Sidenote: FHTM is under FTC probe

Image via Wikipedia

FTC Logo

While this is not directly related to TVI Express, it is worth noting that FHTM used the exact same marketing methods and is in fact far more "legal" than TVI Express ever was.

Consider this fact: If FHTM is under FTC investigation, what chance does TVI Express have, as it was already declare illegal in many countries (China, Hungary, and many more), and under investigation in a dozen more across multiple continents?

FHTM under investigation by North Carolina AND the Federal Trade Commission
http://www.fhtmclassaction.info/Operation%20Empty%20Promises.pdf

Alleged Edgar Martinez claims TVI Express Works for Him, but does it really?

A Mr. Edgar Martinez posted a comment on my "TVI Express Scam Timeline", and the comment is reproduced below. It's in Spanish, so a translation is posted as well. The IP address traces back to a location in Bogota Colombia, so Mr. Martinez is likely for real, but probably mislead. Previously a Colombian Newspaper El Liberal had reported on TVI Express scam, and a rebuttal from member, then nothing else was heard ever again.

Original is in blue
Translation is in green
and my rebuttal / observation will be in black.

Hoy 04-05-2011 paso a utilizar mi certificado vacacional y si funciona ,si funciona,ademas puedo comparar en linea precios con otros proveedores de turismo es decir precios de hospedajes,tiquetes aereos,renta de carros,son mucho mas economicos.EL PRODUCTO QUE DISTRIBUYE TVIEXPRESS ES REAL.

Today, 04-MAY-2011 I used my vacation certificate and it works. Furthermore I can compare the prices with the other travel providers such as accomodation prices, airfare prices, car rentals and so on are much more economical. TVI EXPRESS PRODUCT IS REAL

The problem here, Senor Martinez, is that you are basically arguing that HALF of TVI Express is legal and real. That, unfortunately, either proves that they are a scam that is putting on a false front, or nothing at all. It in no way proves that they are completely legitimate. 

As for your claim that the prices you found are cheaper, what exactly did you compare it to? Your vague statement cannot be verified, whereas everything I wrote I can cite a source from that can be verified. 

Nos estan ayudando a economizar,de conocer otros paises,hasta de ganar dinero si queremos,repito si queremos.sino simplemente usamos la plataforma que compramos,obtenemos los descuentos y listo.

We are helping the economy, to learn about other countries, and earn money if we wish, repeat: if we wish. Else, we can simply use the platform to buy and use discounts. 

So how exactly do you make money? You can only make money by recruiting other people into TVI Express, not by selling any trips. Why is TVI Express promising "earn 10000 a week" on their website's front page? Are you telling people NOT to earn money? 

El trabajo que han hecho estos ultimos meses deberian haberlo hecho los que tanto han hablado mal de tvi.

You have spoken ill of TVI Express in the past few months. 

I documented FACTS about TVI Express that you or any other TVI Express member would not dare to tell prospective members. 

creo que se condenaron para ir al infierno por difamar el buen nombre y la vulunta de algunas personas que estan ayudando al mundo.

I believe those who defame the good name of something helping the world should go to hell. 

It doesn't matter what you believe. The truth is the truth. If you do not see the truth, that is your problem, not mine. 

If you turned out to be wrong, do you believe you will go to hell for lying to everybody you recruited and spreading untruth? (And you haven't even proven anything I wrote was wrong.)

las tendencias son asi,el internet se impone,las empresas crecen mas rapido a travez de MLM O a travez del networkmarqueting que es lo que utiliza TVIEXPRES,nosotros no somos MLM.

The tendency imposed by the Internet is controlled by people look at, on one hand MLM, on the other network marketing, that is TVI Express... we are not MLM. 

Edgar, why then would TVI Express write the following?

"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

Even TVI Express themselves say they are network marketing OR multi-level marketing. It's the SAME THING. Why would you say it is not MLM? You did write "Nosotros no somos MLM", did you not? 

How can I treat you seriously if you cannot even face the truth? 

Are you going to hell for speaking untruth, Edgar? 

Related articles

• Lots of TVI Express "feedback" recently (kschang.blogspot.com)
• More Hilarity from J. Lamar Ferren, self-proclaimed marketer / trainer (kschang.blogspot.com)
• Indonesia: TVI Express claims it's the leaders, not the system, that's is illegal (kschang.blogspot.com)

Who is Jay Ortega, Ex-TVI?

Jay Ortega used to be hot on TVI Express. If you search for "Jay Ortega TVI" you'll find a bunch of articles he wrote promoting TVI Express on various "content farms".

So what's he doing now? Promoting ACN.

http://www.betternetworker.com/members/jay_ortega

Yes, it's the same guy. He goes by "Redfox76@g____.com" and if you search for Jay Ortega Red Fox you get the same guy. He could pass for a slightly cleaner cut Vin Diesel, at least at that angle.

Seems every guy who understands TVI Express dumped it. Will you be too late?

Who is Dipak Hazarika and how is he related to TVI Express?

He offered a testimonial on TVI Express... but what he really needs is Photoshop (tm) lessons, as this is so obviously a fake photo.

I mean, look at it! The two pictures have completely different exposure! The picture in front is overexposed and the background is slightly UNDERexposed! Sheesh!

If he's willing to submit a VERY fake picture as his testimonial, how can we treat his testimonial seriously?

Related articles

• More Pathetic TVI Express member attempt at SEO (kschang.blogspot.com)
• More Hilarious News: TVI Express to Buy Airline? (kschang.blogspot.com)
• Newsflash: More South African victims of TVI Express revealed (kschang.blogspot.com)

Business In Motion, an outfit almost identical to TVI Express, was shut down in Canada

Business in Motion, a Canadian MLM, was hit by RCMP (Canadian Police) with criminal fraud charges in January 2011 (PDF), and its top twelve associates / recruiters / consultants / whatever are charged as well, along with all senior management in running a fraud. They had recently sent a letter to all participants that they are shutting down.

So what does this have to do with TVI Express, you ask? BIM also claims to run a "travel club", except everything cost ten times as much. The membership is $3200, and they claimed earnings potential is $100000 a week. Otherwise, there is an exact copy... 2-4-8 pyramid (i.e. 2x3 forced matrix), otherwise known as 8-ball scheme or "airplane game".

It seems that this had inspired TVI Express, albeit the price is lowered to 250 and a single pyramid was doubled, but otherwise, the structure was exactly the same.

When CBC in Canada profiled it in 2009 to be a get-rich-quick scheme and a pyramid scheme, the owner's main defense is "nobody has charged me any thing yet". That did not happen until 2011.

Citing from Mr. Fitzpatrick's notes on the investigation:

Then, there was the product. A travel club membership for $3,200? Offered by an unknown company? In a field of great competition and many very good online free travel services? It did not add up. Of course, as Marketplace later revealed, the product is actually worthless. It’s a fake.

TVI Express is unkown, and bazillion free travel services are available online. It doesn't add up. Now that two years had gone by, it is documented that TVI Express have only affiliate relations with a few travel companies, that you and I can access for free. Thus, the $250 membership is worthless. The free trip you supposedly get is also worthless, cost extra $150 or more to redeem, and people have been left stranded all around the world. Clearly, the "travel club membership" is fake and worthless.

I also asked, where are the customers? The presentation stressed just recruiting other salespeople (BIM members). They called BIM members “salespeople” and said they were earning “commissions” but there were no customers. Each salesperson just recruited other salespeople. That could not be a business.

TVI Express changed the terms to "distributor", and they used all the MLM jargon, but there are no customers, just more members.

Then came the explanation of the pay plan. They told us that they would pay $5,000 “commission” on a $3,200 sale. What? How could this be? As the presentation soon revealed, this was not a “payment” at all. It was just a transfer of money from the later recruits to the earlier ones. No one but a magician can pay more in commission that the product actually costs. Right?

TVI Express promise you $10000 if you recruit only 2 people. However, filling two pyramids would actually mean over 200+ people join the scheme. As there is nothing actually sold to people outside the scheme, any "commission" is fictional.

And then, there was the “sleeping money.” Yes, BIM claimed that you “earned” money while sleeping. This was for those who made it to the top and then continued to collect money as “vice-president.” Where was that money coming from? Well, it came from people who joined later.

TVI Express FAQ says "make money while you sleep" as well, and the money clearly came from all the recruits that came in as your downline.

Thus, TVI Express is a BLATANT clone of a CRIMINAL PYRAMID SCHEME being prosecuted in Canada.

Add this to the fact that TVI Express was served a Cease and Desist in Georgia USA, kicked out of China, charged with operating without proper license in Indonesia, sued as pyramid Scheme in Australia, chased out of Hungary and Czech Republic... is there any doubt that this is a pyramid scheme?

And here's the MAIN lesson to take home: do NOT expect the government to save you when it comes to fraud. Canada didn't move on this scheme until YEARS later, even when TV station blown it wide open.

Related articles

• Unrepentant TVI Express members arrested, released on bail (kschang.blogspot.com)
• Old News: TVI Express was sued and banned in Australia since May 2010 (kschang.blogspot.com)
• TVI Express is indeed a scam in India, and other developements (kschang.blogspot.com)
• RELATED: YTB / Zamzuu about to go under, settled lawsuit (kschang.blogspot.com)
• NEWSFLASH: South African Authorities Hire Forensic Accountants to Trace TVI Express Scam Money (kschang.blogspot.com)

Who is Andy and Kelly Williams of TVI Express and where is he now?

Andy and Kelly Williams were highlighted as a testimonial on TVI Express, claiming massive growth.

Care to guess what Mr. Andy and Kelly Williams are doing now? Running their own version of TVI Express called Club Seabreeze.

http://kschang.blogspot.com/2011/03/kelly-williams-ex-tvi-went-on-to-start.html

On every level, this is so wrong. If TVI Express is such a great opportunity, why did he leave? Did he took his network with him and be branded a Judas? What does that say about his own ethics? Or did he leave BECAUSE he realized TVI Express is a fraud? Either way his integrity is in question.

UPDATE DELETED FEB-2012 More Hilarity from self-proclaimed marketer / trainer

EDIT AND UPDATE: have removed TVI Express material from his website, so this only exists as archival purposes. 

Previously (on March 31st, 2011) we highlighted a weasel post from a guy named , who runs a website called , where he touts every MLM under the sun, claim they are all great, but you need his help to realize their true potential. He's so good with the MLMs, he got all the details about TVI Express wrong. 


So what did he really write about TVI Express? Here's his article: 


http://systematic.com/tvi-express-travel-review-get-the-facts-here/


But does it have any facts? Let's study what he wrote, one section at a time. Just to make sure there's no manipulation, here's a screen capture of the stuff as of 02-MAY-2011:


Any way, let's gets started. 

By:    | 1 Apr 2011

Yes, you read it right. This article was posted on APRIL FOOL'S DAY. Is it a joke? Apparently so, but we'll explain that a little later. 

TVI Express Travel came into being after it was set up in London in the year 2009. It was travel and at the same time a hospitality business. TVI Travel Venture International), was introduced in India and later in China. Because of its world wide appeal, it was introduced around the world in July 2009. Today the company comprises of more than 195000 members. 

And the proof of this is what exactly? Nada. By citing "195000" members, this shows that the article was written sometime in 2009.  TVI Express today claims over a million members. Thus, this article is completely out of date, and the author refuse to admit so. 


Of course, the author never care to check that there was no such company as TVI Express or Travel Ventures in UK. The only company that came close, TVI Services, was dissolved in 08-MAR-2011. 


Nor does    realize that TVI Express was kicked out of China in 2009, with members arrested and sentenced to prison in 2010. 

TVI symbolizes as an example of great innovations and leadership building. This travel company has a very effortless mission, yet it is known for its originality and simplicity which draws people to its market. It helps people to let others make an optimistic transformation in their everyday lives.

Another significant plan of TVI Express Travel is its rotating medium compensation which is very favorable among the customers and its clients. It has 2 by 3 medium. One is the Traveler Board and the other is the Express board.

Is that even proper English? What the heck is "TVI Symbolizes as an example"? Or "rotating medium compensation"? 


Since when a forced matrix is "original"? 


This entire section gave zero facts, just lots of hyperbole. 

The easiest way to start this business is to purchase a travel ticket which cost $250. This includes a package of 7 days and 6 nights in an excellent 5 star hotel.

This is already bull****. The purchase is of a membership, which includes a voucher to a package that supposedly includes companion ticket and 7-day 6-night accommodations at a 3-5 star hotel at participating locations. How you redeem the package? You only find out AFTER you pay up... and realize all the hotels are in or near India (according to TVI Express's own list) AND you pay EXTRA $150 in taxes and fees and whatnot, according to their own announcements. So what if you do manage to get a trip? It sure ain't income.

You also get the chance of opening your own website based on your company and even a personal back office.

The backoffice IS the website... tviexpress.com/username  It's not separate!

When the entire vacant posts are filled up, the board gets divided. After this you don’t need to sponsor the two people, as its position will be automatically transformed by the extra sales by any of your team members.

What the heck is "its position will be transformed"? What does "after this you don't need to sponsor the two people" mean? How does the vacant posts get filled if you don't start it by sponsor two people like the FAQ says? Does this guy only speak in gibberish?

When you leave the Traveler Board, your positions will be placed at stage 1 of the Express Board. A credit of $10,500 will be added on your online account after you leave the Express Board. If you want to add up another $10, 500 you will need to make a fresh entry into the Express Board, which will in turn add another $6,000 worth of the travel ticket in your TVI Express Travel account.

Wrong. $250 in eWallet and $250 worth of eVoucher when you cycle out of traveler board. $10000 in eWallet when you cycle out of Express board. 


There is no $6000 worth of travel ticket. The alleged $5000 travel voucher is only for company events, and even THAT disappeared off TVI Express website in 2010.  

TVI Express Travel offers incomparable openings and chances when we weigh against it with the others. On the very first glance it is good to be associated with Travel Venture International. Besides its simplicity and friendly concept, it brings in a team concept within today’s marketing arena.

Weigh it against WHAT others? What openings and chances?

To build a successful venture in this field you need to have compatibility skills and at the same time should be able to work as a team. You should not think that it is very easy to run this business because at the end of the day your success depends on your hard work and your selling abilities.

If you have the right selling abilities you can take TVI Express Travel online or even offline. There is a high probability that after you read this article you might consider training yourself more to develop your marketing skills. More importantly, you should learn to attract people into your market and let them chase you and not the other way round.

This last two paragraphs are just more gibberish with keyword spamming. It doesn't say anything useful at all.


As you can see, EVERY paragraph in this "review" is full of errors and omissions. When there were facts, they are either completely old and obsolete, overtaken by events, or so generic as to be useless. In fact, half of the sentences are outright gibberish.


The conclusion is undeniable:    is a joke. He can't even analyze an alleged opportunity properly. Thus, his "training" would likely to be of dubious value.

Related articles

• Marketing Coach Can't Even Get TVI Express Details Right, Wants to Train You (kschang.blogspot.com)
• More TVI Express Zombie Articles (kschang.blogspot.com)
• More Hilarity: TVI Express launch Philippines Office in March 2011? (kschang.blogspot.com)

Who is Jason Bryn of TVI Express and what is he doing now?

Apparently he gave a glowing review to TVI Express a long time ago, and he was a former US Olympic cyclist and peddled (pun intended) quite a bit. In fact, this was his photo and testimonial

However, if you search on his blog, you will NOT FIND a single word about TVI Express. He's currently a member of Lifepath Unlimited.

More ZOMBIE testimonials!

Indonesia: TVI Express claims it's the leaders, not the system, that's is illegal

Serambi News of Indonesia Reports

Sun, May 1st, 2011, 09:45

Many Unscrupulous TVI Express Give False Information

Central Aceh

Takengon - Many individual members (members) business Multi Level Marketing (MLM) TVI Express in Central Aceh, giving false information to prospective members. So many members felt cheated by wrong information it receives. An Up-line TVI Express Central Aceh, Safrin Rush, Saturday (30 / 4) said many members who are looking for members under it does not give the correct explanation, they even provided a tantalizing promise, do not have to work but can earn money USD 100 million.

Due to incorrect information, said Safrin, many members TVI Express which has been a member for three months was disappointed for not getting the money as promised. Safrin Rusli said a member of TVI Express must work to find other members to be down-line (subordinates) so that, TVI Express system will run and reached as expected. Safrin Rush admitted, many elements of TVI Express in Central Aceh who want to reach high positions quickly, but skim the false propaganda to the members below it. In fact, he said, a member there who bought 16 cards (operating rights) once with a value of USD 41.6 million with the aim of directly occupying a high position.

"Supposedly, the member who has purchased operating rights to invite others to become members, and provide a true understanding to her down line," said Rusli Safrin. He said, TVI Express is a mutual help business, every member must work to get his men, more and more of his men, the higher the position of these members. Win Stelco to admit, after rising by illegitimate fatwas Ulama's Consultative Assembly (MPU), Bener Meriah, TVI Express business in Central Aceh disturbed, even many people who do not want to become a member of the business for fear of being illegitimate. When studied carefully, called Win Stelco, no TVI Express business that harm others.

It is also said to Mansoor Yoga, Stockis TVI Expres to Banda Aceh region. He said, someone the member must work to find another member for his position (level) rises. "If you do not want to work like where positions may be terdongkrak, and opportunities to earn bonus also will be a long time," said Mansur. As reported earlier, the Chairman of Bener Meriah MPU Tgk Syarqawi Abdussomad has issued a fatwa against the illicit business Multi Level Marketing (MLM) TVI Express. In a fatwa haram was mentioned, business TVI Express haram because it has no products for sale, so business classified business TVI Express Money Games. Then, MPU MPU Fatwa Aceh Bener Meriah strengthened by issuing a fatwa haram for the MLM business. (Min)

The short of it is simple: TVI Express denies it is money game, claims recruiting people is not money game but hard work. Why do they claim so? Never explained. Are they Muslim scholars? Of course not. So how do they know it is not haram? 

Who is Doug Cox of TVI Express and where is he now?

Doug Cox is one of the people who gave a glowing testimonial on TVI Express, on tviexpress.com

So what is Doug Cox doing now? He's actually doing Bon Voyage 1000, an outfit very similar to TVI Express, but certainly NOT TVI Express. See for yourself:

ZOMBIE testimonials!