根据《禁止传销条例》第二 十四条的规定，责令当事人停止违法行为，并作出以下行政处罚： 
The investigation shows Zhang Junchun, Wu ShaoEr, Wu Junsang started from April 2009, to spread the organization called [International] TVI Express [Travel], recognized as an illegal pyramid scheme, in violation of the "Regulations prohibiting pyramid schemes," the provisions of Article VII. Per "Regulations prohibiting pyramid schemes," the provisions of Article XXIV, the parties are ordered to stop illegal activities, and be subjected to the following administrative penalties:

1、没收非法财物笔记本电脑1台、手机1部； 

1, confiscation of illegal property: 1 laptop computer, 1 mobile phone

2、罚款人民币200000元。 

2, a fine of 200,000 yuan.

 本处罚决定书 自公告发布之日起经过60日，即视为送达。
The notice will be published for 60 days, as required by law, and the subjects are considered to have been "served" notice after 60 days from first day of publication.  

如不服本处罚 决定，可以自送达之日起60日内，依法向晋城市工商行政管理局或者晋城市城区人民政府申请复议。
If the subject wish to appeal, the subjects may, within 60 days from the date of service, file appeal with Jincheng Industry and Commerce Administration, or Jincheng City government for reconsideration.  

也可以在公告 之日起3个月内直接向人民法院提起诉讼。 

Also, an appeal can be filed with the people court within 3 months of the "served" date.

晋城市工商 行政管理局城区分局 
Jincheng City Branch, Industry and Commerce Administration

 二○一○年三 月九日

March 9th, 2010 

7 more lies by TVI Express

The following was posted by a TVI Express member in China in their version of Yahoo! Answers, where other members answer questions. In this case, "Is TVI Express a pyramid scheme?"  Unfortunately, I think the author copied someone else's explanation, replaced SOME of the references "Freedom Club?" to TVI, and tried to pass it off as an explanation. Let's analyze the 7 reasons to see how bogus they are.


TVI与传销的区别（七个不同）


7 Differences between TVI Express and pyramid scheme

① 产品性质不同
Difference in product

非法传销组织销售的产品多数是实物产品（不可重复销售），其利润来自单个产品的超值 销售利润（有限的）；尽管商品价格一般都远远高于公开的合理市价，例如300元的摇摆机强行卖到3900元；但其价格也不可能无限加价；这样的产品销售的 结果，必然伤害消费者，伤害会员的利益，危害社会。
Illegal pyramid organization usually sell real products (cannot be sold multiple times), and the profit is from huge marketups (limited); and the products are usually above the "market" reasonable prices, such as a $300 vibrating machine sold at $3900; yet the markup cannot go on indefinitely; thus the result of selling such items ends up hurting the consumer, hurting the members, and hurting society. 


而TVI俱乐部销售的是旅游服务产品，这类产品具有可以无限次重复销售的特性；公司通过战略 联盟，在网络上发展会员，以量制价，让更多的会员享受优质低价的旅游服务；会员加盟TVI，可以在网络上预订全世界的宾馆、饭店住宿房间，选择范围更大， 享受服务更周到，价格更低廉。会员通过加盟，还可以获得推广赚取佣金的机会，是一个多方共赢的营销利润体系。会员越多，各个联盟单位及会员个人都各自增加 利润；并不伤害任何人的利益，对社会有利无害。

TVI [Express] "club" sells travel service product, and can be indefinitely resold; through Internet, recruit online, and allow more people to book high quality low price travel service; people joining TVI [Express] can reserve hotels all over the world, enjoy higher quality, lower cost, better service, as well as a chance to earn commission by recruiting. It is a win-win system. The more members there are, the more people will benefit. Nobody is hurt, and the society benefits.

ANALYSIS: Sounds good, until it fails to explain how having more members would cause everybody to benefit.

People who join TVI Express are only interested in that $10000 USD. They are NOT interesting in selling travel at all. So you can pretty much conclude the explanation is, well, "hogwash".

The argument employed a variety of logical fallacies, including strawman, red herring, AND weak analogy. It basically tries to establish TVI Express as the "opposite" of a "typical" pyramid scheme, by explaining the effects of a "typical" pyramid scheme, and how TVI Express is "not" that.  However, all this does not explain why TVI Express is legal. All it really did was explain that TVI Express is NOT a "typical" pyramid scheme.

Another TVI Express China member sentenced for fraud

Using false front of promoting travel, entrapped elderly in pyramid scheme, sentenced to prison 以推销旅游为名 铆牢老人发展传销被判刑

【http://www.newssc.org 】 【 2010-05-21 18:47 】 【来源: Sources: 齐鲁晚报 Qilu Evening News 】

(记者李燕韩 跟南)季红娟、韩强在市区包下一间咖啡厅，名为组织退休人员旅游，实为发展传销网络。  (Reporter Li Yan, Han Gan-Nang) Gi Hong Juang and Han Qiang booked a coffee shop for meeting, claimed to organize retiree travel, but in fact, organized an illegal pyramid scheme. 昨天，闸北法院以犯组织、领导传销活动罪分别判处两人有期徒刑1年6个月及有期徒刑6个月缓刑6个月。  Yesterday, Zhabei court sentenced the two to imprisonment for 1 year and 6 months and 6 months imprisonment, respectively, suspended for 6 months, for organizing and leading a pyramid scheme.  2009年6 月，季红娟加入并发展韩强为“英国TVI旅游公司项目”成员。  June 2009, Gi Hong Juang joined Han Chiang in "TVI Express" member. 之后，两人包下长安路吉岛咖啡厅，通过四层宝塔形结构发展下线会员的方式，针对退休人员展开传销活动。 Later, the two booked the coffee house on Chang-An Road called Luji Island coffee shop, and started recruiting downline members in a pyramid scheme, aimed especially at retirees. 在传销活动 中，季红娟负责收取现金、替会员注册、发放奖励，韩强负责介绍项目。  In the pyramid scheme, Ms. Gi is responsible for collecting cash, membership registration, and disburse awards. Mr. Han is responsible for introduction [and promotion]. 为达到尽早牟 利的目的，季红娟、韩强规定每名参与者必须购买8个会员账号。  To achieve the purpose of profit as soon as possible, Ms. Ji and Mr. Han requires each participant to purchase 8 member accounts.   案发时，公安人员查获由季红娟管理的会员账号达200余个，涉案金额人民币40多万元。 Time of the incident, public security officers seized from Ms. Gi's account more than 200 member accounts, involving more than 40 million yuan. 同年11月，季红娟在上海火车站南广场被公安机关抓获归案。  In the same year in November, Ms. Gi was arrested in Shanghai Train Station Southern Plaza by public security officials. 12月，韩强向被害人沈某等人退赔了人民币1.l万元后，主动投案自首，庭审前又退赔了人民币5万元。  In December, Mr. Hang refunded to Mr. Shen and others to 1.l million Yuan in restitution, turned himself in to the authorities, then refunded additional 50,000 yuan before the trial. 法院认为， 被告人季红娟、韩强共同组织、领导传销活动，扰乱经济社会秩序，其行为已构成组织、领导传销活动罪。  The court held that the defendant Ms. Gi and Mr. Han has conspired to organize and lead pyramid schemes, disturb the economic and social order, thus their behavior constituted organizing and leading illegal pyramid scheme.  两被告在共同犯罪中，被告人季红娟起主要作用是主犯，被告人韩强起次要作用是从犯。 Of the two accused in the crime, the primary culprit is Ms. Gi, and the accomplice is Mr. Han. 被告人韩强犯罪后能自动投案，如实供述自己的罪行是自首，依法可以从轻处罚，并适用缓刑。  Mr. Han apparently chose to surrender himself to the authorities and made restitution. This has been taken into consideration by the court in probation and reduction of the sentence.  据此，法院做 出上述判决。 Accordingly, the court made the ruling. Translated from http://bxtz.newssc.org/system/2010/05/21/012732111.shtml#

Confirmed: TVI Express fan manipulated picture

I've went ahead and labeled all the evidence of manipulation in the picture that I can spot (with some help, thanks, OO). Click on the picture for closer look.

Clearly, someone was removed from the picture. WHY would a TVI Express clone site post a picture with somebody removed, and be so obvious about it? WHO was removed?

Tarun Trikha: TVI Express Official?

One of the most stupid things posted online about TVI Express was a "conference call" that claims to have spoken to a TVI Express official, which supposedly answered a bunch of major questions regarding TVI Express. It is even separated into 7 parts, and put on Youtube, even though it's just a recording of a conference call.

The videos were undated, but based on the content, it should be in late September or early October 2009.  Upload date was October 27 2009, so that fits close enough.
 
The video claimed to have spoken to TVI Express board member "Tyroon" (sp?). The only name that came close would be Tarun Trikha, a member of the "TVI Express advisory board" (goes to TVI Express / advisory board).

And who qualifies to be on the advisory board? According to the link above, "Advisory Board is for especially selected elite members and true leaders with passion and dedication to help fellow TVItes." In other words, they are just TVI Express distributors, albeit those who have probably passed "presidential associate" levels (i.e. have bazillion downlines). They supposedly get extra training, but only for "motivation" and such things. They don't advise TVI Express at all.  

In other words, Advisory Board's purpose is to advise junior members. At best, they are "senior members" or "community mentors". Are they TVI Express "officials"? That is a very good questions. Are they speaking for TVI Express officially? Are stuff they promised legally binding on TVI Express? Nobody knows, because nobody had bothered to ask!

And if you look through the list of board members, you will see Mr. Tarun Trikha. Mr. Tarun Trikha had been spotted at several TVI Express meetings, including one in China back in June 2009, merely months after launch! He was then already listed as a "presidential associate", with tens of thousands of downlines. In fact, it is rumored that he is the real owner of TVI Express, and the first ever member.

Thus, you can pretty much decide the video is absolutely BULL****. TVI Express does not have a "board of directors". As explained above, "advisory board" is NOT "board of directors". They may sound close, but they are NOT the same. A board of directors advise the CEO how to run the company. An advisory board for TVI Express is to motivate more members, on trips paid for by TVI Express. Says so on their own website.

Pyramid sweep in China ends, TVI Express devastated

Bureau of Public Security, China by xiaming via Flickr

I will make a custom bilingual translation later, but here's the Google Translation link if you are in a hurry.

And an excerpt (translated by me):

"Wenzhou Province LuCheng City, Bureau of Industry and Commerce, has uncovered TVI Express, suspected in international online pyramid scheme, with over 2 million (RMB) involved, making it an major crime. The case has been transfered to Bureau of Public Security for further investigation and disposition."

NOTE: I assure you, that the auto-translation of "200 million" was wrong. It was written as 200 x 10000, or 2 million.

And yes, China *do* send offenders of civil crimes to "re-education facilities".