Before we share our list of approximately 300 MLM programs we have evaluated, it is important that you do your own evaluation. We will not be responsible for the consequences of a decision that is ultimately yours to make. (See Disclaimer below.) But we are confident that here you will receive the best advice available on how to make that decision.  

To begin, obtain the compensation plan of the MLM program you are considering. Then answer the questions for each step and follow the links to its conclusion.

click here to begin the evaluation.

Then you can see how your evaluation stacks up against ours. So start the 5-step evaluation now.  

READERS' COMMENTS

[Your web site] has been extremely helpful as I am Spanish and live in Switzerland and was never aware that such schemes were actually legal.I have been aproached by an excollegue in Spain to join the so called FANTASTIC opportunity offered by Agel because they are opening up their Swiss branch and at the same time my brother in Spain got contacted through collegues.

It took me 5 minutes to look at their website, see their recruitment video to understand it is all a scam. I am a financial investment advisor working in the financial industry now for over 7 years with a long experience in marketing-sales jobs (I worked 5 years at Goldman Sachs) so it wasn-t difficult for me to see that it is a scam.

That said, I am shocked the regulators in the US are so bland on these type of schemes and I believe I had never heard of any of them in Europe until now. All your research has been extremely insightful and hopefully helpful (time will tell). I have forward it on to my whole family and network of friends in Spain and asked them to forward it on as well. By far the best part for me are the points to discern whether it is a legitimate marketing effort or a pyramid scheme.

Thanks again,

Rosa

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 DISCLAIMER: These evaluations are intended purely as a communication of information in accordance with the right of free speech. They do not constitute legal or tax advice. Anyone seeking such advice should consult a competent professional who has some expertise on endless chain or pyramid selling schemes. Readers are specifically advised to obey all applicable laws, whether or not enforced in their area. Neither the Consumer Awareness Institute nor the authors assume any responsibility for the consequences of anyone acting according to the information in these reports.

PLEASE HELP!  We believe this site presents information about MLM/network marketing that is as close to the truth as can be found. It can save you much time, money, and grief, as it has done for many others. And since law enforcement has essentially looked the other way on this type of consumer abuse, it is left to informed consumers to inform and warn their friends and relatives about the potential losses they could suffer from participation in a “recruiting MLM.” So please print and distribute at least 5 copies of the answer cards to those you care about – and ask each of them to share answer cards with 5 people, and each of them with 5 more, etc., etc.  . . .  In this way, you can influence many people for good – through an endless chain of truth-telling.  Check out these handy answer cards (8 to choose from) that you can print and distribute now –  as well as carry with you for those awkward moments when you are recruited by a well-meaning friend or relative. For more information, click on the appropriate links above.

After extensive research corroborated by MLM company reports, "5 Red Flags" have been identified which when found in a compensation plan lead to losses in excess of 99% – in at least four independent investigations. Read the full report on "The 5 Red Flags of a Recruiting MLM", a summary of which was published in the newsletter for the National White Collar Crime Center and presented at the Economic Crime Summit Conference in 2004. 

Since it is based on solid research, It is much safer to use the "5-step Do-it-yourself Evaluation" for an MLM program, than to accept the claims of MLM recruiters in making your decision on whether or not to participate.
 

"Your logical questions and objective research are exactly what is needed in this industry."  —Donna Horowitz
 

Research and Consumer Guides: 

This research and information on MLM (multi-level or network marketing, etc.) was prepared with the help of top experts over fifteen years by the Consumer Awareness Institute, directed by Dr. Jon Taylor. Opinions vary widely on MLM's legitimacy. But here you will find objective research on success and loss rates, compensation plans, etc.

What Went into This  Research: The investigative research that formed the basis of these reports includes: 

• Extensive comparative research on compensation plans of 350 MLMs and alternative business models to clarify differences and to find the causes of high MLM participant loss rates,
• Interviews with and feedback from thousands of MLM distributors and ex-distributors in a wide variety of MLM programs, 
• Interviews with the top experts in the field, 
• Surveys of hundreds of tax professionals where MLM is concentrated – representing thousands of tax returns of MLM participants, 
• Actual tax records examined by Wisconsin investigators
• Court records in MLM cases – including IRS income tax records of top distributors in one state, 
• Household consumer surveys regarding MLM participation, 
• Surveys of leading MLM company presidents, 
• Private and public financial disclosures by MLM companies, 
• Communications with law enforcement officials at all levels, and— 
• Direct experience with prominent MLM companies and communications with top MLM officials
  

For more information on the research and analyses underpinning these reports, go to – MLM Research and MLM Consumer Guides  

SEARCH CHALLENGE: 

There are many blogs and sites giving positive and negative information about Agel. Just do a Google search - enter in "Is Agel a scam" or "Is Agel a pyramid Scheme?" and see what you get. You would be wise to do a lot of reading of the experiences of others - negative as well as positive - before joining their program - or any MLM. And you can do the same for any other "income opportunity" you are wondering about Also, be sure to read the reports linked from our home page, such as "1357 ways to earn a LOT more money than in MLM."

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GENERAL NOTE RE MLM DECEPTIONS:  

These types of deceptions allegedly promulgated by MLM promoters mentioned here are not unique to this MLM.  A complex set of deceptions is routinely used by MLMs of almost every stripe – with the possible exception of some party plans. This is not necessarily because MLM promoters set out to deliberately deceive those they target for recruitment, but because MLM is inherently flawed and must utilize misrepresentation and deceit to succeed and survive. Please do yourself a favor and read “Typical Deceptions” (used in MLM recruitment).

"Thank you for your great insights and all the work you have put into researching this little-understood subject.  If every [person] interested in joining recruiting MLM's would just take the time to read your [reports] and educate themselves, they could save a lot of grief."  —Michael Rawlings

* Chain-selling programs are referred to as "multi-level marketing" (MLM), "network marketing," "consumer direct marketing," etc. The MLM industry would even like to be called "direct selling," even if little direct selling to actual customers is taking place. Regardless of what promoters call a program, this 5-step do-it-yourself analysis will help you evaluate their potential for income or loss.

Avoid falling for the semantic trap of chain-selling promoters who say they are not MLM, or multi-level marketing. If the program pays on more than one level of participants, it is multi-level or MLM. If you get paid only for selling directly to customers and get no override commissions (other than a small referral fee) for recruiting more than one level of participants, it is single level compensation and could be considered true direct selling.

DISCLAIMER: These evaluations are intended purely as a communication of information in accordance with the right of free speech. They do not constitute legal or tax advice. Anyone seeking such advice should consult a competent professional who has some expertise on endless chain or pyramid selling schemes. Readers are specifically advised to obey all applicable laws, whether or not enforced in their area. Neither the Consumer Awareness Institute nor the authors assume any responsibility for the consequences of anyone acting according to the information in these reports.

PLEASE HELP!  We believe this site presents information about MLM/network marketing that is as close to the truth as can be found. It can save you much time, money, and grief, as it has done for many others. And since law enforcement has essentially looked the other way on this type of consumer abuse, it is left to informed consumers to inform and warn their friends and relatives about the potential losses they could suffer from participation in a recruiting MLM." So please print and distribute at least 5 copies of the answer cards to those you care about – and ask each of them to share answer cards with 5 people, and each of them with 5 more, etc., etc.  . . .  In this way, you can influence many people for good – through an endless chain of truth-telling.  Check out these handy answer cards (8 to choose from) that you can print and distribute now –  as well as carry with you for those awkward moments when you are recruited by a well-meaning friend or relative. For more information, click on the appropriate links on the home page.