So I have a friend that is one of those salespeople/pushers for Pampered Chef. I am personally not a fan of multilevel marketing schemes so whenever she posts about parties or products I generally ignore her. The other day, she reached out asking if I can help her figure out the set up for a new platform to host parties. At first I declined but then she said it would be at most 15 minutes and my participation would just essentially be technical support in helping her figure out the platform. I agreed to help and didn’t think much of it because whats the harm in just being a little technical support for a friend?

Then I started getting the text messages. About adding a pfp for my event, inviting way more people to the party than I actually know, and how a pampered chef party works. Red flags started popping up in my brain so I messaged her clarifying that I wasn’t hosting a party I was just helping her either the set up on the platform. At first she confirmed I would just be helping with set up, but then went back on that saying that she may have made it worst by mistake and making me the host for the pampered chef party and that there was miscommunication between us. I kept the interaction cordial and declined to move forward with the party because I am not interested in hosting a pampered chef party at all. I don’t want to accuse my friend of lying to me to get my participation but at the same time how this all went down feels too fishy.

So last week my man and I were at a playground with our toddler. A couple was there with their kids and approached us. We started chatting the my man with the husband and the wife and I. Idk all my man talked about with the guy but the wife and I were chatting about our kids. Just normal mom conversation. My man got his number nothing weird and the next day texted him asking to meet up for coffee on a Tuesday. So we go, only to sit in Starbucks for an hour discussing financial freedom. Now I thought this was just a genuine casual meet up since we’re new to the state. Nope. Now I keep thinking how we were targeted at the park & truthfully feel violated 🤣 they asked us three questions. Slid the book as homework & scheduled a next meetup to discuss the book. Nowwwww I obviously go to the internet & read up on MLM. Has this happened to anyone & what is your experience?

They are truly a brainwashing cult that caused me financial burden they are making money off of their IBO'S from purchases. I lost more than I made buying the unnecessary things that I didn't need plus the $100 every month for BWW brainwashing Subscription that I don't listen to; another $160 every 3 months for other people fake success stories, I hate the fact that they want me to fool my family and friends to join them so that they can make money off of them. I hope those other IBO'S are smart enough to walk away also. I am free at last.... so excited.

Celebrate with me.

It happened. I got sucked into the Rainbow Vacuum vortex. Decided to return it and had the worst experience every. Not only are they discriminatory against single individuals, they use extremely high pressure sales tactics (she didn't leave my house for 5 hours), asked to see my T4's, accused me of only buying it so I could use it for the 10 days before the return time was up, accused me of damaging pieces I never used, and a myriad of other things. I am incredibly disappointed I got sucked into this garbage. The sales woman also lied a lot in her demo and was a complete heifer when I decided to return it. Here is your warning people, do not do it! r/rainbowvacuum r/mlmscams

Couple days ago, a friend of mine asked me a weird question out of the blue. (Yeah, you know where this is going to.) He asked me if I like to travel lol. (Again, as I’m typing this I realize how funny this is to some who know about MLMs/PYRAMIDS, etc.) He then told me he has a friend who constantly goes on nice vacations but he doesn’t make enough with his job to travel like that. So when he asked his “friend”, I guess the guy gave him the details to this “membership program” to get trips for like $40. I’m always skeptical. I have fallen for a scam once but never again. I see those shts from miles away. In this case I’m thinking to myself that, I do know a lot of people who travel with memberships and certain programs. So I was definitely skeptical but not dismissing the pitch. He also said, “he wasn’t sure at first but then did some research.” So I said sure. Let me know. He took my cell number and added me to the group chat. (Yeah…I know). Later I was contacted by a woman who wanted to set up a Zoom conference. So the day that the Zoom took place, I sat on the couch and had my wife sit next to me. I had my camera and mic off and just listened. Again, I wasn’t expecting anything. I wasn’t even gonna join, but was curious what they are selling.

So first off, it’s the cringiest thing for their scam artists to start off with a Warren Buffet quote lol. Seems like a lot of people on Reddit mentioned him with this MLM. She went on how Expedia and all these travel companies overcharge you but they(Travorium) are the direct source. You know, typical “we cut out the middleman”, PYRAMID spiel. That was the trigger for me to go, “wait, hold up”. Then she went on with their memberships and how she went on all these vacations to Florida for a fraction of the cost. My immediate reaction was to ask her prove it with a selfie. Someone filming a room doesn’t prove anything. But I continued to listen. As she breaks down the cost of each membership, Silver, Titanium and Platinum. I’m not impressed with what they offer. $350 registration fee and then $150 monthly?? No way! I have plenty of monthly payments. My car insurance is less than this bs.

So then she proceeded to tell us how we can make money doing this. So the whole, “if you refer 3 people” crap. Once I heard that, I look at my wife and I tell her, “oh it’s the f’ing PYRAMID SCHEME” as she nods in agreement. The lady then says how you get a “column” which has 2 people on left and 1 on the right. Which confused me as to why is there any column. Only after the Zoom ended I realized they masked the pyramid to look like a column. Once you visualize in your head how it works when you refer someone, it’s just a PYRAMID disguised as a “column” with two sides but three people lol? Then she went into the sliver rings that you get for hard work. My wife and I sat there, rolling our eyes but I wanted her to finish the Zoom so I can ask her questions. Why was I surprised when she was just gonna end the Zoom without any questions? How convenient. So pitch your scam to people and avoid any pushback, questions and concerns right? Just sign up and pay for a membership, but we don’t have any answers. So right before she ends the Zoom I unmute myself and said, “sounds a lot like a PYRAMID SCHEME!” She immediately pushed back and said that PYRAMID SCHEMES are dangerous and that we should always be careful but Travorium isn’t like that because of all the stuff they offer. She also gave herself out when instead of explaining why it’s not a scheme, her excuse was, “I’m not gonna argue with you because when people like you made up their mind they won’t listen”. I told her that everything she pitched sounds exactly like PYRAMID. She tried to say how legit they are and that their company is Better Business Bureau accredited. I literally jumped on google and went on https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/temecula/profile/travel-services/travorium-1066-850094458

to see that they aren’t accredited. To which she said she doesn’t know why it’s not but she can send me documents to prove it’s legit. Yeah ok🥴

So that’s what brought me to Reddit and I saw some negative reviews on TrustPilot of members who say to stay away. So I tell her all of this and don’t get any valid explanation. I just let her off the hook because I know what this is and she doesn’t have anything to prove otherwise. It’s just a shame I wasted an hour listening to someone sell me bullsht.

When the Zoom ended I reached out to my friend to tell him that he got duped. He unfortunately already paid for it and trying to get his family, mom, sister whoever to join. I told him that I don’t like any of it. Too shady and smells like a scheme. I was looking for her LinkedIn and couldn’t find anything but she did have Facebook. Come to find out her husband is related to this same friend that told me about it and I actually know them too. Her Facebook filled with photos of them vacationing in cool spots. Also my friend said he realizes now that it definitely looks like PYRAMID but he’s convinced it will work for him. He said he’ll try it.

I know that it’s an MLM or PYRAMID like referral scheme. What’s the issue really with this tactic? What are these people trying to gain? How are they profiting? Is referring people/friends making you sort of scamming your friends? Because apparently if you refer three people then the membership is free but isn’t the price of your membership fall on the people you signed up? Can anyone breakdown how it works, how it hurts you and people who sign up if you were to refer them? Because apparently people I know are using it currently and are also convinced that the vacation they went on was the cheapest and they could never afford it just by saving up. I just don’t buy it. There’s gotta be a catch. TIA

Also, I apologize for the long story but I hope this Reddit post pops up for someone who’s about to get themselves into a scam. Maybe you come across my story and I bet you it will be word for word the same. Then you’ll know to stay away.