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Fake MLM Opportunity

Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 10:27 pm
by webhick
I've thought about this for years and the more I think about it, the more is sounds like a good idea.

What if someone set up a fake MLM? It would consist of just a website with all the usual sales pitches. We would even "sell" a phony product. Something that had all the usual markers for a MLM product. There'd be a compensation plan posted so it looks completely "open." Even fake testimonials, etc.

But then they'd go to order one of the starter packages or the product. Maybe even go so far as to allow them to try to enter a credit card number (I'm thinking it'd lock them out after entering the first four digits so there's no risk of credit card fraud accusations). Then it'd hit them with the reality - they fell for a typical illegal MLM pitch. And then it would tell them why their decision to order would leave them worse off financially.

It wouldn't happen anytime soon, but I thought it be fun to kick the ball around a bit.

Re: Fake MLM Opportunity

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 12:42 am
by JamesVincent
It sounds like a hoot Web but how far from false advertising would that hit? I could see some yahoo trying to sue you since you did not follow through with your great plan.

Re: Fake MLM Opportunity

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 12:56 am
by webhick
JamesVincent wrote:It sounds like a hoot Web but how far from false advertising would that hit? I could see some yahoo trying to sue you since you did not follow through with your great plan.
Since they wouldn't be allowed to pay for anything, it'd be hard for them to prove damages.

Re: Fake MLM Opportunity

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 1:18 am
by rogfulton
webhick wrote:
JamesVincent wrote:It sounds like a hoot Web but how far from false advertising would that hit? I could see some yahoo trying to sue you since you did not follow through with your great plan.
Since they wouldn't be allowed to pay for anything, it'd be hard for them to prove damages.
Proven damages or no, someone must pay for their hurt feelings. :violin:

Re: Fake MLM Opportunity

Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 9:21 am
by louie24
That is a very evil plan but it sounds funny when i think about it. Lol

Re: Fake MLM Opportunity

Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 11:37 am
by Cathulhu
Have you thought about what kind of "product" your MLM will sell? Magic beans?

Re: Fake MLM Opportunity

Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 1:31 pm
by Pottapaug1938
I was thinking of sure-fire, no-can-lose, super-duper sovereign de-taxation kits, which are guaranteed to work (unlike all the others, THIS one uses all of the magic legal words and incantations CORRECTLY).

Re: Fake MLM Opportunity

Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 2:21 pm
by AndyK
Cathulhu wrote:Have you thought about what kind of "product" your MLM will sell? Magic beans?
SPECIAL magic beans with testemonials from impossible-to-identify people (accompanied by pictures copied from the Web) about how their gout, cancer, paralysis, obesity, ... (you pick it) was cured

Re: Fake MLM Opportunity

Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 3:10 pm
by webhick
De-tax package can be one.

I was thinking that nutritional products seem to be really big right now, so that's probably going to be a big "seller." One would have to be "marketed" as a super supplement. The description would have to tout its amazingly high levels of some made-up herbs which cure common symptoms of life. Like fatique, stress, arthritis, overreating, water retention, acne, bad hair, erectile dysfunction, brain farts, etc

Re: Fake MLM Opportunity

Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 3:48 pm
by Pottapaug1938
webhick wrote:De-tax package can be one.

I was thinking that nutritional products seem to be really big right now, so that's probably going to be a big "seller." One would have to be "marketed" as a super supplement. The description would have to tout its amazingly high levels of some made-up herbs which cure common symptoms of life. Like fatique, stress, arthritis, overreating, water retention, acne, bad hair, erectile dysfunction, brain farts, etc
Good idea. Tonight, I'll get to work with some empty gelatin capsules, glucose, some baking soda, some cayenne pepper powder and some powdered charcoal.

Re: Fake MLM Opportunity

Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 4:37 pm
by ArthurWankspittle
webhick wrote:De-tax package can be one.

I was thinking that nutritional products seem to be really big right now, so that's probably going to be a big "seller." One would have to be "marketed" as a super supplement. The description would have to tout its amazingly high levels of some made-up herbs which cure common symptoms of life. Like fatique, stress, arthritis, overreating, water retention, acne, bad hair, erectile dysfunction, brain farts, etc
Just edit down some of Erasmus's blatherings, especially the Vatican Bread.

Re: Fake MLM Opportunity

Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 9:42 pm
by JamesVincent
I'll take the one that cures brain farts please.

Re: Fake MLM Opportunity

Posted: Thu May 02, 2013 8:00 am
by littleroundman
webhick wrote: I was thinking that nutritional products seem to be really big right now, so that's probably going to be a big "seller." One would have to be "marketed" as a super supplement. The description would have to tout its amazingly high levels of some made-up herbs which cure common symptoms of life. Like fatique, stress, arthritis, overreating, water retention, acne, bad hair, erectile dysfunction, brain farts, etc
You forgot the "as used for thousands of years by the Lost Tribes of the Amazon" MLM deal sealer.

Re: Fake MLM Opportunity

Posted: Thu May 02, 2013 12:32 pm
by JamesVincent
Cathulhu wrote:Have you thought about what kind of "product" your MLM will sell? Magic beans?
One of the products I use quite a bit trying to help customer's yards is called Magi-Cal. I tried to tell someone to buy it one time and it degenerated into him telling me that maybe I should buy magic beans instead of a magic cow.

Re: Fake MLM Opportunity

Posted: Thu May 02, 2013 2:41 pm
by Pottapaug1938
littleroundman wrote:
webhick wrote: I was thinking that nutritional products seem to be really big right now, so that's probably going to be a big "seller." One would have to be "marketed" as a super supplement. The description would have to tout its amazingly high levels of some made-up herbs which cure common symptoms of life. Like fatique, stress, arthritis, overreating, water retention, acne, bad hair, erectile dysfunction, brain farts, etc
You forgot the "as used for thousands of years by the Lost Tribes of the Amazon" MLM deal sealer.
Also add something like "and suppressed by Big Pharma".

Re: Fake MLM Opportunity

Posted: Thu May 02, 2013 4:28 pm
by LaVidaRoja
Oh yes, "The product your doctor doesn't want you to know about!"

Re: Fake MLM Opportunity

Posted: Fri May 03, 2013 1:35 am
by Cathulhu
Claim that it cures stupid. No one will demand their money back.

Re: Fake MLM Opportunity

Posted: Fri May 03, 2013 2:11 am
by LaVidaRoja
GREAT!!

Re: Fake MLM Opportunity

Posted: Fri May 03, 2013 3:07 am
by Judge Roy Bean
How about a product guaranteed to raise the customer's IQ to the level that they'll eventually discover they've been scammed? :roll:

Re: Fake MLM Opportunity

Posted: Fri May 03, 2013 7:14 pm
by Gregg
Don't do the tax advice, do a juice drink concentrate that works out to a final retail price of about $35 a gallon. I'm always amazed by the people who raise the roof over $4 gas who then pay ten times that for a off flavor cranberry juice.