Since the recent crack down on pyramid and ponzi schemes, there have been attempts by unscrupulous persons to devise alternative means of attracting unsuspecting persons willing to do legitimate businesses for financi...Since the recent crack down on pyramid and ponzi schemes, there have been attempts by unscrupulous persons to devise alternative means of attracting unsuspecting persons willing to do legitimate businesses for financial gains. The Caribbean Policy Research Institute [CAPRIl] （2008） in its report titled ＂Investigating Informal Investment Schemes in Jamaica＂ stated in its analysis of the characteristics of multilevel, pyramid, and ponzi schemes that despite the heterogeneity in the structure of these organizations, they all involve large numbers of small investors who are often lured into participating in a wide range of investment activities or financial hedging through the administration of a central unit. These schemes rely predominantly on new customers/clients to fund payments to existing customers. The need for a consistent supply of new recruits for sustainability and perceived growth is paramount. Based on the CAPRI report, pyramid schemes are unsustainable investment ploys that always fail to meet the expectations of over 90% of its investors with very little emphasis on profit-making ventures or products. This paper will examine the similarity between the recently foiled financial pyramid schemes and the current multilevel marketing （MLM） strategies of consumables that are cunningly being proposed as legitimate business and entrepreneurial options. This paper will present handy information for persons interested in participating in MLM businesses and regulators in order to make informed decisions to avoid a repeat of unwise investment.展开更多
文摘Since the recent crack down on pyramid and ponzi schemes, there have been attempts by unscrupulous persons to devise alternative means of attracting unsuspecting persons willing to do legitimate businesses for financial gains. The Caribbean Policy Research Institute [CAPRIl] （2008） in its report titled ＂Investigating Informal Investment Schemes in Jamaica＂ stated in its analysis of the characteristics of multilevel, pyramid, and ponzi schemes that despite the heterogeneity in the structure of these organizations, they all involve large numbers of small investors who are often lured into participating in a wide range of investment activities or financial hedging through the administration of a central unit. These schemes rely predominantly on new customers/clients to fund payments to existing customers. The need for a consistent supply of new recruits for sustainability and perceived growth is paramount. Based on the CAPRI report, pyramid schemes are unsustainable investment ploys that always fail to meet the expectations of over 90% of its investors with very little emphasis on profit-making ventures or products. This paper will examine the similarity between the recently foiled financial pyramid schemes and the current multilevel marketing （MLM） strategies of consumables that are cunningly being proposed as legitimate business and entrepreneurial options. This paper will present handy information for persons interested in participating in MLM businesses and regulators in order to make informed decisions to avoid a repeat of unwise investment.
