X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit
X-Google-Thread: f996b,b13b9cc466cebedb
X-Google-Attributes: gidf996b,public
From: Joseph Lazaro <jsl@cats.ucsc.edu>
Subject: Re: Pyramid schemes are illegal
Date: 1997/10/17
Message-ID: <344778F8.75CC@cats.ucsc.edu>#1/1
X-Deja-AN: 281290165
References: <John_Keranakis-0810971841560001@bootp-49.rockcluster.brown.edu>
 <34459FFD.23AC@cats.ucsc.edu> <3446A75F.5E70@hotmail.com>
To: Zeus Simeoni <zeusimeoni@hotmail.com>
Organization: UC Santa Cruz
Reply-To: phaeton@usa.net
Newsgroups: alt.ascii-art


Zeus Simeoni wrote:
> 
> Joseph Lazaro wrote:
> >
> > Pyramid schemes have long been illegal when conducted by mail in the
> > United States or Canada.
> >
> > Reasons not to try multi-level marketing schemes:
> > - You Could Be Prosecuted
> > - You Will Get Flames
> > - You Will Probably Lose Internet Access
> > - You Could Even Reduce Your Nation to Chaos * I bet you think I'm
> > exaggerating.
> >
> > Confirm these facts and get full information on pryamid schemes
> > available at http://www.wco.com/~rteeter/pyramid.html
> > Please take a minute to check it out for your own benefit.
> 
> Well, even though this has absolutly nothing to do with this newsgroup,
> I just wanted to say that that last message was misleading to say the
> very least. Yes, 'pyramid schemes' are illegal, and I find the ones
> posted here just as annoying as the next person, but you generalize with
> your statement. Multi-level marketing, by definition alone, is NOT an
> illegal pyramid scheme, although several pyramids do falsely take on
> the name Multi-level marketing to give themselves more credit than they
> earn.  But don't put down a legitimate business operation just because
> a few morons decide they like to call themselves that.
>     Oh, and using the internet or mail does not make one of these
> illegal. It is merely a common way illegal schemes are distributed. The
> part people should watch out for is the schemes that actually do not
> distribute a product or service. That is what makes them illegal. I have
> actually seen chain letters where you send everyone who gives you a buck
> a recipie or such, and said distribution of an actual product or service
> actually makes that chain letter legal, even though it was done over the
> U.S. Postal Service.  So try to research something before you put it
> down, for your own sake. You may just overlook something that could help
> you.
> 
> Zeus

Thanks for the clarification. I assumed all multi-level marketing was
bad because I have only heard of it associated with scams. My brother
worked for a M-L-M company that turned out fraudulent. Anyways,
everything I said came off of the page I had a link to so thats the guy
that did the "research". I don't think I'll ever check out any schemes
cuz i think most of them are bogus anyway.

Joseph