ANNOUNCEMENT: Launch of new blog "A MLM Skeptic"

Actually I launched the new blog almost a month ago, but didn't mention it here.

"A MLM Skeptic" is an examination of MLM industry and Pseudo-MLM Scams, as well as their relatives like Ponzi scheme, through a skeptic's eyes. It goes into some of the most often used excuses by MLMers to "defend" their scheme, how to see through such fallacies (if they are indeed fallacies), and how to find the real information you need to make the proper decisions.

There will be periodically highlights of specific companies though mainly as study on how a company's claim may not match up to reality. However, majority of posts will concentrate on the various cognitive biases that trick the victims into believing something they shouldn't.

So, if you have a chance, visit my new blog "A MLM Skeptic"

http://amlmskeptic.blogspot.com

Below are some recent posts in that blog:

Related articles

• The "it paid me" argument

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• Cognitive Bias: "appeal to authority" fallacy

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• Analyzing the Wazzub May Announcement: info, or propaganda?

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• Do you know the five fatal flaws of MLM system?

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NEWSFLASH: Australia Federal Court fined TVI Team Oz $200000 AUD

Australian Federal Court had previously declared TVI Team Oz, the trio promoting TVI Express in Australia and New Zealand, guilty of promoting a pyramid scheme. It had just handed down the penalty: fine of $200000 Australian dollars (90K, 80K and 30K respectively) against the three members.

The court rejected one member's claim that she should not be fined because she is merely a victim.

The court also rejected another member's claim that she was not "warned" that pyramid schemes are illegal.

Apparently the third member was smart enough to shut up and make things even worse.

Related articles

• TVI Express still in news in China... sort of

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• From definite pyramid scheme to potential ponzi

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• More Indonesia TVI Express "leaders" went into hiding

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• Filipino National Bureau of Investigation reports on TVI Express scam

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TVI Express claims to be freedom fighters?

Well, maybe not TVI Express itself, but a couple Saudi TVI Express members with delusions of grandeur certainly think so:

First of all, MLM is haram in Saudi Arabia. Indeed, all forms of MLM is haram. So these guys just admitted they are not true Muslims, basically, by participating in haram business.

Second, "freedom fighters" is usually a fancy term for rebels... planning rebellion. (If you win, you're called freedom fighters. If you lose, you're called rebels). So what are these guys trying to do? Promoting a scam, or planning to overthrow the Wahhabi government of Saudi Arabia?

(Yes, I am joking. These folks can't even write a "pun" about "financial freedom" properly.)

So what's Ros Kapi doing now? Padding her bogus resume

Previouly this blog has highlighted Ros Kaspi's TVI Express parrot site "increasemymonthlyincome.com" multiple times. The site apparently died in late 2011 only to be resurrected by another TVI Express member by the name of Verlyn Spreeman to promote his Zeekrewards affiliateship instead.

So what is Ros Kapi doing? Padding her fake resume on LinkedIn, apparently.

FYI, this profile's name is itpaystoplay

The "position / tagline" is already bogus

Location is right, but field/industry? Bogus. She's a "trainer" according to position/tagline. What does that have to do with equity and venture cap? Nothing.

Still admits to TVI Express employment, wow.

Education is obtained at a company? She never went to school?

Personal website is...  Itpaysyoutoplay.com, which is dead, and the domain reg is...  set to private? Why?

But there are quite a bit more hilarity in her LinkedIn profile, if we look a little lower

Apparently this profile is full of her spam and never updated ever since, as it contains total bull****.

Which sort of makes sense as she actually uses a DIFFERENT linkedIn profile: roskaspi, where she touts herself as a life trainer. The reality is she's another one who paid Bob Proctor's company for title of LifeSuccess coach. And guess who else is a LifeSuccess coach? Clarissa Calingasan, who went to several of TVI Express events and appeared on stage with none other than Tarun Trikha himself.

Gee, how the same names keep popping up, hmmm?

Oh, and Ms Kaspi? Fix your website. It's DEAD, yes, even your "good" profile's link.

From definite pyramid scheme to potential ponzi

Previously, we've highlighted several stupid announcements from a TVI Express "fan site" called increasemymonthyincome.com, ran by Kaspi and Jackson, two TVI Express reps who make the funnies announcements, parroting TVI Express announcements and upline statements without ANY fact-checking of their own, and even stole some office pictures off another website.

So guess what I found this morning? That the site is under new management. No more Kaspi and Jackson. Instead, we have some guy named Verlyn Spreeman... promoting ZeekRewards.

1) They switched over back in late 2011, okay... MORE THAN A WHOLE YEAR after TVI Express was issued cease and desist in Georgia, USA

2) They denied that TVI Express was in trouble.

3) They jumped into a suspected Ponzi scheme.

This is no surprise, since Verlyn "Buzz" Spreeman was a TVI Express member using account "thebuzz", wrote several "toolbars" for various browsers just to display TVI Express info, and apparently was a frequent contributor to this increasemymonthlyincome website.

Indeed, he is now the registered owner of this domain.

Even his Facebook page says one of his favorite topics is "TVI-Info", which is of course, TVI Express.

Instead of admitting they bet on the wrong horse, they try to pretend "it's about to fail any way"... a whole year AFTER it was in deep doodoo.

AND their new scheme is a suspected Ponzi scheme, based on careful analysis.

Ha-ha-ha.

Tomorrow, update on Ros Kaspi

UNCONFIRMED: TVI Express dead in India

Received the following report from a reader:

how we file a case againest tvixpress and tarun trikha , because we heard that tarun is now not in india , and the main thing is that tviexpress is now not registered with ROC with india goverment ,because the registered office of tviexpress holidays pvt limited is closed after raided by crime branch police. now tvi web site shows in his contact address for india is a Elite tours and travels which is registered in ROC govt of india in the name of someone mr. manmohan singh talwar and he says that he is taking a franchise from tviexpress for india opertions and tell that the head office of tviexpress is in indonesia, but after all this there is no doucment available that shows that elite tours and travels is franchise of tviexpress . so now the real situation is this that Elite tours and travels is also closed from 1st of april2012 and not giving any answer of our emails and their phone is always closed ,when we personally contact to the head of elite tour and travles he says that he left tvi and don’t contact to him about tvi . when we asked many question about tvi india to mr.tarun ,he not give any single answer about this and busy in his new airlines venture . so its time to taking action againest him ,lots of membars are lost their life and money and social status also because of tviexpress

I checked tviexpress.com and it was down with "502 bad gateway". As there was no other confirmation this is "unconfirmed".

EDIT: Updated, 8 hours later, tviexpress.com website is back, but the India office is indeed listed as "Elite travel". Interestingly, TVI Express used to have TWO offices in India. If both are gone, where are they running things from?

Not Cyprus as that's a virtual office (at least three other companies share the exact same address)

Not UK, as that's a virtual office (owned by Regus, with over 20 companies in same address)

Not Indonesia, as they lost their business license there back in 2011.

Not South Africa, as they had been investigated by authorities back in December 2010, with arrests made in 2011, and even in March there's reports that the forensic accounting team are still tracking the money.

Where in the World is TVI Express? 

(cue tune of "Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego")

Related articles

• Investigating IBC Travels... looks like a TVI Express clone
• The "it paid me" argument
• TVI Express Spam always comes in waves... why?
• Why is a Canadian cloning TVI Express on his website HDTexpress?

Empowered Network keeps posting bull**** from members

If they don't start editing their **** they are just a spam network no better than those "article farms".

And here's one guy who thinks TVI Express is still a legitimate company.

From the article, he equates TVI Express to World Ventures, ignoring the fact that TVI Express is a scam busted around the world. (circled section)

Furthermore, in his 'criteria',(underlined section), he only cares about good comp plan and good travel package. Apparently, "legal business" is apparently not one of criterias when he picks what to join.

Would you trust advice from someone like that?

Spam blog advertises TVI Express Scam to Russians

A website called Jemison Steel claims to be "all about steel"  (the about tab says so)

So why does it have tags of hotel, travel, and TVI Express? And all "related posts" are "make money fast" stuff? Spam blog are just so lame nowadays.

Is IBCTravels a new TVI Express?

Reading the complaints forum shows that some Russians are claiming that IBC Travels is run by the same folks behind TVI Express.

http://www.complaintboard.in/complaints-reviews/ibctravels-com-l195337.html

I checked "IBCTravels.com" and I did notice a LOT of inconsistencies and problems.

1) IBCTravels.com is "registered by proxy", no ownership info available through WHOIS

2) IBCTravels only claims to be registered as a business in Hong Kong as of March 2012, so it's a BRAND NEW business.

3) At the bottom, IBCTravels cites 3 logos: Better Internet Bureau, American Business Awards, and "Pending Member of Direct Selling Association".

a) Better Internet Bureau's listing are impossible to verify, as they don't keep such a list. It's also NOT related in any way, shape, or form to Better Business Bureau. BIB is basically a paid index in Canada. Give them this money to appear in their index. Search of BIB's website shows NO MENTION of IBC (or TVI Express, for that matter).

b) What the heck is American Business Awards logo / button doing on a FRESH HONG KONG travel website? I've written ABA for clarification.

c) Searching through DSA website shows NO SUCH THING as pending member. I've written DSA for clarification.

4) IBCTravels.com have an "advisory board"... just like TVI Express.

5) The rest of the website is completely empty, with a lot of stuff that just says "coming soon".

What a joke.

South African claims "president" in TVI Express Scam

I think he meant "presidential" rank, which means he had recruited THOUSANDS into his downline. And yes, this was captured fresh.